Women who have undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF) are at greater risk of developing complications during their pregnancy, according to the results of a american study published this February 22, 2022.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Associationthe study looked at 34 million women who gave birth between 1e January 2008 and December 31, 2016. Researchers compared 106,000 women after fertility treatment with 34.1 million women who conceived naturally. As a result, those who conceived with IVF would be 26% more likely to give birth to a premature baby. The study also noted that women undergoing fertility treatment were older (35 versus 28 for natural conception) and had more comorbidities.
Compared to women who did not undergo IVF, they would also have 57% increased risk of having a placental abruptiona complication in which the placenta separates from the uterine lining, and is usually benign as long as placental abruption is limited.
The researchers also found more health risks for women undergoing IVF. After receiving medical help, these women are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from acute kidney injury and 65% more likely to have an irregular heartbeat.
External risk factors
Although multiple pregnancies are lower than before, women undergoing fertility treatment have more likely to have twins or tripletswhich increases the frequency of premature delivery.
Additionally, some experts believe that taking hormonal drugs, used to stimulate the ovaries and produce more eggs, may increase the risk of problems during pregnancy.
Even if these problems are nevertheless rare, the study highlights that women treated for IVF should be warned as soon as possible of the risks by the clinics. “It is important for women to be aware that fertility treatment carries a higher risk of complications during pregnancy, which require close monitoring, especially during childbirth.“, warns Dr. Pensee Wu, lead author of the study.
“Healthcare professionals should ensure that these risks are communicated and strategies to mitigate them are discussed and implemented.“, he concludes.
Sources:
- In-Hospital Complications in Pregnancies Designed by Assisted Reproductive Technology, Journal of the American Heart AssociationFebruary 22, 2022
Read also:
- Infertility: 9 things to know if you want to have children later
- Infertility: causes, diagnosis, treatment
