The effect of reproductive history on future pregnancy outcomes

Whitley, E. , Doyle, P., Roman, E. and De Stavola, B. (1999) The effect of reproductive history on future pregnancy outcomes. Human Reproduction, 14(11), pp. 2863-2867. (doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.11.2863)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the separate and joint effects of previous pregnancy history, year of pregnancy outcome, maternal age, height, smoking and fertility on risk of fetal death. Data were available from a study of female radiographers. Analyses were carried out on 3053 women with a total of 6993 pregnancies. Women reporting problems with conception or previous fetal losses had an increased risk of a pregnancy ending in a fetal death. In particular, women with primary or secondary infertility had an approximately fourfold increase in risk compared with women who reported no difficulties [odds ratio (OR): 3.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): (3.02, 5.07)]. This relationship was independent of pregnancy order and pregnancy history and was more marked in older maternal ages. The effect of pregnancy history was cumulative and possibly multiplicative in effect, with a threefold increase in the risk of losing a third pregnancy following two previous losses [OR: 3.19; 95% CI: (1.60, 6.35)]. There were no consistent patterns of risk associated with year of pregnancy outcome, maternal age, height or smoking status. These results suggest that previous pregnancy outcomes and problems with conception may be the strongest determinants of fetal loss in subsequent pregnancies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whitley, Dr Elise
• Authors: Whitley, E., Doyle, P., Roman, E., and De Stavola, B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Human Reproduction
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0268-1161
• ISSN (Online): 1460-2350