TY - JOUR
T1 - Reproductive outcomes after assisted conception
AU - Talaulikar, Vikram Sinai
AU - Arulkumaran, Sabaratnam
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - The last three decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) so that now, in developed countries, 1.7% to 4.0% of all children are born after ART. Although absolute risks appear small, data from prospective and retrospective studies indicate increased risks of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes after ART as compared with spontaneous conception. Recent studies suggest that underlying maternal factors and subfertility play an important role in some of these outcomes rather than the ART procedure itself. A significant risk of assisted conception is multiple pregnancies, but even singleton pregnancies achieved by ART are at a higher risk of hypertensive disease, diabetes, prematurity, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality even after adjusting for confounders. Couples undergoing ART procedures should be counseled in advance regarding increased risks of pregnancy complications and higher rates of obstetric interventions.Although conflicting data exist, studies of children born from ART suggest increased rates of congenital malformations, imprinting disorders (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Angelman syndrome), and marginally increased risk of cancer. However, the current evidence is inadequate, and prospective long-term studies are needed to eliminate the effect of confounders and draw definite conclusions about the long-term outcomes after ART. The absolute risk of imprinting disorders remains small, and routine screening is not recommended at present. The long-term outcomes after ART are difficult to evaluate because of the variability in ART methods and data reporting, and there is a need for standardized methodology for follow-up after ART.Target Audience: Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physiciansLearning Objectives: After completing this CME activity, physicians should be better able to critique the existing literature on birth outcomes after assisted conception, evaluate the factors that may be involved in causing an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes after assisted conception, and counsel women about risks of adverse pregnancy and long-term outcomes after assisted conception.
AB - The last three decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) so that now, in developed countries, 1.7% to 4.0% of all children are born after ART. Although absolute risks appear small, data from prospective and retrospective studies indicate increased risks of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes after ART as compared with spontaneous conception. Recent studies suggest that underlying maternal factors and subfertility play an important role in some of these outcomes rather than the ART procedure itself. A significant risk of assisted conception is multiple pregnancies, but even singleton pregnancies achieved by ART are at a higher risk of hypertensive disease, diabetes, prematurity, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality even after adjusting for confounders. Couples undergoing ART procedures should be counseled in advance regarding increased risks of pregnancy complications and higher rates of obstetric interventions.Although conflicting data exist, studies of children born from ART suggest increased rates of congenital malformations, imprinting disorders (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Angelman syndrome), and marginally increased risk of cancer. However, the current evidence is inadequate, and prospective long-term studies are needed to eliminate the effect of confounders and draw definite conclusions about the long-term outcomes after ART. The absolute risk of imprinting disorders remains small, and routine screening is not recommended at present. The long-term outcomes after ART are difficult to evaluate because of the variability in ART methods and data reporting, and there is a need for standardized methodology for follow-up after ART.Target Audience: Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physiciansLearning Objectives: After completing this CME activity, physicians should be better able to critique the existing literature on birth outcomes after assisted conception, evaluate the factors that may be involved in causing an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes after assisted conception, and counsel women about risks of adverse pregnancy and long-term outcomes after assisted conception.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866652099&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/OGX.0b013e31826a5d4a
DO - 10.1097/OGX.0b013e31826a5d4a
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22990460
AN - SCOPUS:84866652099
SN - 0029-7828
VL - 67
SP - 566
EP - 583
JO - Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey
JF - Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey
IS - 9
ER -