Multi-Fetal Pregnancy Reduction Does Not Influence Perinatal Results in Twin Pregnancies

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare perinatal results in multifetal pregnancies where the reduction to twins was performed with non-reduced twin pregnancies. Perinatal results in 99 sets of twins after transabdominal multifetal pregnancy reduction of triple and higher-order multiple pregnancies performed in a single center were compared with a control group consisting of 151 twin pregnancies conceived in the same time period after infertility treatment, which were not a result of reduction. The main outcome measures were length of pregnancies, weight of the newborns, percentage of miscarriages and the mode of the delivery were analyzed. No significant difference could be found at a 5% level of significance regarding the average duration of pregnancy or average weight of the twins. Fisher test on 5% significance level did not ascertain any significant difference in the probability of miscarriage between the group with reduction (5.26%) and the group without reduction (12.84%). At a 5% level of statistical significance, no significant difference in probability of perinatal death of the fetus or delivery of a stillborn fetus was found. The percentage of cesarean sections did not differ significantly in both groups. The analysis of both groups demonstrated that reduction of multifetal pregnancies to twins may not influence perinatal results in comparison to twin pregnancies where reduction was not performed.

Does multi‐fetal pregnancy reduction adversely influence intra‐uterine growth?

“…Although birthweight following MFPR has been examined, the findings have not always been consistent. Birthweight in twin gestations resulting from MFPR as compared with spontaneous twin gestations has been shown to be decreased , increased and unaffected .…”