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Association of time to pregnancy and the outcome of pregnancy

Joffe M et al., 1994

Fertility and sterility, 62(1), 71-75

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56818-6 PMID 8005307 Source

Abstract

Objective

To examine the relationship of subfertility with miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.

Design

Comparison of time to pregnancy distributions between pregnancies that had different outcomes. Three comparisons were made: (a) miscarriages with live births; within live births, (b) low birth weight infant (up to 2,500 grams) or not low birth weight; (c) preterm birth (37 weeks or less) or not preterm. Cox regression was used to adjust for covariates. POPULATION: All first pregnancies were analyzed from the National Child Development Study, a large survey of young adults aged 33 years, which is nationally representative of the British-born population.

Main outcome measures

The distribution of the time taken to conceive (time to pregnancy), miscarriage, birth weight, and preterm delivery.

Results

Pregnancies that ended in miscarriage tended to take 23% longer to conceive, after adjustment for the other variables. Pregnancies that resulted in preterm delivery tended to take 15% longer to conceive. There was no statistically significant association with low birth weight.

Conclusions

Delay in time to conception is a risk factor for poor obstetric outcome, irrespective of medical intervention.

Topics

Infertility > Unexplained > OutcomesPregnancy > Outcomes > Miscarriage RatesPregnancy > Preterm Birth > Risk FactorsGeneral OB/GYN > Epidemiology > Demographics
time to pregnancy miscarriage risk, subfertility pregnancy outcomes, delayed conception preterm birth, time to conception low birth weight, fertility delay obstetric complications, first pregnancy intervals outcomes, prolonged time to pregnancy effects, conception delay adverse outcomes, subfertility miscarriage association, time to pregnancy birth weight, fertility intervals pregnancy loss

Cite this article

Joffe, M., & Li, Z. (1994). Association of time to pregnancy and the outcome of pregnancy. *Fertility and sterility*, *62*(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56818-6

Keywords

Abortion, Spontaneous, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Newborn, Infertility, Obstetric Labor, Premature, Odds Ratio, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Risk Factors, Time Factors, Age Factors, Behavior, Biology, Birth Weight, Body Weight, Demographic Factors, Developed Countries, Economic Factors, Educational Status, Europe, Fertility, Fertility Measurements, Fetal Death, First Pregnancy Intervals, Maternal Age, Mortality, Northern Europe, Parental Age, Physiology, Population, Population Characteristics, Population Dynamics, Pregnancy Intervals, Pregnancy Outcomes--determinants, Reproduction, Smoking, Socioeconomic Factors, Socioeconomic Status, United Kingdom

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