COURSE AND OUTCOME OF IVF PREGNANCIES AND SPONTANEOUS CONCEPTIONS WITHIN AN IVF SETTING

The study determines mortality and morbidity levels during pregnancy a nd the perinatal period in those conceiving through IVF in the Republi c of Ireland in comparison with other parts of the world and a peer in fertile group conceiving spontaneously whilst on the IVF clinic books. Six hundred and sixty couples had 187 IVF pregnancies from whom 220 b abies were born to 151 deliveries. There were also 78 spontaneous conc eptions which produced 78 offspring from 73 deliveries. The majority h ad trouble free pregnancies. The incidence of all complications was le ss than has been reported elsewhere. Of the IVF group, 16.5% aborted c ompleted as did 5% of the spontaneous conceptions. A further 7% and 3. 8%, respectively, aborted one sac of a multiple pregnancy. Of the IVF deliveries, 35.8% were multiple as were 6.8% of the spontaneous concep tions. Higher order multiple presence detrimentally influenced deliver y mode, gestational age and birth weights in the IVF group. Of IVF pat ients, 55.7% were section deliveries as were 10.9% of the spontaneous conceptions. Incidence of IVF-group significant congenital abnormality was 1.8%: The perinatal mortality rate was 4.2 per 1000 births. This series suggests the final take-home baby outlook of 81% from conceptio n by IVF is not as poor as previously portrayed. However, attention sh ould be given to abortion, section and multiple pregnancy rates.