• Cécile Choux, Perrine Ginod, Julie Barberet, Thierry Rousseau, Céline Bruno, Paul Sagot, Karine Astruc, and Patricia Fauque.
• Dijon University Hospital, Fetal Health and Infertility Department, Dijon F-21000, France. Electronic address: cecile.choux@chu-dijon.fr.
• Reprod. Biomed. Online. 2019 Apr 1; 38 (4): 538-548.

Research QuestionDoes mode of conception influence placental volume and other first-trimester outcomes?DesignThis retrospective single-centre case-control study led in Dijon University Hospital included 252 singleton pregnancies (84 IVF with either fresh embryo transfer or frozen-thawed embryo transfer [FET] and 168 natural conceptions). First-trimester placental volume, uterine artery pulsatility index and maternal serum PAPP-A and beta-HCG were measured. Statistical analyses were adjusted for gestational age, the newborn's gender, maternal age, parity, body mass index and smoking status.ResultsPlacental volume was significantly greater in the FET group than in the control group (P = 0.043) and fresh embryo transfer (P = 0.023) groups. At birth, fresh embryo transfer newborns were significantly smaller than controls (P = 0.01) and FET newborns (P = 0.008). Postpartum haemorrhage was far more frequent in FET than in controls and fresh embryo transfer group (38.1%, 2.6% and 1.9%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Placental volume positively correlated with PAPP-A, beta-HCG and the newborn's birth weight, and negatively correlated with uterine artery pulsatility index.ConclusionsPlacental volume and other first-trimester parameters are modified by IVF with fresh embryo transfer and FET compared with natural conception, but with opposite trends. Given the different protocols used for these techniques, hormonal treatment per se may have a major effect on pregnancy outcomes through the modification of placental invasiveness.Copyright © 2019 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

35 keywords...

hide…