Health Risks for Surrogates During Pregnancy
New research from ICES and Queen’s University highlights potential health risks for gestational carriers, also known as surrogates, during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. The study found that surrogates may face higher risks of severe complications, such as hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage, compared to those who conceive naturally or through IVF.
Study Details
The research analyzed data from 863,017 births in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2021. It compared health outcomes for three conception methods: unassisted, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and gestational carriage. The study included 846,124 natural conceptions, 16,087 IVF conceptions, and 806 gestational carrier conceptions.
Findings
The study assessed severe maternal and neonatal morbidity, hypertensive disorders, cesarean delivery, preterm birth, and postpartum hemorrhage. It was one of the first significant studies to compare these health outcomes across different conception methods.
Limitations and Future Research
The study noted a lack of information on why gestational carriage was chosen, donor sources, and IVF types. Future research could explore how these factors impact health outcomes.
Advice for Clinicians
Dr. Maria Velez, the lead author, advises clinicians to counsel patients and surrogates about potential risks. She emphasizes the importance of following guidelines to minimize pregnancy complications.
Doubts Revealed
ICES -: ICES stands for the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. It is a research institute in Canada that studies health-related data to improve healthcare.
Queen’s University -: Queen’s University is a well-known university in Canada. It is involved in various research projects, including health studies like the one mentioned.
Gestational carriers -: Gestational carriers, or surrogates, are women who carry and give birth to a baby for someone else. They do not use their own eggs, so they are not genetically related to the baby.
Hypertension -: Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. It can be dangerous during pregnancy because it can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby.
Hemorrhage -: Hemorrhage means heavy bleeding. During pregnancy or childbirth, it can be very serious and needs immediate medical attention.
IVF -: IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization. It is a process where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, and then the embryo is placed in a woman’s uterus.
Ontario, Canada -: Ontario is a province in Canada. It is one of the places where the study about surrogates and pregnancy risks was conducted.