PERINATAL OUTCOME AFTER EMBRYO-TRANSFER IN OVUM RECIPIENTS - A COMPARISON WITH STANDARD IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

OBJECTIVE: To compare perinatal outcome after embryo transfer vs. stan dard in vitro fertilization (IVF) in ovum recipients. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed 22 consecutive ovum donor pregnancies delivered at Mount Sin ai Hospital between July 1989 and November 1992 and matched them for a ge, parity and order of gestation to a control group who underwent sta ndard IVF-embryo transfer (ET) during that period. RESULTS: The two gr oups showed similar rates of maternal complications, including hyperte nsive disorders, gestational diabetes and puerperal complications. Whe n compared to patients undergoing autologous IVF-ET, ovum recipients h ad a lower rate of preterm labor (22.7% vs. 54.6%, P<.05), a higher me an gestational age at delivery (38.7 vs. 36.2 weeks, P<.01) and increa sed mean birth weight of neonates (2,924 us. 2,374 g, P<.005). Though infants born through traditional IVF-ET were more likely to be preterm , Apgar scores were similar at one and five minutes. Our data support the generally favorable outcome seen in pregnancies conceived through ovum donation despite the fact that many of these patients had prior p oor prenatal outcomes, long intervals until conception, and coexisting medical conclusions. CONCLUSION: Ovum donation in women of comparable ages has obstetric outcomes equal to or better than patients undergoi ng traditional IVF-ET, Obstetric and perinatal outcome do not seem to be impaired in patients receiving donated oocytes.