Primipaternity and duration of exposure to sperm antigens as risk factors for pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To establish whether primipaternity and duration of unprotected sexual cohabitation is associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. Method: At a tertiary referral center, the study had a case and control group of 60 multigravid women each, as well as a case and control group of 50 primigravid women each. Information was compiled by means of a confidential questionnaire. Result: After multiple logistic regression analysis using age, smoking, hypertension in previous pregnancies, change of paternity and duration of unprotected sexual cohabitation as predictors, the regression coefficients for change of paternity and sexual cohabitation of longer than 6 months in multigravid women were −0.4 ( P=0.15) and −1.4 ( P=0.03), respectively. Conclusion: Multigravid women with a period of unprotected sexual cohabitation of longer than 6 months had a decreased risk of pre-eclampsia. Primipaternity was not a significant risk factor for pre-eclampsia.