Obstetric outcome and incidence of congenital anomalies in 2351 IVF/ICSI babies

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive follow-up of fetal and perinatal outcome and the incidence of congenital anomalies in babies born after fresh embryo transfers compared to those conceived spontaneously in infertile couples. Methods Retrospective comparative analysis of all clinical pregnancies from fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles (IVF and ICSI) compared with infertile patients who conceived spontaneously in the same time period (control). Congenital anomalies were classified following the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) classification. Results A total of 2414 assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies were compared to 582 spontaneous conceptions in the control infertile group representing 2306 deliveries. No significant differences were found in pregnancy outcome between the two groups (delivery rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancies, medical abortions for fetal anomalies, single and twins mean gestational age, and weight at delivery). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found in the twin (21.3 vs 2.3 %) and triplet rates (2.3 vs 0 %). A total of 2351 babies were delivered in the ART group and 449 in the control group. A total of 90 babies (3.8 %) were diagnosed with a major congenital anomaly in the ART group and 15 (3.3 %) in the control group (p = ns). The overall rate of major congenital anomalies (105/2800) in ART and spontaneous pregnancies in infertile couples was significantly higher when compared to the EUROCAT 2.0 versus 3.75 % (p = 0.0002). Discussion Babies born after ART treatments and from spontaneous conception in infertile couples had rates of congenital anomalies higher than those recorded by the EUROCAT. However, the rates of anomalies were not different within the infertile population whether conceived by ART or spontaneously. These data suggest that the diagnosis of infertility in itself is the common denominator for the increase in the rates of anomalies seen in both ART and spontaneous conceptions.

Predictive value of serum progesterone level on β-hCG check day in women with previous repeated miscarriages after in vitro fertilization

“…In the overall pregnancy outcomes, the ongoing pregnancy maintenance rate over 18 weeks was 60.8% in the subjects with unexplained repeated miscarriages in previous IVF cycles, which was lower than the overall ongoing pregnancy maintenance rate in the whole group of patients with visible G-sac in our center (85.5%); such a finding is consistent with those of previous reports [1, 2]. The subjects showed a mean β -hCG level of 157.3±79.5 mIU/mL and a mean progesterone level of 29.9±17.4 ng/mL 14 days after oocyte retrieval, which is similar with those of previous reports [16–18].…”

Preimplantation Genetic Testing: Where We Are Today

“…Furthermore, no differences in gestational age and birth weight were reported among the groups. The overall prevalence of congenital malformations (2.1%) was similar to that previously reported after either IVF with and without PGT-A [116,117] or spontaneous conceptions [118,119]. Following all of these considerations, SMF was not considered to be a critical parameter for embryo ploidy status.…”

Congenital heart defects in IVF/ICSI pregnancy: systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The PRISMA statement was used for reporting the Methods, Results and Discussion sections of the current review. Extracted data from all included articles are shown in Table S1.…”