SPONTANEOUS PREGNANCY IN INFERTILE PATIENTS BOOKED FOR AL AZHAR ART (AZHART) PROGRAM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Al-Azhar ART Unit, International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research (lICPSR),Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence of spontaneous pregnancy in women who were not undergoing therapy, while
waiting for their inclusion in the AZHART program.
Design: Retrospective descriptive analytical study, reviewing patient's records through the period of one year June
2003-May 2004.
Setting : The ART unit in the International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research, (IICPSR) Al-Azhar
University (AZHART).
Patients : Out of 643 patients booked for ART programs at AZHART, sixteen patients (2.5%) got pregnant while they
were waiting to start their treatment.
Intervention : ~-HCG pregnancy test and pelvic sonography for those patients who missed their period for two or more
weeks.
Main outcome measure(s) : Spontaneous pregnancy. Women who conceived spontaneously durign the waiting period
were statistically analyzed and compared in terms of their age, duration and type of infertility, previous reproductive
history and indication of treatment at the time of booking.
Results; The mean age of women was 30.4 years ± 4.57. 75% were primary infertility and 25% secondary infertility.
the mean duration of infertility was 8.5± 4.1. Causes of infertility were 37.5% male factor, 25% female factor and
37.5% unexplained. Seven couples (43.7%) have had experienced unsuccessful previous ART attempts.
Conclusion; The rather rare possibility of spontaneous conception should not be excluded in patients with unexplained
infertility and mild-moderate male and female factors infertility scheduled for ART program. The impact of
psychological passionate counseling for stress relief of the infertile couple could be of value in achieving pregnancy in
these patients.

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