In-vitro fertilization pregnancies and perinatal health in Finland 1991-1993

In 1993, in Finland at least 0.7% of all pregnancies endingin birth were assisted by in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Thepurpose of this study was to compare IVF mothers with othermothers, and the perinatal health and health care costs of IVFinfants to those of other infants. The main source of informationwas the Medical Birth Register for 1991–1993 (n = 19 1712pregnancies, of which 1015 were started by IVF). IVF motherswere more often older, married and primiparas. They startedantenatal care earlier, had more visits than other mothers andmore than 50% were hospitalized during their pregnancy. Everyfourth IVF pregnancy was a multiple one. Both IVF singletonsand multiples had poorer health than other infants. The newpractice of implanting fewer embryos than before was introducedin 1992–1993, and a 50% decrease in triplet rate was found.At the same time, a somewhat better outcome for IVF newbornswas found. However, every fourth child was still preterm orweighed <2500 g. The health care costs for one IVF newbornfrom induction of pregnancy until the age of 7 days was 5.4-foldcompared to other newborns. The subsequent health of IVF childrenhas to be further studied to more fully assess the health impactof IVF.