Fertility outcomes in women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes—a prospective cohort study
Women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes were more often childless and had a higher risk to miscarry and experience infertility, compared to women without diabetes.
Published
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 2, P505-513
Authors:
Kristina Mattsson, M.D., Ph.D., Emma Nilsson-Condori, M.D., Eva Elmerstig, Ph.D., Ditte Vassard, Ph.D., Lone Schmidt, D.M.Sci., M.D., Ph.D., Søren Ziebe, D.M.Sci., Ph.D., Anna Jöud, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Abstract:
Objective
To study childbirth and the risk of miscarriage and infertility among women who have received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes before the start of their reproductive journey.
Design
Register-based cohort study using the Skåne Healthcare Register
Setting
All healthcare visits for the whole population of the southernmost region in Sweden over the past 20 years
Patient(s)
All women who were aged 18–45 years between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2019 and who received a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes before their first childbirth, miscarriage, or infertility diagnosis (n = 230) were compared with a healthcare-seeking population of women without any type of diabetes, matched for calendar year and age (n = 179,434).
Intervention(s)
None
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Childbirth, miscarriage, and infertility diagnosis
Result(s)
The birthrate was lower among women with type 2 diabetes (62.6% vs. 83.8%), and they were less likely to give birth (crude risk ratio [RR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66–0.81). They had a higher risk of experiencing a miscarriage (RR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.50–2.36). The risk of infertility was increased (RR = 3.44, 95% CI: 2.88–4.10) as was the risk of having infertility and not giving birth (RR = 4.47, 95% CI: 3.44–5.82). All results remained the same after adjustment for polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity.
Conclusion(s)
Women with type 2 diabetes with onset before their reproductive journey were more often childless compared with women without diabetes and had a higher risk of experiencing both miscarriage and infertility. This patient group may be in need of targeted information regarding potential fertility issues as part of their clinical treatment.
