The effect of fertility treatment on adverse perinatal outcomes in women aged at least 40 years

Avi Harlev*, Asnat Walfisch, Eynan Oran, Iris Har-Vardi, Michael Friger, Eitan Lunenfeld, Eliahu Levitas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To compare perinatal outcomes between spontaneous conception and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) among patients of advanced maternal age. Methods: The present retrospective study included data from singleton pregnancies of women aged at least 40 years who delivered between January 1, 1991, and December 31, 2013, at Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Demographic, obstetric, and perinatal data were compared between pregnancies conceived with ART (in vitro fertilization [IVF] or ovulation induction) and those conceived spontaneously. Multiple regression models were used to define independent predictors of adverse outcomes. Results: A total of 8244 singleton pregnancies were included; 229 (2.8%) following IVF, 86 (1.0%) following ovulation induction, and 7929 (96.2%) were spontaneous. Preterm delivery (P<0.001), fetal growth restriction (FGR) (P<0.001), and cesarean delivery (P<0.001) demonstrated linear associations with the conception mode; the highest rates for each were observed for IVF, with decreased rates for ovulation induction and spontaneous conception. The incidence of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders were highest among pregnancies following ART. No association was observed between conception mode and perinatal mortality. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that IVF was independently associated with increased odds of preterm delivery (P<0.001) and FGR (P=0.027) compared with spontaneous conception. Conclusions: Among patients of advanced maternal age, ART were independently associated with increased FGR and preterm delivery rates compared with spontaneous pregnancies; perinatal mortality was comparable.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)98-104
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume140
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Advanced maternal age
  • Assisted reproductive technology
  • In-vitro fertilization
  • Ovarian aging
  • Ovulation induction
  • Perinatal outcome

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