Perinatal outcome of singleton pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization: a controlled study

To determine whether conception by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF) predisposes to perinatal complications, the obstetric records of 54 women delivered of singleton pregnancies after conception by IVF were examined. Control women were matched for age, parity, race, year of delivery, diethylstilbestrol exposure and medical problems; another group of women who conceived after infertility treatment was matched in similar fashion. IVF patients showed a longer first stage of labor than previously infertile women, experienced a greater intrapartum blood loss than control or previously infertile women, and showed a trend toward a higher cesarean delivery rate than control women. The differences noted probably do not arise from the physiology of IVF, and although some differences are statistically significant, they are of minimal clinical significance. Singleton pregnancies arising after IVF should not be considered as high risk in the absence of other predisposing factors.