Opt for frozen embryos, mothers told

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A study shows that "ice" babies are a healthier weight than those born using fresh embryos and that mothers who conceive with thawed embryos placed in the womb have longer pregnancies.

Freezing embryos and then thawing them to create babies is a technique used by clinics to help women preserve their fertility - especially those having cancer treatment as chemotherapy can damage the chances of pregnancy.

The process enables couples to create a "bank" of eggs.

The findings on the development of "ice" babies were presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona.

Researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital at Rigshospitalet in Denmark monitored 1,267 children born in the country through frozen embryo replacement over an 11-year period.

Their development was compared with all 17,857 children born after fertility treatment using fresh embryos.

The birth weight of frozen embryo babies was at least 200 grammes heavier than the other IVF babies.

Dr Anja Pinborg who carried out the research said frozen embryos could be used more frequently now it was recognised to be a safe procedure. She said: " Up till now the data has been extremely limited. The findings are reassuring."