I have conceived with infertility treatment. How will the pregnancy be managed?

Every pregnancy and baby is precious to the professionals privileged to care for you during pregnancy and childbirth and we recognise that a pregnancy following successful infertility treatment is particularly precious. Obstetricians must walk a tight-rope between allowing nature to take its course and intervention when this is to the benefit of mother or baby. When infertility treatment has been necessary, increased vigilance and intervention are necessary. We believe that there is a self-evident advantage when the team involved in your infertility treatment can continue care through the pregnancy.

The decision to undertake a Caesarean section is usually reached by taking into account a combination of factors. A history of infertility, particularly when pregnancy has been achieved after many years and with high-tech treatment, is considered to be one factor in favour of operative delivery. Maternal age tends to be higher and there may be concern about the function of the placenta. Multiple pregnancy may be an additional reason for opting for Caesarean section. The Caesarean section rate for women conceiving with IVF in the Irish study (5) was 55.7% compared to 10.9% in the group conceiving spontaneously whilst awaiting IVF.

The question of whether obstetricians undertake too many or too few Caesarean sections can never be resolved as it is impossible to define the ideal operative delivery rate. Ultimately it is for the individual informed couple, together with their obstetrician, to decide on their preferred type of delivery. Safety and patient satisfaction are the quality measures that matter. There has been a notable increase in the number of women electing to be delivered by Caesarean section.

Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-

• Perinatal outcome and developmental studies on children born after IVF.(2001)

Please click on the required question.

• 1 How successful is infertility treatment?
• 2 How can we compare infertility treatments?
• 3 How can we compare outcomes between different fertility units?
• 4 Are treatments for infertility improving?
• 5 Is there an increased chance of miscarriage following infertility treatment?
• 6 Is there an increased chance of ectopic pregnancy following infertility treatment?
• 7 What is a heterotopic pregnancy?
• 8 What problems can occur with multiple pregnancy?
• 9 What is selective termination of pregnancy?
• 10 How can the pregnancy risks following infertility treatment be reduced?
• 11 We have had infertility treatment which has been successful. How will our pregnancy be cared for?
• 12 If we have infertility treatment, will our baby be healthy?
• 13 What are the psychological effects of infertility? information?
• 14 Where can I obtain more information?
• 15 Infertility Support Groups.
  

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.