Demographic and obstetric outcomes of pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) compared to non-ART pregnancies

Abstract

Objective: Use of assisted reproductive technology has increased steadily, yet multiple socioeconomic and demographic disparities remain between the general population and those with infertility. Additionally, both mothers and infants experience higher rates of adverse outcomes compared to their non-ART counterparts. Methods: Using International Classifcation of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding, we performed a retrospective review of all ART-conceived deliveries in California in 2009. A total of 551 ART pregnancies were compared to Non-ART pregnancies (n=406,885).Results: The majority of ART deliveries belonged to women of advanced maternal age (AMA) and Caucasian or Asian race. Nearly half of all ART deliveries were multiple gestations. Compared to non-ART deliveries, ART pregnancies were associated with placenta previa, placental abruption, mild preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. Conclusion: While not powered to detect all outcomes, our study highlights signifcant racial and ethnic disparities between ART and Non-ART pregnancies.