Assessment of perinatal outcomes of pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection

INTRODUCTION: Objective of this study is to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies obtained by IVF/ICSI treatment and spontaneously conceived singleton pregnancies.
METHODS: Patient records of women conceived by in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) and spontaneously conceived women that delivered in Ankara University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology after 24th gestational week and whom the postnatal follow-ups of the infants were conducted in Ankara University Department of Pediatrics were retrospectively evaluated. Study group consists of 180 women with singleton IVF/ICSI pregnancies were. Control group included 624 spontaneously conceived women with singleton pregnancies that gave birth within the selected study period.
RESULTS: Median maternal age of the IVF/ICSI group was found significantly higher than the control group(p=0,031). A significantly higher incidence of hypertensive complications in pregnancy was found in IVF/ICSI group(p=0,001). Incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus was found significantly higher in IVF/ICSI group(p<0,001). Cesarean section rates were significantly higher in IVF/ICSI group in comparison with spontaneously conceived pregnancies(p<0,001). Preterm delivery rate is significantly higher in IVF/ICSI group(p<0,001). Infants born by IVF/ICSI pregnancies were showed a significantly higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit requirement in comparison with infants born by spontaneously conceived pregnancies(p<0,001). However the statistical significance of the difference was observed to disappear after adjusting the data for gestational week at birth(p=0,161). Secondary sex ratio was found significantly lower in IVF/ICSI pregnancies(p=0,001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Singleton pregnancies conceived by IVF/ICSI presents higher risk for some adverse perinatal outcomes and should be followed accordingly.