Current situation and outcomes of pregnancy in women with Turner syndrome in Japan

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2020 Sep;46(9):1728-1734. doi: 10.1111/jog.14352. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Abstract

Aim: Reports on pregnancy and delivery in women with Turner syndrome (TS) in Japan are limited to case reports, and the current situation remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the current situation of pregnancy and delivery in women with TS in Japan.

Methods: Our study comprised primary and secondary surveys and we included perinatal centers approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Results: A total of 24 cases from 19 facilities were reported, and we obtained individual information for 20 cases from 16 facilities. Of these 20 patients, 13 (65%) had become pregnant via oocyte donation. Three of these patients had received oocyte donation in Japan, while the other 10 had received donations in foreign countries. The other seven patients became pregnant with their own oocyte, with spontaneous menarche. Live babies were delivered by 18 patients, while an induced abortion was required at 18 weeks of gestation in one patient and an intrauterine fetal death from an unknown cause was detected at 38 weeks of gestation in another patient. Cesarean section was performed in 14 patients, with the most frequent indication being cephalopelvic disproportion. The rate of implementation of screening for complications related to TS was low, suggesting insufficient cooperation between facilities responsible for TS treatment, infertility and pregnancy and delivery management.

Conclusion: To improve pregnancy outcomes in women with TS, improved cooperation between facilities and laws regarding oocyte donation in Japan are needed.

Keywords: cesarean section; infertility; oocyte donation; pregnancy; turner syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Oocyte Donation
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
  • Turner Syndrome* / epidemiology