The obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancy in women with a previous history of infertility: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the frequency of common antenatal problems, the amount of antenatal surveillance and the obstetric and neonatal outcome in women with and without a history of infertility.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study with age and parity matched controls.

SETTING

A single consultant unit at the Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield, over a 22-month period.

SUBJECTS

114 women with a history of infertility who reached 16 weeks gestation with a singleton live fetus and 114 control women matched for age and parity.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Frequency of antepartum complications, amount of antepartum surveillance, obstetric and neonatal outcome.

RESULTS

Common antenatal complications were not increased. In the infertility compared with the control group, the relative risk of requiring an emergency caesarean section was 2.43 (95% CI 1.05-5.63). There was no difference in birthweight.

CONCLUSION

Many of the previously observed differences in outcome of pregnancy in women after infertility compared with those without are associated with age and parity but these characteristics do not explain the increased frequency of emergency caesarean section.