The effect of the number of fetuses on pregnancy outcome after in-vitro fertilization

Abstract

Objective: The multiple pregnancy rate after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is about 28.2%. It is widely known that multiple pregnancy is one of the risk factors for mother and fetus. We studied the duration and outcomes of pregnancies in 2 groups of women, one group had one fetus, the other - two fetuses.

Full Text

Methods: We examined 217 pregnant women who underwent IVF treatment of infertility. 178 patients had one fetus (group 1), and 39 women had twins (group 2). The investigation included all clinical and laboratory tests used in obstetrics.

Results: Spontaneous abortion on the 6-13 week of pregnancy occurred in 25.3% of cases in group 1; there were no such cases in group 2 in this term. Spontaneous abortion on the 14-22 week of pregnancy was observed in 12.8% of patients in group 2 and only in 2.3% - in group 1. Missed abortion was diagnosed in 12.4% and 2.6% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Premature labor in term 32-36 weeks of gestation occured in 33.3% of women in 2-nd group and only in 4.4% - in 1-st group. 55.6% of patients in group 1 and 51.3% in group 2 delivered at term.

Conclusion: The most dangerous terms for pregnancy after IVF are 6-13 weeks in singletons and 14-22, 32-36 weeks of gestation in twins. This requires more careful observation of the patients in these periods of pregnancy.