Retrospective and prospective epidemiological studies of 1500 karyotyped spontaneous human abortions

TLDR

The study analyzed 1,500 karyotyped spontaneous abortions from 1966–1972 using retrospective and prospective epidemiologic methods. The analysis found no secular or seasonal trends, estimated that half of conceptions carry chromosomal anomalies, identified maternal age effects only in autosomal trisomies (D and G), reported no impact of oral contraceptives, noted higher anomaly rates after ovulation‑inducing therapy and paternal irradiation, and observed that recurrent abortion risk was mainly linked to couples’ prior reproductive history, with no changes in fertility rates or birth malformations.

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies, retrospective and prospective, were done on 1500 abortions collected from 1966-1972. No secular or seasonal variations were observed. From the analysis of the relative frequencies of the different types of chromsome anomalies it is estimated that 1 out of every 2 conceptions has a chromosome anomaly. Maternal-age influence was found only for the autosomal trisomy group, mainly D and G trisomies. No effect of oral contraceptives were discovered. An increased frequency of chromosome anomalies occurred after ovulation-inducing therapy and after occupational exposure of the father to irradiation. No variations in the fertility rate and in the frequency of congenital malformations in births following abortions was noted. The incidence of recurring abortion was mainly influenced by the reproductive history of the couple before the karyotyped abortion.