New moms at higher risk of stroke after conceiving via fertility treatment, says new study

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Women who became pregnant after infertility treatment were more likely to have a stroke in the year following the birth when compared with women who conceived naturally, scientists reported Wednesday in the largest study of its kind.

Stroke risk was elevated in the first 30 days after delivery among the women who had undergone treatments, and the odds continued to rise through the year after childbirth. But the absolute numbers remained very low, the researchers emphasized: just 37 stroke hospitalizations for every 100,000 women who underwent treatment.

There is no need for alarm, the lead author said in an interview. But women seeking treatment should be made aware of a possible link.

Why It Matters

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. Strokes account for about 7.5% of pregnancy-related deaths.

At the same time, use of assisted reproductive technology has risen dramatically over the past 10 years. About 2% of births in the United States involve infertility treatment of some kind, according to the paper.

In the new study, researchers defined these measures to include intrauterine insemination, assisted reproductive technology, use of a surrogate and fertility preservation procedures.

While infertility treatments are generally safe, some studies have linked them to increased risks during pregnancy, including higher rates of preeclampsia — a potentially deadly complication involving extremely high blood pressure — as well as placental abnormalities and preterm birth.

Background

Previous studies of stroke after infertility treatments have yielded mixed results. The new study, published in JAMA Network, is believed to be the largest to examine the risk of hospitalisation for stroke