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Objective The objective of this study is to assess whether, among a cohort of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) patients, antenatal suspicion of PAS was less likely in in vitro fertilization (IVF) compared with non-IVF patients. In addition, we aimed to assess whether IVF patients exhibited similar risk factors for PAS compared with non-IVF patients.

Study Design This is an international multicenter retrospective study of patients with pathologically confirmed PAS (accreta, increta, percreta) between 1998 and 2021. PAS patients were identified through a central international PAS database. Antenatal and pathological criteria are specific to each institution. Pregnancies that resulted from IVF were compared with non-IVF pregnancies. Comparisons were made using a chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables.

Results Of the 692 pregnancies included, 44 were in the IVF group and 648 were in the non-IVF group. The IVF group was less likely to have had a prior cesarean delivery (70.5 vs. 91%, p < 0.01) but a similar prevalence of placenta previa (63.6 vs. 68.1%, p = 0.12) compared with the non-IVF group. The IVF group was also less likely to have either a prior cesarean delivery or placenta previa than the non-IVF group (79.5 vs. 95.4%, p < 0.01). Antenatal detection of PAS was less common in the IVF group compared with the non-IVF group (40.9 vs. 60.5%, p < 0.01, respectively), even when adjusted for maternal age, prior cesarean delivery, prior uterine surgery, placenta previa and site (risk ratio: 0.70, 95% confidence interval: 0.62–0.81). The IVF group had less severe pathological disease compared with the non-IVF group (p = 0.02).

Conclusion Pregnant people with PAS who underwent IVF are less likely to have an antenatal suspicion compared with non-IVF patients. This finding may be explained by the lower incidence of prior cesarean deliveries and/or placenta previa as well as less severe forms of PAS.

Key Points

IVF group is less likely to have antenatal PAS suspicion.

IVF group is less likely to have had prior cesarean delivery.

Risk profile for PAS differs in IVF pregnancies.

Keywords IVF - PAS - antenatal suspicion Publication History

Received: 27 June 2023

Accepted: 28 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
30 January 2024

Article published online:
19 February 2024

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