Comparison of Obstetric Outcomes Between Unassisted Pregnancies and Non-IVF Fertility Treatment Pregnancies in Infertile Patients [ID: 1365555

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies suggest that pregnancies conceived with non-IVF fertility treatment (NIFT) have an increased risk of adverse obstetric outcomes compared to unassisted pregnancies. However, recent population-based studies suggest that infertility independently contributes to elevated perinatal risks. It is unclear whether underlying infertility or NIFT itself contributes to obstetric risks. To understand the effects of NIFT on pregnancy, we compare obstetric outcomes between NIFT and unassisted pregnancies in infertile patients. METHODS: The Developmental Epidemiological Study of Children Born Through Reproductive Technology (DESCRT) recruited an IRB-approved prospective cohort of women with infertility who delivered between 2018 and 2022 (funded under R01-HD084380). We compared maternal serum analyte levels and obstetric outcomes between infertile patients who conceived spontaneously and those who utilized NIFT (ovulation induction, superovulation, and/or intrauterine insemination). Serum analytes were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Obstetric outcomes regarding placental insufficiency were reviewed by two ob-gyns and compared using χ2 tests. RESULTS: We analyzed 101 unassisted pregnancies and 141 NIFT pregnancies. There were no significant differences in mean maternal age (36.6 and 35.6, P=.08). There were no significant differences in maternal serum analytes or in adverse obstetric outcomes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (P=.35), fetal growth restriction (P=.12), abnormal placentation (P=.79), spontaneous preterm birth (P=.97), and gestational diabetes (P=.30). CONCLUSION: Among infertile patients, there were no significant differences in maternal serum analytes or adverse obstetric outcomes between unassisted and NIFT pregnancies. This suggests that the previously demonstrated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with NIFT could be attributed to underlying infertility rather than the utilization of NIFT.