Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes among Women after a Period of Infertility: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study

Abstract

Purpose: Infertility has been highly prevalent in recent years and has social implications. With the development of novel treatments, there is a rise in complications. This study aims to assess the maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies following a period of infertility. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analytical study of 140 women admitted to the labor room in a tertiary care center in South India from September 2014 to May 2016 with conceptions following a period of infertility was recruited in group I. A total of 140 controls with spontaneous conceptions within 1 year of married life were recruited in group II. Data were collected using a pre-designed proforma after obtaining informed consent. Various maternal and perinatal outcomes between the two groups were analyzed and compared. Chi-squared test/Fischer's exact test was used to compare the two groups' outcomes. Results: The incidence of hypertensive disorders [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.2], gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.7-7.5), and preterm labor (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.6-7.8) were significantly higher in group I compared to group II. Among the fetal outcome, the number of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions (OR = 5.57; 95% CI: 2.5-13.1), low birth weight (LBW) (OR = 3.02; 95% CI: 1.8-4.9), and neonatal morbidity (OR = 7.8; 95% CI: 1.5-14.8) were significantly higher among group I. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the perinatal outcome among the different treatment groups. Conclusion: Pregnancies following infertility are at a higher risk of some obstetric complications and adverse perinatal outcomes than spontaneous conceptions and hence require close follow-up and timely intervention.