In vitro fertilization and preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective follow-up study

Fertil Steril. 2010 Nov;94(6):2102-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.01.014. Epub 2010 Feb 26.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission of the newborn to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in women pregnant after fertility treatment and subfertile women with the risk in fertile women.

Design: Prospective follow-up study.

Setting: Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark, 1989-2006.

Patient(s): A total of 20,080 liveborn singletons.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission of the newborn to a NICU.

Result(s): After adjustment we found a statistically significantly increased risk of preterm delivery and very preterm delivery in women who conceived after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) compared with fertile women. Compared with fertile women, the risk of preterm delivery and very preterm delivery was not statistically significantly different in women pregnant after non-IVF assisted reproductive treatment (non-IVF ART) or subfertile women. We found no association between IVF/ICSI and the risk of low birth weight at term or admittance to the NICU.

Conclusion(s): The increased risk of preterm delivery after IVF/ICSI may be due to the fertility treatment or unknown characteristics in the couples who undergo IVF/ICSI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Delivery, Obstetric / methods
  • Delivery, Obstetric / statistics & numerical data
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / adverse effects
  • Fertilization in Vitro / statistics & numerical data*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight* / physiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Admission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth / epidemiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Young Adult