Babies born through IVF are smarter but more prone to mental health problems than naturally conceived children, research suggests.

Babies born using assisted conception techniques performed better in class and were less likely to drop out of secondary school.

The increased risk of a mental health problems remained even when children born through IVF were compared to naturally conceived siblings. .

While the group scored higher in school tests and were less likely to drop out of high school, they were also one per cent more likely to suffer mental health problems.

In the latest study, researchers examined health records of 266,925 naturally conceived Finnish children born between 1995 and 2000, as well as 13,757 who were born through IVF, IUI or ovulation induction.

The results, published in the European Journal of Population, show that compared to naturally born children, those conceived via assisted conception had a higher grade point average (8 vs 7.7), were less likely to drop out of school (2.4 per cent vs 3.6 per cent) and less likely to have left home by 18 (11 per cent vs 17 per cent)

Separate analysis showed that those conceived through assisted conception were 1 per cent more likely to suffer anxiety and depression

Nine per cent of naturally conceived youngsters had a mental health diagnosis by their late teens, compared to 10 per cent among assisted conception

But she suggested that couples may suffer from depression and anxiety in response to their struggles conceiving, which puts their child 'at higher risk of having mental health problems'

Alternatively, parents who used assisted conception 'may be more apprehensive about their child's welfare' and take them to visit the doctor or hospital more often — increasing their chance of being diagnosed with mental health problems, as well as other conditions.