Preterm delivery and low birth weight in singleton pregnancies conceived by women with and without a history of infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To determine predictors of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PTD) in singleton pregnancies conceived by women with and without a history of infertility.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Eleven infertility clinics in northern California.


METHODS
Three groups of women who carried singleton pregnancies to ≥20 weeks' gestation: 542 infertile women who conceived after treatment, 441 infertile women who conceived spontaneously, and 1,008 fertile women for comparison.


METHODS
Chart review.


METHODS
Association of LBW or PTD with infertility treatment, maternal age, parity, obesity, or development of gestational diabetes.


RESULTS
Infertile women who conceived with treatment were more likely to be obese, develop gestational diabetes, and have ovarian, ovulatory, or male factor infertility than infertile women who conceived spontaneously. Infertile women who conceived after treatment had 1.61 times greater odds of having an LBW infant. Nulliparity was an independent predictor of LBW and PTD in all three groups after controlling for maternal age, history of infertility, infertility treatment, obesity, and gestational diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Nulliparous women and women with a history of infertility who conceive a singleton after treatment may be at increased odds for having an LBW infant. Infertile women do not appear to be at increased odds for PTD.
School of Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, San Mateo;; Fertility Physicians of Northern California, California 94402, USA. lcamarano@samuelmerritt.edu
Loretta
L
Camarano
Abbey
A
Alkon
Robert D
RD
Nachtigall
Michael
M
Schembri
Sandra
S
Weiss
Mary S
MS
Croughan
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies