Birth and Delivery · Birth Outcomes

Is the obstetric outcome of in vitro fertilized singleton gestations different from natural ones? A controlled study

Reubinoff BE, Samueloff A, Ben-Haim M, Friedler S, Schenker JG, Lewin A

Published June 1997 Fertility and Sterility, 67(6), 1077-1083
DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)81442-2 PMID 9176447

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether singleton IVF pregnancies carry adverse maternal or fetal outcome when compared with naturally conceived gestations.

Design

An analysis of the obstetric outcome of singleton IVF pregnancies in comparison with matched, naturally conceived singleton controls.

Setting

In vitro fertilization unit and obstetric service at a tertiary medical center.

Patients

Two hundred sixty consecutive singleton IVF pregnancies and 260 naturally conceived singleton controls matched 1:1 for maternal age, parity, ethnic origin, and location and date of delivery.

Interventions

In vitro fertilization-ET.

Main Outcome Measures

The rate of antenatal obstetric complications, nonvertex presentation, cesarean section, preterm labor, low birth weight, small and very small for gestational age, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, and perinatal mortality.

Results

The rates of most antenatal complications were similar in both groups. Urinary tract infection was the only complication diagnosed significantly more frequently after IVF (7.3% versus 1.2%); however, the rates of severe urinary tract infection necessitating hospitalization were similar. The incidence of nonvertex presentation was also similar. The cesarean section rate was significantly higher among IVF patients (41.9% versus 15.5%). The rates of preterm labor, low birth weight, small and very small for gestational age, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, and perinatal mortality were comparable.

Conclusions

When controlling for maternal age, parity, ethnic origin, and location and date of delivery, singleton IVF pregnancies do not carry an increased risk for prematurity, low birth weight, or maternal or fetal complications. Still, these pregnancies are associated with a high rate of cesarean sections.

Topics

By this author

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Birth and Delivery › Birth Outcomes › Maternal Morbidity · Assisted Reproduction › Safety and Risks › Neonatal and Birth Outcomes · Pregnancy › Pregnancy Complications › Intrauterine Infection
Benjamin E. Reubinoff, Arnon Samueloff, Menahem Ben-Haim, Shevach Friedler, Joseph G. Schenker, Aby Lewin
Ben Reubinoff, B Reubinoff, A Samueloff, M Ben-Haim, S Friedler, Joe Schenker, Joey Schenker, J Schenker, A Lewin
PMID 9176447 9176447 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)81442-2 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)81442-2 Reubinoff et al. 1997, Reubinoff 1997