Evaluation of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Assisted Reproduction Technology: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Materials and Methods: Pregnant women registered from 2015 through 2017 (n = 6994) at five perinatal centers that managed high-risk pregnancies in Mie, Japan, retrospectively. Rates of preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks), early onset preeclampsia (<34 gestational weeks), late onset preeclampsia (≥34 gestational weeks), low-lying placenta, placenta previa, placenta accreta, placental abruption, atonic bleeding, uterine rupture, and amniotic fluid embolism after ART were evaluated. ART was defined as in vitro fertilization and micro-fertilization. Fisher’s exact test, Mann−Whitney’s U test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Rates of obstetrical complications including low-lying placenta, placenta previa, placenta accreta, and atonic bleeding were increased with ART compared to those with the control. Particularly, ART was associated with a significantly increased rate of placenta accreta (adjusted odds ratio: 7.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.20−16.6) and significantly decreased rate of placental abruption (adjusted odds ratio: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07−0.61). Conclusions: This study showed that ART may reduce placental abruption and increase placenta previa. There is a possibility that the placenta attaches deeper in the myometrium because of ART.

Keywords

• maternal fetal medicine
• assisted reproductive technology
• maternal outcomes
• neonatal outcomes