Open AccessPregnancy Complications and Short‐Term Follow‐Up of Infants Born After in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF/ET)
Author(s) -
Wennerholm U.B.,
Janson P. O.,
Wennergren M.,
Kjellmer I.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349109007918
Subject(s) - in vitro fertilisation , medicine , embryo transfer , pregnancy , obstetrics , gynecology , term pregnancy , human fertilization , andrology , gestation , biology , genetics , anatomy
Two hundred and six pregnancies occurring after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) during a 7‐year period in Goteborg were analysed with respect to pregnancy outcome. The clinical abortion rate was 26%, the rate of ectopic pregnancy was 10%, the rate of ongoing pregnancies beyond 24 weeks was 15%, and the rate of deliveries was 49% (n = 100). The hospital records of 98 women with the 100 deliveries resulting in 131 infants were studied. Multiple pregnancy occurred in 27%, including one quadruplet and two triplet pregnancies. Preterm birth occurred in 30% of all pregnancies and in 20% of singleton pregnancies. Thirty‐four percent of the infants had a birth weight of less than 2500 g. The perinatal mortality was 46/1000, as estimated from the 24th week of pregnancy. The incidence of major malformation, 2.3%, was similar to that reported from studies in the general population. The first 100 infants born were followed up for 18 months to 8 years. Long‐term sequelae were associated with immaturity and low birth weight. No problems during follow‐up were disclosed in children who had had an uneventful neonatal period. It is concluded that IVF pregnancies are an obstetric risk group requiring special attention