What do I need to know about pregnancies obtained using assisted reproduction techniques?

And once I am pregnant?

• What differences are there compared to a natural pregnancy?
• Is there a higher risk of miscarriage or deformities than in a natural pregnancy?
• Do I have to have an amniocentesis test?

What differences are there compared to a natural pregnancy?

There are no differences in the process of development of the embryo once the transfer has been carried out, and later, of the baby. The pregnancy develops in the same way as a natural pregnancy.

The start of the pregnancy is calculated by subtracting 14 days from the date of the insemination, follicular punction or the date of the punction of the donor in the case of oocyte recipients.

The weeks of development of the embryo correspond to those of a natural pregnancy. There is no delay or acceleration of the growth of the baby due to having used assisted reproduction techniques.

Is there a higher risk of miscarriage or deformities than in a natural pregnancy?

When you are pregnant, you often have symptoms which are new or uncomfortable, like, for example feeling sick or indigestion. In general, these are passing discomforts and are not any cause for alarm.

However, some symptoms can indicate a more important problem and, in this case, the best thing is to go to your doctor or hospital immediately. For example: severe pain at the beginning of a pregnancy.

The risk of miscarriage is the same (15-20%) as in a natural pregnancy and goes up according to the age of the patients receiving the IVF or insemination. For patients receiving an oocyte donation, the risks do not increase as the donation comes from a young donor of between 18 and 35 years of age.

Over 40, a pregnant woman, either by natural means or by assisted reproduction techniques has a higher risk of developing pregnancy hypertension, gestational diabetes,… Therefore, these pregnancies must be carefully monitored.

It has also been scientifically demonstrated that children born from assisted reproduction techniques do not have a higher risk of genetic alterations or deformities than those children born from a natural pregnancy.

Do I have to have an amniocentesis test?

The pregnancy having been produced by assisted reproduction techniques does not exclude the need for all the usual tests for diagnosing anomalies in the foetus. Initially, the amniocentesis will only be carried out when the result of the triple test (triple screening) produces altered values. The triple-test consists of a blood test (biochemical screening) and an ultrasound which includes measuring the nuchal translucency of the foetus.

Care must be taken with women pregnant with twins because the blood analysis is not reliable and in this case only the ultrasound will help the gynaecologist to establish the risk.

In the case of the recipients, the triple test should be carried out using the age of the donor (and not that of the recipient) and therefore, the need for an amniocentesis test will be low.

You must always follow the advice of your gynaecologist and refer to the law in your country. The triple test and the amniocentesis test are not usually compulsory.