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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Intrauterine Growth Restriction | Research article

Maternal and child-health outcomes in pregnancies following Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): a prospective cohort study

Authors: Shana Ginar da Silva, Mariângela Freitas da Silveira, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues, Iná da Silva dos Santos

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Studies comparing the outcome of spontaneous versus assisted reproductive technologies (ART) pregnancies report heterogeneous results. Despite the success of ART to overcome infertility, concern is growing regarding both its safety and its effect on maternal and child health. The objective of this study was to compare maternal and child-health outcomes after ART relative to natural conception.

Methods

A population-based birth cohort study was carried out among pregnant women expected to deliver in 2015 in Pelotas, southern Brazil. Maternal outcomes included pregnancy complications and gestational weight gain. Gestational age, weight, intrauterine growth restriction, length and head circumference, and 1-min and 5-min Apgar, as well as health problems at birth and breastfeeding were defined as offspring outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using linear and logistic regression. G-formula was used to perform mediation analysis.

Results

The study included 4252 babies born by spontaneously pregnancies and 23 babies born after ART. Adjusted analyses showed that children conceived from ART presented lower means of gestational age (p = 0.001), birth weight (p = 0.002), length (p < 0.001), and head circumference at birth (p = 0.02). However, more than 90% of the effect of ART over these outcomes was mediated by multiple pregnancy.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the possible negative effect on the child-health outcomes is due mainly to the higher incidence of multiple pregnancies and not because of ART. The reasons for the increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with ART singleton pregnancies are still uncertain and warrants further research. Further large-population studies are needed to confirm these results.

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Title: Maternal and child-health outcomes in pregnancies following Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): a prospective cohort study
Authors: Shana Ginar da Silva
Mariângela Freitas da Silveira
Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi
Marlos Rodrigues Domingues
Iná da Silva dos Santos
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Multiple Pregnancy
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-2755-z

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Maternal and child-health outcomes in pregnancies following Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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