Assisted reproductive technologies and the risk of stillbirth in singleton pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Karoline Gundersen Sarmon; Troels Eliasen; Ulla Breth Knudsen; Bjørn Bay

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.04.007

Assisted Reproduction · Safety and Risks

Assisted reproductive technologies and the risk of stillbirth in singleton pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sarmon KG, Eliasen T, Knudsen UB, Bay B

Published September 2021 Fertility and sterility

DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.04.007 PMID 34023069

Abstract

Objective

To identify the risk of stillbirth from in vitro types of assisted reproductive technologies compared with spontaneous conception (SC), limited to singleton births.

Design

Systematic literature search and search chaining on online databases: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus.

Setting

Not applicable.

Patients

Singleton pregnancies from in vitro fertilization (IVF) or fertilization by IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Adjusted odds ratio for stillbirth or prevalence of stillbirth in case-control groups of IVF/IVF-ICSI singletons and SCs, respectively, in matched studies.

Results

A total of 19 studies were included, and study quality was mixed. Ten studies qualified for inclusion to the meta-analysis, which revealed a significantly increased risk of stillbirth in IVF/IVF-ICSI compared with that in SC (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.82 [1.37-2.42]), and there was no evidence of publication bias.

Conclusions

In vitro fertilization and IVF-ICSI treatment increases the risk of stillbirth compared with natural conception.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO 216768.

Topics

Assisted Reproduction › Safety and Risks › Neonatal and Birth Outcomes · Pregnancy › Pregnancy Complications › Hypertensive Disorders · Birth and Delivery › Birth Outcomes › Maternal Morbidity

Karoline Gundersen Sarmon, Troels Eliasen, Ulla Breth Knudsen, Bjørn Bay

K Sarmon, T Eliasen, U Knudsen, B Bay

PMID 34023069 34023069 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.04.007 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.04.007 Sarmon et al. 2021, Sarmon 2021

Assisted reproductive technologies and the risk of stillbirth in singleton pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Topics

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