Trends in fetal indications for termination of pregnancy between 2002 and 2010 at a tertiary referral centre

We reviewed the data of the termination of pregnancy (TOP) cases between 2002 and 2010 to evaluate the changes in fetal indications for both early and late TOPs in this period.

The data of 962 TOP cases were analysed in two groups according to the periods as in 2002-2006 and 2007-2010. The women were also subdivided into two categories according to their gestational age; <23 weeks' gestation (early termination) and ≥23 weeks' gestation (late termination).

Four hundred and fifty-eight (47.6%) of TOPs were performed between 2002 and 2006 (Group 1) and 504 (52.3%) were performed between 2007 and 2010 (Group 2). The number of early (<23 weeks) and late (≥23 weeks) terminations were 583 (60.6%) and 379 (39.3%), respectively. The vast majority of anomalies were central nervous sytem malformations (51.8%). They were followed by multiple anomalies (10.2%) and chromosomal anomalies (9.4%). Chromosomal and cardiovascular system anomalies were significantly higher in 2007-2010 in comparison to 2002-2006 (p<0.0001 and p=0.002, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the fetal indications that led to early termination compared to those that led to late termination.

The distribution of indications for TOP was influenced by the development in prenatal screening policy, resulting in a significant increase in terminations due to chromosomal and cardiovascular system anomalies. Cultural, educational, religious and legal factors cause differences in the indications for TOP as well as the gestational age that TOPS are performed.