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Open Access 01-04-2021 | Fertility | Original Article

Reproductive risks in 35-year-old adults born very preterm and/or with very low birth weight: an observational study

Authors: Sylvia M. van der Pal, Sanne A. van der Meulen, Sophie M. Welters, Leonhard A. Bakker, Christianne J. M. de Groot, Anton H. van Kaam, Erik (G.H.W.) Verrips

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

Evidence suggests that increased survival over the last decades of very preterm (VPT; gestational age < 32 weeks)– and very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight < 1500 g)–born infants is not matched by improved outcomes. The objective of our study was to evaluate the reproductive rate, fertility, and pregnancy complications in 35-year-old VPT/VLBW subjects. All Dutch VPT/VLBW infants born alive in 1983 and surviving until age 35 (n = 955) were eligible for a POPS-35 study. A total of 370 (39%) subjects completed a survey on reproductive rate, fertility problems, pregnancy complications, and perinatal outcomes of their offspring. We tested differences in these parameters between the VPT/VLBW subjects and their peers from Dutch national registries. POPS-35 participants had less children than their peers in the CBS registry. They reported more problems in conception and pregnancy complications, including a three times increased risk of hypertension during pregnancy.

Conclusion: Reproduction is more problematic in 35-year olds born VPT/VLBW than in the general population, possibly mediated by an increased risk for hypertension, but their offspring have no elevated risk for preterm birth.

What is known:

At age 28, the Dutch national POPS cohort, born very preterm or with a very low birth in 1983, had lower reproductive rates than the general Dutch population (female 23% versus 32% and male 7% versus 22%).

What is new:

At age 35, the Dutch POPS cohort still had fewer children than the general Dutch population (female 56% versus 74% and male 40% versus 56%). Females in the POPS cohort had a higher risk of fertility problems and pregnancy complications than their peers in the Dutch national registries, but their offspring had no elevated risk for preterm birth.

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Title: Reproductive risks in 35-year-old adults born very preterm and/or with very low birth weight: an observational study
Authors: Sylvia M. van der Pal
Sanne A. van der Meulen
Sophie M. Welters
Leonhard A. Bakker
Christianne J. M. de Groot
Anton H. van Kaam
Erik (G.H.W.) Verrips
Publication date: 01-04-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Fertility
Premature Birth
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03864-5

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Reproductive risks in 35-year-old adults born very preterm and/or with very low birth weight: an observational study

Abstract

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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