The prognostic value and significance of preclinical abortions in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer programs

T. Levy, D. Dicker, J. Ashkenazi, D. Feldberg, M. Shelef, J. A. Goldman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Preclinical abortions occur in natural conceptions as well as in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. Nevertheless, although known, this entity is ill defined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to propose a classification of these pregnancies on the basis of pathophysiological evidence and to evaluate their future clinical impact. Design: Of 970 IVF-ET cycles, 114 cycles (11.7%) terminated in preclinical abortions. Abortions were divided according to peak beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) values into chemical abortions (52%) occurring 2 weeks after ET with β-hCG values not higher than 21 mIU/mL and peri-implantation abortions (47%) terminating spontaneously 4 weeks after ET; the latter had higher β-hCG values for a longer period of time but without any sonographic evidence of gestational sac. No woman in the two groups needed curettage. Results: After a chemical abortion, the pregnancy outcome had better ongoing pregnancy rates (24.7%) in comparison with the 17% achieved in the total IVF-ET cycles. Conclusions: It is concluded that these two groups most probably have different pathophysiological backgrounds and concomitantly different future clinical impacts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-74
Number of pages4
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

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