Since the advent of ART, much research has focused on the potential adverse for resultant harm. Prematurity, low birth-weight, PIH, congenital malformations, and CP are closely tied to multiple gestation. With the increase in elective single embryo transfer, there will be a reduction in adversity related to multiple birth. It is understood that underlying causes of infertility, including advanced maternal age, PCOS, thyroid disease, and uterine fibroids, predispose to adverse outcomes. However, imprinting abnormalities do not appear to stem from multiple births, and thus the need to consider the association between fertility treatment and methylation disorders remains essential. These, as well as risks of multi-fetal gestation, must be discussed with patients when considering using assisted reproduction.
DOI 10.1055/s-0032-1307416 10.1055/s-0032-1307416 Skora et al. 2012, Skora 2012
Cite this article
Skora, D., & Frankfurter, D. (2012). Adverse Perinatal Events Associated with ART. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 30(02), 084-091. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1307416
Skora D, Frankfurter D. Adverse Perinatal Events Associated with ART. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. 2012;30(02):084-091. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1307416
Novak C et al., 2013·Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
Health disparities are observed in all fields of medicine and reproductive health is not immune to this phenomenon. The incidence of women using infertility treatments to conceive is increasing. Women undergoing assisted reproduction appear to be at increased risk of adverse outcomes, and minority women tend to be at even greater risk. This article examines several adverse obstetrical outcomes including preterm birth, congenital malformations, and preeclampsia among women receiving infertility treatments compared with those who conceive spontaneously. It will further examine societal costs associated with these procedures.
To examine birth outcomes between children conceived with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) and sibling births from unassisted conceptions. Retrospective sibling cohort. Live born children conceived via IVF, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or IUI at the Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine, 1999-2018, and sibling births from unassisted conceptions (born 1985-2018). The main analysis included singleton births (460 IVF, 666 IUI, and 1,579 unassisted siblings). Exposure: In vitro fertilization, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or IUI. Preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, large for gestational age (LGA), and major congenital anomalies. Compared with unassisted siblings, singleton children conceived via IVF had gestational ages shorter by nearly half a week (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.6 to -0.3), birth weights of 72.1 g lower (95% CI, -118.8 to -25.4), and higher proportions of preterm birth (IVF, 11.1%; IUI, 8.7%; unassisted siblings, 6.8%), LGA (IVF, 9.1%; IUI, 4.5%; unassisted siblings, 5.9%), and major congenital anomalies (IVF, 3.7%; IUI, 2.0%; unassisted siblings, 1.4%). Models adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, infant birth year, previous pregnancy, and birth order showed that children conceived via IVF were more likely to be preterm (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; absolute difference, 4.3%) and LGA (aRR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5; absolute difference, 3.2%). Children conceived via IVF had a higher risk of major congenital anomalies than unassisted siblings adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, and birth order (aRR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.8; absolute difference, 2.3%). Children conceived via IUI had birth weights 55.8 g lower (95% CI, -95.6 to -15.9) than unassisted siblings. We observed an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, LGA, and major congenital anomalies among singleton children conceived with IVF compared with that among unassisted siblings; however, absolute differences remain small. For children conceived via IUI, lower birth weights were observed. These results suggest that treatment-related factors in addition to underlying subfertility may contribute to adverse birth outcomes.
To determine the association between fertility treatment, socioeconomic status (SES), and neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. Retrospective cohort study of all births (19,350,344) and infant deaths from 2014-2018 in the United States. The exposure was mode of conception-spontaneous vs fertility treatment. The outcome was neonatal (<28d), and post-neonatal (28d-1y) mortality. Multivariable logistic models were stratified by SES. The fertility treatment group had statistically significantly higher odds of neonatal mortality (high SES OR 1.59; CI [1.5, 1.68], low SES OR 2.11; CI [1.79, 2.48]) and lower odds of post-neonatal mortality (high SES OR 0.87, CI [0.76, 0.996], low SES OR 0.6, CI [0.38, 0.95]). SES significantly modified the effect of ART/NIFT on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. Fertility treatment is associated with higher neonatal and lower post-neonatal mortality and SES modifies this effect. Socioeconomic policies and support for vulnerable families may help reduce rates of infant mortality.
Sanders JN et al., 2022·Reprod Health·
Open Access
In vitro fertilization (IVF) births contribute to a considerable proportion of preterm birth (PTB) each year. However, there is no formal surveillance of adverse perinatal outcomes for less invasive fertility treatments. The study objective was to describe associations between fertility treatment (in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, usually with ovulation drugs (IUI), or ovulation drugs alone) and preterm birth, compared to no treatment in subfertile women. The Fertility Experiences Study (FES) is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the University of Utah between April 2010 and September 2012. Women with a history of primary subfertility self-reported treatment data via survey and interviews. Participant data were linked to birth certificates and fetal death records to asses for perinatal outcomes, particularly preterm birth. A total 487 birth certificates and 3 fetal death records were linked as first births for study participants who completed questionnaires. Among linked births, 19% had a PTB. After adjustment for maternal age, paternal age, maternal education, annual income, religious affiliation, female or male fertility diagnosis, and duration of subfertility, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PTB were 2.17 (CI 0.99, 4.75) for births conceived using ovulation drugs, 3.17 (CI 1.4, 7.19) for neonates conceived using IUI and 4.24 (CI 2.05, 8.77) for neonates conceived by IVF, compared to women with subfertility who used no treatment during the month of conception. A reported diagnosis of female factor infertility increased the adjusted odds of having a PTB 2.99 (CI 1.5, 5.97). Duration of pregnancy attempt was not independently associated with PTB. In restricting analyses to singleton gestation, odds ratios were not significant for any type of treatment. IVF, IUI, and ovulation drugs were all associated with a higher incidence of preterm birth and low birth weight, predominantly related to multiple gestation births.