The obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancy in women with a previous history of infertility: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the frequency of common antenatal problems, the amount of antenatal surveillance and the obstetric and neonatal outcome in women with and without a history of infertility.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study with age and parity matched controls.


METHODS
A single consultant unit at the Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield, over a 22-month period.


METHODS
114 women with a history of infertility who reached 16 weeks gestation with a singleton live fetus and 114 control women matched for age and parity.


METHODS
Frequency of antepartum complications, amount of antepartum surveillance, obstetric and neonatal outcome.


RESULTS
Common antenatal complications were not increased. In the infertility compared with the control group, the relative risk of requiring an emergency caesarean section was 2.43 (95% CI 1.05-5.63). There was no difference in birthweight.


CONCLUSIONS
Many of the previously observed differences in outcome of pregnancy in women after infertility compared with those without are associated with age and parity but these characteristics do not explain the increased frequency of emergency caesarean section.
Li
T C
TC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sheffield, Jessop Hospital for Women.
MacLeod
I
I
Singhal
V
V
Duncan
S L
SL
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors