News | Experts Identify 39 Weeks as the Optimal Delivery Time After Fertility Treatment
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that 39 weeks is the optimal delivery time for full-term singleton pregnancies conceived through fertility treatment. It examined how to balance the risks of early and late-term delivery in singleton pregnancies conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART) to achieve the best neonatal outcomes.
Background
Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) help many couples conceive but are associated with higher perinatal risks, including stillbirth, perinatal death, and low birth weight. There has been no consensus on optimal delivery timing. Researchers conducted this large retrospective study to help clinicians and patients make informed decisions.
Methods
The study included women in the United States who conceived through fertility treatment and delivered between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) covered 178,448 singleton deliveries after fertility treatment. Cases involving multiple pregnancies, congenital anomalies, an unknown treatment method, gestational diabetes, or gestational hypertension were excluded.
Researchers compared gestational age at delivery from 37 to 42 weeks with neonatal complications, mortality, and other outcomes to identify the optimal time.
Results
Neonatal outcomes were best for delivery at 39 weeks. Risks were significantly lower than at 37 or 38 weeks, while delivery at 40 weeks or later was associated with significantly higher perinatal mortality and neonatal complication risks.
Compared with spontaneous conception, pregnancies following fertility treatment involved older patients, higher preterm birth rates, and lower average neonatal birth weight. Delivery at 39 weeks offered a key balance between avoiding early delivery and reducing risks from delayed delivery.
Significance
The findings provide clinical guidance for patients worldwide who conceive using ART, suggesting that planned delivery at 39 weeks may reduce perinatal risk. This may help clinicians develop more effective delivery plans and give patients an evidence base for birth decisions.
News | Experts Identify 39 Weeks as the Optimal Delivery Time After Fertility Treatment
News | Experts Identify 39 Weeks as the Optimal Delivery Time After Fertility Treatment
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that 39 weeks is the optimal delivery time for full-term singleton pregnancies conceived through fertility treatment. It examined how to balance the risks of early and late-term delivery in singleton pregnancies conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART) to achieve the best neonatal outcomes.
Background
Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) help many couples conceive but are associated with higher perinatal risks, including stillbirth, perinatal death, and low birth weight. There has been no consensus on optimal delivery timing. Researchers conducted this large retrospective study to help clinicians and patients make informed decisions.
Methods
The study included women in the United States who conceived through fertility treatment and delivered between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) covered 178,448 singleton deliveries after fertility treatment. Cases involving multiple pregnancies, congenital anomalies, an unknown treatment method, gestational diabetes, or gestational hypertension were excluded.
Researchers compared gestational age at delivery from 37 to 42 weeks with neonatal complications, mortality, and other outcomes to identify the optimal time.
Results
Neonatal outcomes were best for delivery at 39 weeks. Risks were significantly lower than at 37 or 38 weeks, while delivery at 40 weeks or later was associated with significantly higher perinatal mortality and neonatal complication risks.
Compared with spontaneous conception, pregnancies following fertility treatment involved older patients, higher preterm birth rates, and lower average neonatal birth weight. Delivery at 39 weeks offered a key balance between avoiding early delivery and reducing risks from delayed delivery.
Significance
The findings provide clinical guidance for patients worldwide who conceive using ART, suggesting that planned delivery at 39 weeks may reduce perinatal risk. This may help clinicians develop more effective delivery plans and give patients an evidence base for birth decisions.
Source:
Compiled from online sources