Background and purpose: This study compared the neonatal outcome between infants born after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and after natural conception at National Taiwan University Hospital.
Methods: All medical records of women who underwent IVF and gave birth at our hospital from January 1995 to December 1996 were reviewed. The charts of their offspring were also reviewed. We compared the neonatal outcome of infants born after IVF with that of infants born after natural conception. Neonatal outcome was evaluated based on preterm birth, very low birth weight (VLBW), perinatal morbidity, and neonatal mortality.
Results: A total of 75 women underwent IVF and gave birth to a total of 100 live newborns and two fetuses with intrauterine death during the 2-year study period. Among these newborns, the prevalence of preterm birth was 28%, of perinatal morbidity was 17%, and of neonatal mortality was 3%, which were significantly higher than those among the 7,736 neonates born after natural conception. However, the rate of VLBW was similar between the two groups. The rate of preterm birth for twin pregnancies were higher than that for singleton pregnancies in both groups.
Conclusion: This study showed that infants born after IVF had a higher risk of preterm birth and higher perinatal morbidity and neonatal mortality.