Birth and newborn health outcomes in single pregnancies conceived using fertility treatments

Out of 4733 pregnancies conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART), 40% experienced operative deliveries.

• Women who conceived using ART were less likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery, with an odds ratio of 0.60.
• Those using ART were more likely to require elective caesarean (adjusted odds ratio 1.31), emergency caesarean (1.19), or instrumental delivery (1.45).
• Neonates conceived via ART were less likely to be born at term, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.64.
• Lower birth weights were observed in neonates conceived using ART compared to those conceived spontaneously.
• No significant differences were found in rates of respiratory distress, admission to neonatal intensive care, or stillbirth between the ART and spontaneous conception groups.
• The odds of neonatal acidosis were lower in the ART cohort, with an odds ratio of 0.71.

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