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Pregnancy Following Infertility
Author(s) -
Bhalla A. K.,
Sarala G.,
Dhaliwal L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1992.tb01959.x
Subject(s) - medicine , infertility , obstetrics , pregnancy , gynecology , abortion , fertility , gestation , population , genetics , environmental health , biology
EDITORIAL COMMENT: We accepted this paper for publication because its findings will inform readers that infertile women who conceive have pregnancies that are not only ‘special’ to them, but are also ‘high risk’ ‐ there is an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine growth retardation and stillbirths. This has been reported from Sweden (1) and Australia (2) and is confirmed in this study. The findings seem to apply to spontaneous conceptions and those occurring as a result of ovulation induction, GIFT or IVF. The overall rate of malformations is not increased in the total infertile group although certain malformations are more common. All pregnancies occurring in infertile women warrant genetic counselling, ultrasonography, appropriate testing for fetal growth retardation and hypoxia in late pregnancy (oestriol assay, cardiotocography, ultrasonography) and the exclusion of gestational diabetes (these women have a higher mean age, the most important indication other than Asian‐birth, for glucose tolerance testing in pregnancy). 1. Ghazi HA, Spielberger C, Kailen B. Delivery outcome after infertility‐a registry study. Fertil Steril 1991; 55: 726–731. 2. Venn A, Lumley J. Births after a period of infertility in Victorian women, 1982–1989. Abstract. Centre for the study of mothers' and children's health, Carlton, Victoria. Summary: Pregnancies of 112 patients who had conceived after a history of a minimum of 2 years of infertility were compared to an equal number of matching controls without prior infertility to find out any risk of increased pregnancy complications. These patients were at a significantly higher risk of developing first trimester bleeding, antepartum haemorrhage and intrauterine fetal death. Also there were higher rates of preterm delivery and Caesarean section. The patients in the study group had a significantly higher number of stillborn babies. The incidence of other complications such as ectopic pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and medical complications was also higher in these patients but the difference was not statistically significant.