Comparison of the perinatal outcome of twins conceived after assisted reproductive technologies versus those conceived naturally.

Objective: To analyze whether twin pregnancies resulting from assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) had an increased risk of obstetric complications or adverse neonatal outcomes.

Study Design: The obstetric and neonatal outcomes of 252 cases of twin pregnancies, including 108 cases conceived by ART and 144 cases of natural conception, delivered at our hospital between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2011, were compared retrospectively.

Results: Mean maternal age in the ART group was significantly older than that of the control group (31.04 ± 3.63 vs. 28.81 ± 4.75, t = 2.88, p < 0.05). Among the gravidas (< 35 years old) the incidence of premature rupture in the ART group and the control group was statistically significant (22.09% vs. 10.48%, χ2 = 5.30, p < 0.05). The incidence of mild asphyxia of the second twin in the ART group and the control group was also statistically significant (23.53% vs. 12.20%, χ2 = 4.61, p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in other maternal or neonatal complications of twins between the ART group and the control group.

Conclusion: In this study, except for a higher incidence of morbidity, premature rupture of membranes, and mild asphyxia of the second twin, the obstetric complications or adverse neonatal outcome in the ART group were similar, which indicated that ART-conceived twin pregnancies were not at higher risk for obstetric complications or adverse neonatal outcome than were naturally conceived twin pregnancies.