Abstract
BackgroundImpact of fetal gender on prematurity has been primarily investigated in singleton pregnancies. In an attempt to understand better how fetal gender may affect gestational length in twin gestations after in vitro fertilization, same-sex twins and opposite twins were compared for pregnancy duration.MethodsThis study evaluated 113 women at ages 20 to 39 years with consecutive dichorionic-diamniotic twin gestations after assisted reproduction. All pregnancies were results of fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with use of autologous oocytes and sperm and were delivered at up to 37 weeks of gestation at a University-based high-risk, maternal-fetal medicine unit.ResultsBoth groups did not differ in baseline characteristics, such as maternal ages, indications for fertility treatments, number of previous IVF attempts, body mass index and parity. Opposite sex- twins, however, presented with significantly shorter gestational age at birth (32.9 +/- 3.4 weeks) than same-sex twins (34.3 +/- 2.5 weeks), (p < 0.05). Younger maternal age was also associated with shorter pregnancy duration (p < 0.05).ConclusionsFetal gender mix serves as risk factor for more significant prematurity in dichorionic-diamniotic twins after assisted reproduction with opposite sex twins at higher risk than same sex-twins.
Highlights
Impact of fetal gender on prematurity has been primarily investigated in singleton pregnancies
Inclusion criteria covered exclusively Caucasian women with dichorionic-diamniotic (DC/DA) twin gestations after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with autologous oocytes/ sperm in fresh IVF cycles and via the transfer of two or more embryos, who delivered due to spontaneous preterm labor, medical or fetal indications at up to 37 weeks of gestation [7]
In Austria, up to four assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles per pregnancy are partially covered by a governmental fund, the so-called IVF-Fonds [14]
Summary
Impact of fetal gender on prematurity has been primarily investigated in singleton pregnancies. In an attempt to understand better how fetal gender may affect gestational length in twin gestations after in vitro fertilization, same-sex twins and opposite twins were compared for pregnancy duration. In comparison to singleton pregnancies twin gestations are associated with a significantly higher risk for prematurity and, prematurity-associated adverse perinatal outcome [3]. A variety of predictive factors for prematurity risk, such as maternal age, race or obstetric history (such as previous preterm birth) and fetal gender, is well-established according to population-based surveys of mainly spontaneously conceived singleton and twin pregnancies [4,5,6]. Monochorionicity goes along with a significantly higher risk for preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcome than dichorionicity [9]
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