Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In vitro fertilization (IVF) singletons have a worse perinatal outcome than spontaneously conceived singletons, especially in terms of preterm birth and its complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational retrospective case control study was carried out. The study population consisted of 644 women in singleton pregnancies (336 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); 308 controls) who delivered > 22 weeks of gestation at the 1(st) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, between 2004 and 2014. Controls were initially matched by age and parity and drawn from the group of deliveries following each IVF delivery. Collected data included maternal characteristics, incidence of pregnancy complications, time and mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome at delivery. RESULTS: The two study groups were initially matched for age and parity and were also similar with regard to BMI and gestational weight gain. The IVF treatment increased the odds of having vaginal bleeding in the first trimester (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.0-2.86), placenta previa (OR = 5.15; 95% CI: 1.1-33.9), preterm delivery (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.16-3.68), newborn's low birth weight (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.19-4.36) and elective cesarean section (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.7-3.4). CONCLUSIONS: The IVF singleton pregnancies have an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome, among which prematurity remains the greatest problem. Therefore, they should be managed as high risk not only due to psychological reasons.