Comparison of outcome of pregnancy after intra-uterine insemination (IUI) and IVF.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy outcome after IVF has been shown to be worse than after spontaneous conception. There is discussion as to whether this results from the technique itself or the patient characteristics. This study compares pregnancy outcome after IVF and intra-uterine inemination (IUI) in a matched patient group.


METHODS
Data were obtained from our IVF and IUI databases (1997-2001). Matching was performed for maternal age, parity and plurality, and 126 IUI pregnancies were compared with 126 IVF pregnancies. Outcome variables were pregnancy duration, birth weight, Caesarean section rates, preterm contraction rates, neonatal intensive care unit admission, Apgar score, blood loss rates and maternal hypertension.


RESULTS
None of the analysed parameters was statistically different between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This matched case-control study does not show different pregnancy outcomes after IVF and IUI. Since there is no reason to believe that the IUI technique in itself leads to an increased obstetric or neonatal risk, this study suggests that the worse pregnancy outcome after IVF as compared with spontaneous conceptions is due to the specific patient characteristics, rather than to the use of IVF itself.
De Sutter
Petra
P
Infertility Centre, University Hospital Gent, Belgium. petra.desutter@ugent.be
Veldeman
Liv
L
Kok
Pascale
P
Szymczak
Nathalie
N
Van der Elst
Josiane
J
Dhont
Marc
M
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014599:Uterus