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Risk of cesarean section in singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques
Zoltán Kozinszky1, Janos Zádori, Hajnalka Orvos
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Center for Assisted Reproduction, Kaáli Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Objective:
To evaluate the perinatal outcome of singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques in comparison with that in matched controls from spontaneous pregnancies.
Study Design:
A total of 11,776 deliveries from January 1, 1995, to May 31, 2001, were subjected to retrospective analysis. Data on 259 neonates from singleton pregnancies after ovulation induction (n = 85, 32.8%), intrauterine insemination (n = 17, 6.6%) or in vitro fertilization (n = 157, 60.6%) were evaluated. The pregnancy outcome was compared with that for controls (n = 518) matched for age, gravidity and parity after spontaneous pregnancies.
Results:
Cesarean section was significantly more frequent in the study group than in the control group (42.1% vs. 27.6%, P < .001, odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-2.61). The prevalence of preterm deliveries was not significantly higher (P = .40, OR 1.23, 95% CI .78-1.95) in the study group as compared with the controls (12.7% vs. 10.6%). There was no significant difference in intrauterine growth retardation between the two groups (9.3% vs. 6.2%, P = .14, OR 1.55, 95% CI .89-2.69).
Conclusion:
Singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques are associated with an increased rate of cesarean section, whereas neonatal outcome is not influenced.
