Curettage is a risk factor for marginal umbilical cord insertion

Abstract

Objective: To identify the risk factors for marginal cord insertion (MCI). Material and Methods: This case-control study was carried out between 1 st February and 30 th June 2019. Singletons with and without MCI at delivery were recruited. Main variables analyzed included maternal age, parity, number of previous dilatation and curettage (D&C) or manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), time interval between each procedure and conception, cord insertion. Fisher's exact test, t-test and logistic regression were used to compare data from both groups. Results: We found 60 cases of MCI (4.1%). The signifi cant (p < 0.05) risk factors for MCI were past-history of D&C (aOR 5.97, 95% CI 1.95-18.25) particularly when conception occurred ˂ 5 months after D&C (OR 10.5, 95% CI 1.36-81.05), fetal female sex (aOR 3.82, 95% CI 1.41-10.32), parity ≥ 4 (aOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.05-12.71) and past-history of MVA (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.23-8.76). Conclusion: Women should be advised to conceive at least fi ve months after D&C.