Increased chances of pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes and premature births in egg donation recipients

Abstract

An increasing number of women are delaying childbirth until an age when their fertility has significantly declined. Oocyte donation provides the opportunity for these women to successfully conceive. However, most investigators have noted an increased rate of obstetric and perinatal complications in women who got pregnant at or beyond the edge of reproductive age. In this study, we aim to assess the chances of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), gestational diabetes, premature births and abortions in egg donation recipients. Retrospective case-control study. Women who had standard indication for oocyte donation were matched with an egg donor whose cycle was synchronized with that of the potential recipient, prior to the donor's undertaking ovarian hyperstimulation and transvaginal ultrasound-directed follicle aspiration. The recipients who got pregnant in this ovodonation program from 2002 to 2006 were included in Group A. Overall information on pregnancy, delivery and puerperium were collected from medical files and personal interviews and the outcomes were compared with those of infertility patients at similar age to donors and that had pregnancies (group B). Association between groups and complications were assessed by Chi-square test and chances of developing associated complications were calculated by binary logistic regression. Levels of P≤0.05 were considered significant. Seventy five recipients had pregnancies during the studied period and were included on group A. Their age was higher (42 ± 0.52 years old; Mean ± SE) than women on group B (n = 74; 29 ± 0.35 years old). No complications other than pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), prematurity, and gestational diabetes were significant associated to any group. Occurrence of PIH (R n = 12; C n = 5) was associated to group A. Recipients had 3.45 more chances of developing PIH than controls. Group A (n = 9) tended to be associated to gestational diabetes (P=0.07) and they have 3 times more chances of developing this endocrinopathy than B (n = 4; P=0.08). The chances of premature births were higher in group A (n = 18) than in group B (n = 11) (odds ratio=2.43; P=0.046) and abortion was not associated to neither groups. The risk of PIH and premature labor is higher in oocyte donation pregnancies, but the perinatal outcomes are favorable, thus egg donation recipients should be warned about risks and monitored for these complications.