Pregnancy Outcomes Following Assisted Reproductive Technology in Advanced Maternal Age Primiparous Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes following assisted reproductive technology (ART) in advanced maternal age (AMA) primiparous women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed 2329 AMA primiparous women (≥35 years) who delivered singleton pregnancies at Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital between January 2016 and January 2020. Participants were stratified into ART (n=422) and spontaneous conception (SC, n=1907) groups. Maternal characteristics, obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes were compared using multivariate logistic regression to adjust for confounders.

RESULTS

ART patients exhibited significantly higher maternal age (37.48 ± 2.44 vs 36.65 ± 1.90 years, p < 0.001) and BMI (27.79 ± 3.34 vs 27.61 ± 8.12 kg/m², p = 0.016). ART was independently associated with increased risks of preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-2.86), cesarean delivery (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.74-3.06), preterm birth (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.10-2.19), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (aOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.68-3.37). Conversely, SC pregnancies showed higher rates of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM; 26.43% vs 17.30%, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in gestational diabetes mellitus (33.18% vs 31.31%, p = 0.455) or placental abruption (0.95% vs 1.42%, p = 0.313).

CONCLUSION

In AMA primiparas, ART selectively elevates risks of preeclampsia and neonatal morbidity, necessitating targeted antenatal surveillance. These findings underscore the importance of preconception counseling and individualized management for this growing patient population.