Risk of adverse perinatal outcomes after oocyte donation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In women with singleton pregnancies conceived after assisted reproductive technologies, does the in vitro fertilization with oocyte donation (IVF-OD) affect the perinatal and maternal outcomes compared to autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF-AO)?

Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing perinatal and maternal outcomes in singleton pregnancies resulting from IVF-OD versus IVF-AO. An electronic literature search in Pubmed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane database was performed. The main outcome measures were hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm birth, early preterm birth, low birth weight, and very low birth weight.

Twenty-three studies were included. IVF-OD is associated with a higher risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (OR 2.63, 2.17-3.18), preeclampsia (OR 2.64; 2.29-3.04), severe preeclampsia (OR 3.22; 2.30-4.49), pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR 2.16; 1.79-2.62), preterm birth (OR 1.57; 1.33-1.86), early preterm birth (OR 1.80; 1.51-2.15), low birth weight (OR 1.25, 1.20-1.30), very low birth weight (OR 1.37, 1.22-1.54), gestational diabetes (OR 1.27; 1.03-1.56), and cesarean section (OR 2.28; 2.14-2.42). There was no significant difference in the risk of preterm birth or low birth weight when adjusted for preeclampsia.

IVF-OD patients should be considered an independent risk factor for some adverse perinatal outcomes, mainly hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, preeclampsia, and severe preeclampsia. Immunological and hormonal aspects may be involved in these results, and further research focusing in the etiopathogenesis of these pathologies are needed.