The association between preterm births and assisted reproductive technologies

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Perinatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Preterm birth remains a significant global health concern.
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) use is increasing worldwide.
• Understanding ART's impact on preterm birth risk is crucial for clinical guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate preterm birth risk differences based on conception method: ART vs. non-ART.
• To compare preterm birth risks among different ART methods: IVF, FET, and oocyte receipt (OoR).

Main Methods:

• Utilized anonymized delivery data from Czechia (2013-2018, n=651,049).
• Employed survival analysis, including life tables and Cox regression.
• Controlled for covariates to analyze preterm birth risk by conception method.

Main Results:

• ART-treated women had a higher risk of preterm birth (1.56-2.06) compared to non-ART-treated women.
• Preterm birth proportions varied by ART method, with the highest observed in oocyte receipt (OoR).

Conclusions:

• Initial differences in preterm birth risk between ART methods are largely explained by maternal characteristics.
• After controlling for covariates, no significant differences in preterm birth risk were found for fresh IVF, FET, and OoR.
• Maternal factors significantly influence preterm birth risk in ART-conceived pregnancies.