Study Shows Infertility Treatments May Trigger Pregnancy Complications and Heart Issues

Women above the age of 35 could raise their risks of pregnancy complications and heart issues if they are using assisted reproductive technology, also known as infertility treatments, to have kids.

A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that women who have had infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), develop more pre-existing conditions tied to diabetes and heart disease, or high blood pressure. They also develop an increased risk for complications once they are pregnant, such as delivering small babies or preterm babies or undergoing a C-section instead of natural birth.

Aside from their advancing maternal age, millions of women who use infertility treatments are also more than likely obese when they started IVF or IUI. Thus, they have more health risks and could require a cesarean delivery.

Over 106,000 Births Examined

To arrive at their assumptions, the experts, led by Dr. Pensée Wu of the Keele University School of Medicine in the U.K., looked into the data of 106,000 births under assisted reproductive technology. They compared the data to 34 million births without the help of infertility treatments. The data covered eight years from 2008 to 2016.

The experts tried to determine if the women's advancing maternal age or the infertility treatments raised the risks of pregnancy complications or heart issues. The results of their findings reinforced a prevailing knowledge that women of a certain age, who are undergoing infertility treatments, could double their risks of developing the concerning health issues.

On the other hand, infertility expert Dr. Sigal Klipstein, who is not part of the study, said that she's not surprised by the findings. Years of treating patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common infertility issue among women, has seen the doctor encountering cases of women with PCOS who have lifetime cardiovascular disease risks as well. She also said that women with infertility issues are seven times more likely to experience a heart attack.

Pre-Natal Interventions Necessary

Wu said, however, that their study's findings are not meant to scare older women into getting infertility treatments to have a baby. Instead, Wu said that this is an important reminder for doctors to properly counsel and guide their patients during the pregnancy.

This might mean more health interventions and a close watch over the mom and the baby in her womb. The experts also said that moms under infertility treatments should be able to discuss how to optimize their health, especially before and during the pregnancy, with their doctors.

Klipstein agrees with Wu that aging women who want to get pregnant with the help of infertility treatments should first address the risk factors. Some of the things they can do to lower their chances of having heart disease during pregnancy include losing weight and managing their cholesterol and high blood pressure. Klipstein said that this advice should also cover women who do not have infertility problems as it's important to be at their healthiest before getting pregnant.