title: Preclinical abortions: incidence and significance in the Norfolk in vitro fertilization program.
abstract: Clinical and prognostic significance of preclinical abortions in assisted reproduction is ill defined. Strict diagnostic criteria include a transient and synchronous elevation of serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estradiol, and progesterone levels 13 days after hCG administration, ending in a bleeding episode no more than 14 days after the missed period. The preclinical abortion study group (54 patients, 178 cycles) was compared with matched control groups A (54 patients, 132 cycles) and B (54 patients, 155 cycles), representing normal term pregnancies and all outcomes, respectively. Control group C included the overall population during the study period. The abortion rate per transfer (preclinical abortion and total miscarriage rates) and total pregnancy wastage in the study group were significantly higher; the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly lower. Preclinical abortion should be considered as a true reproductive failure with similar implications.
authors.affiliation: Howard and Georgeanna Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Muasher
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol