Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of in vitro fertilization and natural pregnancies in the same mother

Objective

To compare obstetric and perinatal outcomes between pregnancies conceived using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and natural pregnancies of the same women.

Design

This was a case-control study of deliveries between November 2008 and January 2020 in which each IVF pregnancy was matched to a natural pregnancy of the same woman (1:1 ratio).

Setting

University hospital.

Patient(s)

We included women with consecutive live singleton deliveries (>24 weeks of gestation) at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center. We excluded IVF pregnancies attained using egg donation.

Intervention(s)

In vitro fertilization–attained pregnancies (as compared with natural ones).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Primary outcome: preterm birth (PTB). Secondary outcomes: small for gestational age (SGA) neonates and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH; gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia).

Result(s)

A total of 544 IVF pregnancies were matched to 544 natural pregnancies, each in the same woman. In 292 women (53.7%), the natural pregnancy preceded the IVF pregnancy. Maternal age was significantly higher in IVF deliveries. Gestational age at delivery and the rates of PTB, PIH, instrumental delivery, cesarean delivery, and SGA neonates were comparable between IVF and natural pregnancies. Birth weight was slightly lower in IVF pregnancies. On multivariate analysis, IVF was not independently associated with PTB, SGA, or PIH after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusion(s)

When compared in a cohort of the same women, natural and IVF-attained pregnancies did not differ with regard to obstetric and perinatal outcomes.