Risk of cesarean section in singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the perinatal outcome of singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques in comparison with that in matched controls from spontaneous pregnancies.


METHODS
A total of 11,776 deliveries from January 1, 1995, to May 31, 2001, were subjected to retrospective analysis. Data on 259 neonates from singleton pregnancies after ovulation induction (n = 85, 32.8%), intrauterine insemination (n = 17, 6.6%) or in vitro fertilization (n = 157, 60.6%) were evaluated. The pregnancy outcome was compared with that for controls (n = 518) matched for age, gravidity and parity after spontaneous pregnancies.


RESULTS
Cesarean section was significantly more frequent in the study group than in the control group (42.1% vs. 27.6%, P < .001, odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-2.61). The prevalence of preterm deliveries was not significantly higher (P = .40, OR 1.23, 95% CI .78-1.95) in the study group as compared with the controls (12.7% vs. 10.6%). There was no significant difference in intrauterine growth retardation between the two groups (9.3% vs. 6.2%, P = .14, OR 1.55, 95% CI .89-2.69).


CONCLUSIONS
Singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques are associated with an increased rate of cesarean section, whereas neonatal outcome is not influenced.
Kozinszky
Zoltán
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Center for Assisted Reproduction, Kaáli Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Zádori
Janos
J
Orvos
Hajnalka
H
Katona
Márta
M
Pál
Attila
A
Kovács
László
L
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017584:Reproductive History; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment