In vitro fertilization and preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission of the newborn to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in women pregnant after fertility treatment and subfertile women with the risk in fertile women.


METHODS
Prospective follow-up study.


METHODS
Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark, 1989-2006.


METHODS
A total of 20,080 liveborn singletons.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Preterm delivery, low birth weight, and admission of the newborn to a NICU.


RESULTS
After adjustment we found a statistically significantly increased risk of preterm delivery and very preterm delivery in women who conceived after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) compared with fertile women. Compared with fertile women, the risk of preterm delivery and very preterm delivery was not statistically significantly different in women pregnant after non-IVF assisted reproductive treatment (non-IVF ART) or subfertile women. We found no association between IVF/ICSI and the risk of low birth weight at term or admittance to the NICU.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased risk of preterm delivery after IVF/ICSI may be due to the fertility treatment or unknown characteristics in the couples who undergo IVF/ICSI.
Wisborg
Kirsten
K
Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark. kirstenwisborg@dadlnet.dk
Ingerslev
Hans Jacob
HJ
Henriksen
Tine Brink
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult