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Predicting the impact of in vitro fertilisation and other forms of assisted conception on perinatal and infant mortality in England and Wales: examining the role of multiplicity
Author(s) -
Oakley L,
Doyle P
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.00942.x
Subject(s) - infant mortality , multiple birth , medicine , population , obstetrics , demography , spontaneous conception , fertility , environmental health , sociology
The increased risk of perinatal and infant mortality observed among in vitro fertilisation (IVF) births and other assisted conception births is thought to be largely attributable to multiplicity. Using mortality statistics and estimates of the proportion of births following infertility treatment, we predicted the excess stillbirths and infant deaths associated with twins and higher order births resulting from assisted conception in England and Wales. According to our results, approximately 73 deaths could have been avoided in 2001 if all IVF infants had been born as singletons or as naturally occurring monozygotic twins, equating to a population attributable risk fraction of around 1% for perinatal and infant deaths. If we include all types of assisted conception, this figure was estimated to be around 4% of deaths—more than 220 perinatal and infant deaths in 2001. We confirm the public health importance of multiple births associated with assisted conception.