Maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously and by assisted reproductive techniques:
1Maternity Teaching Hospital, Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Background:
Data vary on maternal and perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies conceived through assisted reproductive technology compared with spontaneous conception.
Aims:
This study compared maternal, perinatal and obstetric outcomes of dichorionic twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously with twin pregnancies conceived through assisted reproductive technology.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study of dichorionic twins delivered at the Maternity Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from 1 November 2016 to 31 December 2017. Twin pregnancies were classified into two groups: spontaneously conceived (n = 121) and conceived through assisted reproductive technology (n = 79). Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. The chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables and the Student t-test to compare means. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Results:
Pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes and preterm rupture of membranes were more common in mothers in the assisted reproductive technology group (P < 0.05). Preterm birth, low neonatal birth weight and congenital malformation were also more common in the assisted reproductive technology group (P < 0.001). Gestational age < 33 weeks and conception through assisted reproductive technology were significantly associated with admission to the neonatal intensive care unit for both twins.
Conclusion:
Studies are needed to assess the reasons for the differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes between twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously and through assisted reproductive technology.
