Intrapartum interventions for singleton pregnancies arising from assisted reproductive technologies.

Objective: To assess whether singleton pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) are associated with an increased use of intrapartum interventions when compared with spontaneous singleton pregnancies.

Methods: In total, 1327 ART pregnancies and 5222 spontaneous pregnancies during the period 2004 to 2008 were extracted from BORN (Better Outcomes Registry and Network) Ontario's information system. The incidences of common intrapartum interventions were compared, and different classification systems for Caesarean section were used to compare the indications for these between singleton pregnancies following ART with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection and singleton spontaneously conceived pregnancies.

Results: Compared with spontaneous singleton pregnancies, the ART group had increased incidences of internal electronic fetal monitoring (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.37 to 1.87), artificial rupture of membranes (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.66), oxytocin augmentation of labour (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.77), induction of labour (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.50), and Caesarean section (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.60).

Conclusion: Singleton pregnancies resulting from ART were associated with more frequent use of several intrapartum interventions, including Caesarean section.