Infertility and pregnancy outcome in an unselected group of women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

The null hypothesis of this study is that infertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with insulin-dependent diabetes are identical to those of nondiabetic control subjects. A questionnaire survey comprising an unselected population of 18- to 49-year-old diabetic women and a comparable control group was performed. Reply rates were 94% (n = 245) and 88% (n = 253), respectively. Cumulative rates of pregnancies and involuntary infertility (17%) did not differ between the two groups. Diabetic women had significantly fewer pregnancies (1.4 vs 1.7) and fewer births per pregnancy than controls, and more diabetic women were nulliparous (48% vs 38%). Half of all diabetic pregnancies were planned. Diabetic women reported that their diabetes had a negative influence on their attitude toward having children. In insulin-dependent diabetic women the ability to conceive is normal, but diabetic women have fewer pregnancies and fewer births per pregnancy than controls.