[Adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome with in vitro fertilization technology: A French nationwide population-based...

The objective of this study was to quantify the risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity with in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology compared to non-IVF pregnancies in a recent French national cohort.

The data was extracted from the hospital information data system, including all pregnancies with a delivery from 2013 to 2016. The risks of preterm birth, maternal morbidity (venous and arterial thrombosis, gestational diabetes, vascular disorders, placenta previa, placenta abruption), hypotrophy and congenital malformation were compared in both groups in univariate and multivariate analysis after adjustment on the characteristics of women (age, parity, obesity, tobacco dependence, history of diabetes or high blood pressure), multiple deliveries and sex of children.

In all, 2,875,662 pregnancies and 2,922,712 births were analyzed, of which 49,224 were derived from IVF (1.7%). In multivariate analysis, all risks were significantly higher in IVF: premature deliveries (OR_ajusted=1.28; CI_95%=1.24-1.32), maternal morbidity (OR_ajusted=1.24; CI_95%=1.21-2.28), (mainly for thrombosis venous, placenta previa and placenta abruption). The risks of hypotrophy (OR_ajusted=1.13; CI_95%=1.10-1.16) and congenital malformations (OR_ajusted=1.11; CI_95%=1.05-1.17) were slightly increased.

The results of this study on a large cohort of recent births in France confirm that there was an increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidities in IVF. These risks were similar to those published in the international literature. This study is the starting point for a forthcoming surveillance.