ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES - ESTIMATES OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO MULTIPLE BIRTHS AND NEWBORN HOSPITAL DAYS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Objective: Estimate the contribution of assisted reproductive technolo gy (ART) in the United States to multiple gestation births and newborn hospital days. Design: Analysis of successful ART conceptions occurri ng during 1990 to 1991 compared with vital statistics. Newborn hospita l days are estimated from the 1990 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Setting: The American Fertility Society and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology registry. Patients: Infants delivered from ART . Interventions: Assisted reproductive technology. Main Outcome Measur es: Number of multiple gestation infants and newborn hospital days. Re sults: Approximately 12,327 live-born infants were delivered from ART conceptions during 1990 to 1991, representing 22.2% of all live-born t riplet, 17.3% of quadruplet, and 11.4% of quintuplet infants born in t he United States. The number of newborn hospital days attributed to AR T infants was 87,135 days. Between the periods 1972 through 1974 and 1 990 through 1991, the rate of triplet and higher order multiple gestat ion infants per 100,000 white live births increased by 191%, with 38% due to ART conceptions and 30% to increased childbearing among older w omen. Conclusions: Assisted reproductive technology contributed 22% of U.S. triplet and higher order multiple births during 1990 to 1991.