Attitude of women with IVF and spontaneous pregnancies towards prenatal screening

BACKGROUND: Factors influencing a pregnant woman's decision to accept prenatal testing are largely undefined. Our study aimed to compare the acceptance rate of prenatal diagnosis in women who conceived through IVF or ICSI (cases) with that of women who conceived spontaneously (controls). METHODS: Retrospective chart review in Lebanon of all primiparas carrying singletons who were offered prenatal testing (triple screen/amniocentesis) from 2004-2007. The influence of IVF/ICSI on the acceptance of prenatal screening was evaluated. RESULTS: 336 pregnant women were offered prenatal testing (120 cases and 216 controls). Cases were less likely to perform prenatal testing compared with controls (52.5 versus 72.7%; P < 0.001). The rate of utilization of prenatal testing was independent of the infertility cause. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that women who conceived through IVF/ICSI [odds ratio (OR) 0.427, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.252-0.724], those >= 35 years old (OR 0.184, 95% CI 0.102-0.329) and lower socioeconomic class (OR 0.339, 95% CI 0.197-0.584) were less likely to perform triple screen test, and women who conceived through IVF/ICSI (OR 0.354, 95% CI 0.131-0.958) and those of lower socioeconomic class (OR 0.113, 95% CI 0.033-0.403) were less likely to perform amniocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference in acceptance rate of prenatal diagnostic testing between women who conceived through IVF/ICSI and those who conceived spontaneously. Women who conceived through IVF/ICSI were less likely to opt for prenatal diagnosis even after controlling for confounding variables.