TWIN PREGNANCIES CONCEIVED BY ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES - MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES

Objective: To determine whether twin pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive techniques are at increased risk for obstetric complicat ions or perinatal morbidity. Methods: A computerized perinatal data ba se was reviewed for all twin pregnancies managed by private obstetrici ans and delivered between 1990 and 1995. The obstetric and neonatal ou tcomes of those conceived following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ga mete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) were compared to the outcomes of t hose conceived spontaneously. Results: There were 105 twin deliveries following IVF or GIFT and 279 following natural fertilization. Discord ant birth weight and low birth weight occurred more frequently in preg nancies conceived by IVF or GIFT (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.11, 95% c onfidence interval [CI] 1.14, 3.91; OR 1.65, 95% CI 0.98, 2.79, respec tively). Elective cesarean delivery was more frequent in twin pregnanc ies conceived after IVF GIFT (relative risk [RR] 4.02, 95% CI 1.28, 12 .6). There were no statistically significant differences in the freque ncy of antepartum or intrapartum complications, preterm delivery, or m ean gestational age at delivery. There was no statistically significan t increase in the frequency of neonatal complications among infants bo rn after IVF GIFT. Conclusion: Although twin pregnancies following IVF or GIFT are more likely to result in discordant birth weight infants, the perinatal outcome is comparable to that of spontaneously conceive d twin pregnancies. Copyright (C) 1997 by Tile American College of Obs tetricians and Gynecologists.