Infertility and pregnancy outcome in an unselected group of women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The null hypothesis of this study is that infertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with insulin-dependent diabetes are identical to those of nondiabetic control subjects.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey comprising an unselected population of 18- to 49-year-old diabetic women and a comparable control group was performed. Reply rates were 94% (n = 245) and 88% (n = 253), respectively.


RESULTS
Cumulative rates of pregnancies and involuntary infertility (17%) did not differ between the two groups. Diabetic women had significantly fewer pregnancies (1.4 vs 1.7) and fewer births per pregnancy than controls, and more diabetic women were nulliparous (48% vs 38%). Half of all diabetic pregnancies were planned. Diabetic women reported that their diabetes had a negative influence on their attitude toward having children.


CONCLUSIONS
In insulin-dependent diabetic women the ability to conceive is normal, but diabetic women have fewer pregnancies and fewer births per pregnancy than controls.
Kjaer
K
K
Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Hagen
C
C
Sandø
S H
SH
Eshøj
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires