Abstract
Context
Maternal metabolic status reflects underlying physiological changes in the maternal-placental-fetal unit that may help identify contributors to adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with infertility and treatments used.
Objective
To determine if maternal metabolomic profiles differ between spontaneous pregnancies and pregnancies conceived with fertility treatments that may explain the differences in pregnancy outcomes.
Design
Metabolon metabolomic analysis and ELISAs for 17-β-estradiol and progesterone were performed during the late first trimester of pregnancy.
Setting
Academic institution.
Subjects
Women in the Spontaneous/Medically Assisted/Assisted Reproductive Technology cohort (N = 409), 208 of whom conceived spontaneously and 201 with infertility [non in vitro fertilization treatments (NIFT), n=90; in vitro fertilization (IVF), n=111].
Intervention
Mode of conception.
Main Outcome Measures
Levels of of 806 metabolites within eight superpathways, 17-β-estradiol, and progesterone in maternal plasma in the late first trimester.
Results
Metabolomic differences in the lipid superpathway (i.e., steroid metabolites, lipids with docosahexaenoyl acyl chains, acyl cholines), and xanthine and benzoate metabolites (P < 0.05) were significant among the spontaneous and two infertility groups, with greatest differences between the spontaneous and IVF groups. 17-β-estradiol and progesterone levels were significantly elevated in the infertility groups, with greatest differences between the spontaneous and IVF groups.
Conclusion
Metabolomic profiles differ between spontaneous and infertility pregnancies, likely driven by IVF. Higher levels of steroids and their metabolites are likely due to increased hormone production from placenta reprogrammed from fertility treatments, which may contribute to adverse outcomes associated with infertility and the treatments used.
First trimester subchorionic hemorrhage is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes after in vitro fertilization
