Pregnancies and births resulting from in vitro fertilization: French national registry, analysis of data 1986 to 1990. FIVNAT (French In Vitro National).
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of pregnancies and children at birth resulting from IVF-ET and to assess whether they differ from those after natural conception.


METHODS
Prospective multicenter survey.


METHODS
A national registry, representing 80% of all French IVF-ET activity for the period 1986 to 1990.


METHODS
Data on 7,024 pregnancies, 5,371 deliveries, and 6,879 newborn infants.


METHODS
A form is completed for every clinical pregnancy.


METHODS
Spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, prematurity, hypotrophy, perinatal and neonatal mortality, and congenital malformations rates.


RESULTS
The spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy rates were, respectively, 17.6% and 5.8%. More than a quarter (26.8%) of the deliveries were multiple births. The preterm birth rate (29.3%), the low birth weight rate (36.2%), and the perinatal and neonatal mortality rates were higher than the national average. The rate of malformations (2.8%) was comparable with the general population (2.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Assisted conception frequently results in multiple pregnancy, and this is the main determinant of pregnancy outcome. Nevertheless, it is not the only risk factor for prematurity, which is also more frequent among IVF singleton newborn. The prevalence of congenital malformations is not higher than after natural conception.
D001723:Birth Rate; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries