Obstetric outcomes in cancer survivors

To assess obstetric and neonatal outcomes in women with a prior episode of cancer.

Data were obtained from a linkage between the Scottish Cancer Registry and routinely collected data from Scottish maternity hospitals. Obstetric outcomes in a first pregnancy which ended between 1980 and 2005 were compared in 917 women with, and 5,496 women without, a previous history of cancer.

The mean age at delivery was 29 years (standard deviation 5.66) and 26 years (standard deviation 5.62) in the exposed and unexposed groups respectively (P<.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that cancer survivors had higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR] 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.23) and operative or assisted delivery (abdominal or vaginal) (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.14- 1.54). Preterm delivery (at less than 37 weeks of gesation) was also found to be higher in this group compared with non-cancer women (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.76).

While largely reassuring to women intending to become pregnant after surviving cancer, the results indicate areas of increased risk that require additional surveillance.