Donor sperm use in IVF not linked to adverse perinatal outcomes

In vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies conceived with donor sperm are not necessarily at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared with similar pregnancies conceived with partner sperm, according to a study.

The study retrospective cohort study used data from the National Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority assisted reproductive technology registry in the UK and included all live born singletons and twins conceived through IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection between 1991 and 2016.

The primary endpoints were adverse perinatal outcomes including preterm and very preterm birth; low, very low, high, and very high birthweight. Secondary endpoints included congenital anomaly and health baby. These were separately evaluated for singletons and twins.

For singleton livebirths, those conceived with donor sperm vs partner sperm were less likely to be born very preterm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.80; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.96) and preterm (aOR, 0.93, 95 percent CI, 0.85–1.01). Moreover, donor sperm was associated with lower odds of low birthweight (aOR, 0.86, 95 percent CI, 0.78–0.94) but an increased odds of high birthweight (aOR, 1.09, 95 percent CI, 1.01–1.17).

There was no significant between-group difference in the likelihood of very low (aOR, 0.94, 95 percent CI, 0.78–1.13) or very high (aOR, 1.15, 95 percent CI, 0.98–1.34) birthweight.

For liveborn twins, those conceived with donor vs partner sperm were less likely to have very low (aOR, 0.83, 95 percent CI, 0.72–0.96) and low (aOR, 0.91, 95 percent CI, 0.85–0.98) birthweight. There was evidence of a reduced odds of very preterm (aOR, 0.86, 95 percent CI, 0.74–1.01) and preterm (aOR, 0.96, 95 percent CI, 0.88–1.04) birth with donor sperm. Meanwhile, there was considerable uncertainty around the estimates for high (aOR, 0.72, 95 percent CI, 0.29–1.80) and very high (aOR, 1.34, 95 percent CI, 0.50–3.60) birthweight.