Reproduction after the loss of a child: a population-based matched cohort study

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs the death of a child associated with higher subsequent fertility?SUMMARY ANSWERWomen who had lost a child had higher fertility both shortly after the loss and throughout the entire follow-up, independent of the child ’s age at the time of death.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYWomen who lose a child in the perinatal period often have another child shortly after. However, to our knowledge no previous study has investigated if the death of an older child affects reproductive behavior.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThe source population for this matched cohort study consisted of all women who gave birth in Denmark from 1978 to 2004 and in Sweden from 1973 to 2002 (N = 1 979 958). Women were followed through to the end of 2008 in Denmark and the end of 2006 in Sweden.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWomen who had lost a child before the age of 45 years during the study period (exposed group;n = 36 511) were matched with up to five women who were from the same country and of similar age and family characteristics and had not lost a child at the time of matching (unexposed group;n = 182 522).MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEDuring follow-up, 74% of exposed and 46% of unexposed women had another birth (live- or stillbirth) after a gestation of 28 weeks or more. Compared with unexposed women, exposed women had a shorter interpregnancy interval and, consequently, a higher rate of conception leading to a birth (HR = 5.5 [95% CI: 5.4 –5.6]). Rates for exposed wome...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research