Correlative research of the incidence of preeclampsia and sperm exposure

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of preeclampsia after a long duration or a short duration of sperm exposure with the biological father.

Methods: Analyze the clinical and follow-up data of 502 single birth primigravid women in Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. They were divided into two groups according to the duration of sperm exposure with the biological father, short duration of sperm exposure (≤ 3 months) and long duration of sperm exposure (≥ 12 months). Basic information and clinical characteristics in each group were evaluated.

Results: A total of 502 patients were followed, included 122 long duration of sperm exposure and 380 short duration of sperm exposure. Patients in the long duration group were younger than the short group (aged 31.49 ± 3.21 vs 27.49 ± 3.21 years, P < 0.001). These two groups had no statistical significant in patient's body mass index, education level, gestational age, birth weight, fetal birth weight, fetal sex and delivery mode (P > 0.05). Stratified analysis with the cutoff of 30 year-old suggested that the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)/preeclampsia (PE) of short duration group was significantly higher than the long duration group (OR 2.82; 95% CI 1.08-7.41), so as PE (OR 10.28; 95% CI 1.01-105.02). Stratified analysis suggested no significantly increased or decreased risk for PIH (OR 1.59; 95% CI 0.54-4.68), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.31-1.18), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (OR 2.49; 95% CI 0.34-18.48) or fetal anomaly (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.14-1.20).

Conclusion: A long duration of sperm exposure with the biological father may reduce the incidence of PE.

Keywords: Immune tolerance; Obstetric complication; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy-induced hypertension; Primipaternity; Sperm exposure.