Couples’ prepregnancy body mass index and time to pregnancy among those attempting to conceive their first pregnancy

Association between fine particulate matter and fecundability in Henan, China: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and fecundability.

METHODS

This study included 751,270 female residents from Henan Province who participated in the National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects during 2015-2017. Ambient cycle-specific PM2.5 exposure was assessed at the county level for each participant using satellite-based PM2.5 concentration data at 1-km resolution. Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying exposure were used to estimate the association between fecundability and PM2.5 exposure, adjusted for potential individual risk factors.

RESULTS

During the study period, 568,713 participants were pregnant, monthly mean PM2.5 concentrations varied from 25.5 to 114.0 µg/m3 across study areas. For each 10 µg/m3 increase in cycle-specific PM2.5, the hazard ratio for fecundability was 0.951 (95 % confidence interval: 0.950-0.953). The association was more pronounced in women who were older, with urban household registration, history of pregnancy, higher body mass index (BMI), hypertension, without exposure to tobacco, or whose male partners were older, with higher BMI, or hypertension.

CONCLUSION

In this population-based prospective cohort, ambient cycle-specific PM2.5 exposure was associated with reduced fecundability. These findings may support the adverse implications of severe air pollution on reproductive health.

Gravidity modifies the associations of age and spousal age difference with couple's fecundability: a large cohort study from China

STUDY QUESTION

Do couple's age ranges for optimal fecundability, and the associations with fecundability of couple's age combinations and age differences differ with gravidity?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The couple's age range of optimal fecundability and age combinations differed with gravidity, and gravidity might modify the associations of age and spousal age difference with couple's fecundability.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Age is one of the strongest determinants of fecundability, but the existing studies have certain limitations in study population, couple's extreme age combinations and age differences, and have not explored whether the association between age and fecundability differs with gravidity.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Retrospective cohort study. 5 407 499 general reproductive-aged couples (not diagnosed with infertility) participated in the National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects during 2015-2017. They were followed up for pregnancy outcomes through telephone interviews every 3 months until they became pregnant or were followed up for 1 year.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The main outcome was time to pregnancy, and the fecundability odds ratios and 95% CIs were estimated using the Cox models for discrete survival time. The associations of age and spousal age difference with fecundability were evaluated by restricted cubic splines.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

In this large cohort of general reproductive-aged population, the age of optimal fecundability of multigravida couples was older than that of nulligravida couples, but their subsequent fecundability declined more sharply with age. The decline in female fecundability was more pronounced with age, with fecundability dropping by ∼30% in both nulligravida and multigravida couples whose female partners aged ≥35 years. In the nulligravida group, the fecundability of couples who were both ≤24 years with the same age was the highest, which decreased steadily with the increase of spousal age difference, and younger male partners did not seem to contribute to improving couple's fecundability. In the multigravida group, couples with female partners aged 25-34 years and a spousal age difference of -5 to 5 years showed higher fecundability, and the effect of spousal age difference on couple's fecundability became suddenly apparent when female partners aged around 40 years. Young male partners were unable to change the decisive effect of female partner's age over 40 years on couple's reduced fecundability, regardless of gravidity.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Lacking the time for couples to attempt pregnancy before enrollment, and some couples might suspend pregnancy plans during follow-up because of certain emergencies, which would misestimate the fecundability. Due to the lack of information on sperm quality and sexual frequency of couples, we could not adjust for these factors. Moreover, due to population characteristics, the extrapolation of our results required caution.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The couple's age range of optimal fecundability, age combinations, and spousal age difference on fecundability varied with gravidity. Female age-related decline in fecundability was more dominant in couple's fecundability. Targeted fertility guidance should be provided to couples with different age combinations and gravidities.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This research received funding from the Project of National Research Institute for Family Planning (Grant No. 2018NRIFPJ03), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1000307), and the National Human Genetic Resources Sharing Service Platform (Grant No. 2005DKA21300), People's Republic of China. The funders had no role in study design, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors report no conflict of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Intra-patient analysis of individual weight gain or loss between IVF cycles: cycle now and transfer later

STUDY QUESTION

What is the impact of clinically significant weight change on outcomes related to IVF cycle performance?

SUMMARY ANSWER

While individual weight loss did not significantly impact ovarian response to stimulation or other cycle outcome parameters in our study, some positive associations were found for individual weight gain.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The role of weight-change in patients undergoing IVF has been largely studied by comparing weight loss in different cohorts of patients stratified by a static BMI. Specifically, obesity has been extensively studied in relation to its negative effects on assisted or unassisted conception outcomes and ovulatory function. Previous research has shown conflicting results, while BMI, which is commonly used as a marker of obesity, may not accurately reflect the underlying factors affecting fertility in obese patients.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This study utilized a retrospective within-patient repeated measurement analysis design to assess the impact of weight change on IVF outcomes in cycles where all embryos were cryopreserved at the blastocyst stage for transfer at a later date.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The study was conducted at an academically affiliated fertility center. The data included 961 women who underwent at least two IVF cycles between December 2014 and June 2020, with documented short-term weight gain (n = 607) or weight loss (n = 354) within 1 year from their initial IVF cycle. Multivariable generalized estimating equations (GEE) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) were employed to assess associations between weight change and outcomes across cycles.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The multivariable models indicated that weight loss did not show any significant associations with the numbers of oocytes retrieved, or mature oocytes, the fertilization rate or the blastulation rate. However, weight gain demonstrated a minor positive association with the number of oocytes retrieved in both GEE models (coefficient: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.01) and GLMM models (0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.00). There was also a potential increase in the fertilization rate with weight gain, as indicated by a positive coefficient in both GEE models (coefficient: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.02) and GLMM models (coefficient: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.01). However, the association between weight gain and the embryo blastulation rate was not statistically significant in any model.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

This study focused on cycle performance parameters instead of reproductive outcomes, which restricted our ability to evaluate the impact of weight change on cumulative live birth rates. Additionally, the study did not account for variables such as stimulation protocols, potentially introducing confounding factors and limiting the generalizability of the results.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Although obesity is associated with adverse obstetrical risks, there is less evidence of adverse reproductive outcomes in IVF cycles. We therefore recommend that an IVF cycle should not be delayed due to weight, so that the patient is not adversely affected by increasing age. The IVF cycle should aim to freeze all embryos, so that embryo transfer can then occur after weight loss, so as to limit the recognized obstetrical risks.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The study was not funded and there were no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Deafening Silence of Male Infertility

Think about 6 loved ones of reproductive age in your life. Now imagine that 1 of these 6 individuals is suffering from infertility. Perhaps they feel alone and isolated, unable to discuss their heartbreak with their closest friends, family, and support network. Suffering in silence. In this editorial, we discuss the infertility journey through the lens of the patients, the providers, and the scientists who struggle with infertility each and every day. Our goal is to open a dialogue surrounding infertility, with an emphasis on dismantling the longstanding societal barriers to acknowledging male infertility as a disease. Through education, communication, compassion, and advocacy, together we can all begin to break the deafening silence of male infertility.

Sperm DNA damage: The possible link between obesity and male infertility, an update of the current literature

Obesity prevalence worldwide is increasing significantly. Whilst maternal obesity has clear detrimental impacts on fertility, pregnancy and foetal outcomes, more recently there has been an increasing focus on the role of paternal obesity in human fertility. Recent meta-analyses have indicated that obesity in men negatively affects basic sperm parameters such as sperm count, concentration and motility, increases the incidence of infertility and reduces the chances of conception. Sperm DNA damage, typically characterised by DNA strand breaks and oxidation of DNA nucleotides, is a specialised marker of sperm quality that has been independently associated with recurrent miscarriage, reduced assisted reproduction success and increased mutational loads in subsequent offspring. Whilst, there are still conflicting data in humans as to the association of obesity in men with sperm DNA damage, evidence from rodent models is clear, indicating that male obesity increases sperm DNA damage. Human data are often conflicting because of the large heterogeneity amongst studies, the use of body mass index as the indicator of obesity and the methods used for detection of sperm DNA damage. Furthermore, comorbidities of obesity (i.e., heat stress, adipokines, insulin resistance, changes in lipids, hypogonadism and obstructive sleep apnoea) are also independently associated with increased sperm DNA damage that is not always modified in men with obesity, and as such may provide a causative link to the discrepancies amongst human studies. In this review, we provide an update on the literature regarding the associations between obesity in men and fertility, basic sperm parameters and sperm DNA damage. We further discuss potential reasons for the discrepancies in the literature and outline possible direct and indirect mechanisms of increased sperm DNA damage resulting from obesity. Finally, we summarise intergenerational obesity through the paternal linage and how sperm DNA damage may contribute to the transmission.

Assessment of Prior Infection With Hepatitis B Virus and Fecundability in Couples Planning Pregnancy

IMPORTANCE

The association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with reduced fecundability among reproductive-aged couples lacks large-population, in-depth study evidence.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of HBV infection with time to pregnancy in couples planning pregnancy, and to explore whether this association varied by gravidity, health statuses, or lifestyles.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a population-based cohort study of Chinese couples participating in the National Free Preconception Check-up Projects during 2015 to 2017. They were planning pregnancy and were followed-up every 3 months until getting pregnant, as confirmed by gynecologic ultrasonography, or were followed-up for 1 year. Data were analyzed between March 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was time to pregnancy, assessed using fecundability hazard ratios (HRs). The Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of HBV infection with fecundability.

RESULTS

Among 2 419 848 couples (mean [SD] age, 27.87 [5.20] years for women and 29.58 [5.50] years for men), 126 728 women (5.24%) and 156 572 men (6.47%) were infected with HBV. Compared with the HBV-negative group, the fecundability of both women and men in the HBV-positive group decreased by 5% (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.94-0.95). Compared with couples in which both partners were HBV negative, the fecundability of those in which both partners were HBV positive declined by 6% (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93-0.96) among all couples, by 3% (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99) among nulligravidas couples, and by 7% (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.95) among multigravidas couples. Both the female-male and couple models suggested that the association of HBV infection with decreased fecundability was more pronounced in couples with multigravidas. The negative association was greater in people with overweight and obesity and was inconsistent in certain subgroups; in particular, it was more pronounced in women with reproductive tract infections, normal fasting plasma glucose, and no alcohol intake and in men with normal blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this population-based cohort study, HBV infection was associated with decreased fecundability in a general reproductive-aged population, especially in couples with multigravidas. For women and men with certain health statuses and lifestyles, a comprehensive consideration of this association is recommended to provide personalized fertility guidance.

Paternal preconception modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes: a review of contemporary evidence from observational studies

BACKGROUND

The preconception period represents transgenerational opportunities to optimize modifiable risk factors associated with both short and long-term adverse health outcomes for women, men, and children. As such, preconception care is recommended to couples during this time to enable them to optimise their health in preparation for pregnancy. Historically, preconception research predominately focuses on maternal modifiable risks and health behaviours associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes; limited attention has been given to inform paternal preconception health risks and outcomes. This systematic review aims to advance paternal preconception research by synthesising the current evidence on modifiable paternal preconception health behaviours and risk factors to identify associations with pregnancy and/or offspring outcomes.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Maternity and Infant care, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ISI Proceedings were searched on the 5^th of January 2023, a date limit was set [2012-2023] in each database. A Google Scholar search was also conducted identifying all other relevant papers. Studies were included if they were observational, reporting associations of modifiable risk factors in the preconception period among males (e.g., identified as reproductive partners of pregnant women and/or fathers of offspring for which outcomes were reported) with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Exposure and outcome heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, and results were summarised in tables.

RESULTS

This review identified 56 cohort and nine case control studies. Studies reported on a range of risk factors and/or health behaviours including paternal body composition (n = 25), alcohol intake (n = 6), cannabis use (n = 5), physical activity (n = 2), smoking (n = 20), stress (n = 3) and nutrition (n = 13). Outcomes included fecundability, IVF/ISCI live birth, offspring weight, body composition/BMI, asthma, lung function, leukemia, preterm birth, and behavioural issues. Despite the limited number of studies and substantial heterogeneity in reporting, results of studies assessed as good quality showed that paternal smoking may increase the risk of birth defects and higher paternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight.

CONCLUSION

The current evidence demonstrates a role of paternal preconception health in influencing outcomes related to pregnancy success and offspring health. The evidence is however limited and heterogenous, and further high-quality research is needed to inform clinical preconception care guidelines to support men and couples to prepare for a health pregnancy and child.

Female fecundability is associated with pre-pregnancy allostatic load: Analysis of a Chinese cohort

INTRODUCTION

Allostatic load (AL) is a practical index that reflects multi-system physiological changes which occur in response to chronic psychosocial stress. This study investigated the association between female pre-pregnancy allostatic load and time to pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We enrolled 444 women who met the inclusion criteria and were attempting to achieve pregnancy. Their allostatic load scores at baseline were evaluated by nine indicators (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, plasma cortisol, noradrenaline, interleukin-6, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and body mass index). The participants were followed up and their pregnancy outcome ascertained 1 year later; we then calculated time-to-pregnancy. Cox models were used to estimate fecundability ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for different allostatic load scores.

RESULTS

The median allostatic load score was 1 with a range of 0-6. The females were divided into four groups according to allostatic load score: group A (allostatic load = 0, 150/444, 33.8%), group B (allostatic load = 1-2, 156/444, 35.1%), group C (allostatic load = 3-4, 100/444, 22.5%) and group D (allostatic load = 5-6, 38/444, 8.6%). The cumulative pregnancy rate over 12 months for the four groups (A-D) was 55.4%, 44.5%, 50.9% and 26.9%, respectively (log-rank test, p = 0.042). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, group D showed a 59% reduction of fecundability compared with group A (fecundability ratio = 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with a higher allostatic load score may have lower fecundability. Our findings suggest that the assessment of allostatic load during pre-conception consultation would be highly prudent.

Association of Preconception Thyrotropin Levels With Fecundability and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in China

IMPORTANCE

Abundant evidence suggests thyroid dysfunction is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, associations of preconception thyrotropin levels outside of reference range with reproductive health outcomes are not well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations of preconception thyrotropin levels with time to pregnancy (TTP) and risk of spontaneous abortion (SA).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This population-based cohort study used data from the Chinese National Free Prepregnancy Checkups Project. Female participants aged 20 to 49 years who were trying to conceive were enrolled between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, for the analysis of TTP or SA. Data were analyzed between August 1, 2020, and July 5, 2021.

EXPOSURES

Levels of thyrotropin within 1 year prior to pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcomes were TTP, assessed using hazard ratios (HRs), and SA, assessed using odds ratios (ORs), according to preconception thyrotropin levels. Thyrotropin dose-response associations were assessed using restricted cubic spline regression.

RESULTS

Among 11 194 002 female participants (mean [SD] age, 27.56 [5.10] years) in the TTP cohort, 4 739 421 (42.34%) participants became pregnant within 1 year. Both low and high preconception thyrotropin levels were associated with delayed TTP compared with thyrotropin levels of 0.37 to 2.49 mIU/L (thyrotropin <0.10 mIU/L: HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.89-0.92; thyrotropin 4.88-9.99 mIU/L: HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.86-0.87; thyrotropin ≥10.00 mIU/L: HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.77-0.79). In the SA analysis cohort including 4 678 679 pregnancies, 108 064 SA events (2.31%) were documented. High thyrotropin groups showed an increased risk of SA compared with the group with thyrotropin levels of 0.37 to 2.49 mIU/L (thyrotropin 4.88-9.99 mIU/L: OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.28-1.38; thyrotropin ≥10.00 mIU/L: OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.14-1.36). Preconception thyrotropin levels showed an inverted J-shaped dose-response association with TTP (χ2 = 311.29; nonlinear P < .001) and a J-shaped dose-response association with SA (χ2 = 58.29; nonlinear P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, preconception thyrotropin levels outside of reference range were associated with increased risk of reduced fecundity and SA. These findings may provide insights for the implementation of preconception thyroid function screening and the design of future levothyroxine supplementation trials.

The current situation and future directions for the study on time-to-pregnancy: a scoping review

Introduction

As problems associated with infertility and population aging increase, there is a growing interest in the factors that cause a decline in human fertility. Time-to-pregnancy (TTP) is a good indicator with which to reflect human fecundability. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of this topic.

Methods

Relevant qualitative and quantitative studies were identified by searching the Web of science and PubMed electronic databases. We included all literature, written in English, from inception to the 10th April 2021 providing the focus was on TTP. We conducted a narrative synthesis using thematic analysis.

Results

Traditional TTP-related study protocols include prospective and retrospective cohorts that provide a wealth of data to reveal potential influences on TTP. Thus far, a variety of factors have been shown to be associated with TTP in couples preparing for pregnancy, including basic demographic characteristics, menstrual status, chronic disease status, environmental endocrine disruptor exposure, and lifestyles. However, there are inevitable epidemiological bias in the existing studies, including recall bias, selection bias and measurement bias. Some methodological advances have brought new opportunities to TTP research, which make it possible to develop precision interventions for population fertility. Future TTP studies should take advantage of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-throughput sequencing technologies, and apply medical big data to fully consider and avoid possible bias in the design.

Conclusion

There are many opportunities and future challenges for TTP related studies which would provide a scientific basis for the “precise health management” of the population preparing for pregnancy.

As the problems of infertility and population aging increase, there is a growing interest in the factors that cause a decline in human fertility. Time-to-pregnancy (TTP) is a good indicator with which to reflect human fecundability, and a longer TTP is known to reflect a reduction in fertility. Many original studies, with different designs, have used TTP to explore the factors that might influence fertility, including basic demographic characteristics, chronic disease status, environmental endocrine disruptor exposure, and lifestyles. However, much of the existing evidence is inconsistent and limited by various types of bias. This review provides a synopsis of recent TTP studies, and highlights new opportunities and future challenges.

Obesity Affects Endometrial Receptivity by Displacing the Window of Implantation

Our aim was to determine prospectively whether increased body mass index (BMI) affects endometrial receptivity through displacement of the window of implantation (dWOI) using the endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA), and whether this effect is BMI-dependent. We recruited a population of 170 infertile women with a normal uterus and no clinical history of recurrent miscarriage or implantation failure. These women were divided into four groups according to BMI: normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m²; n = 44), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m²; n = 29), class I obese (30.0-34.9 kg/m²; n = 54), and class II and III obese (> 35 kg/m²; n = 43). We also assigned the patients to one of two larger BMI cohorts: non-obese (normal weight and overweight; n = 73) and obese (class I, II, and III obese; n = 97). We compared analytical and clinical data and dWOI in these categories, finding significant metabolic differences in glycemia, TSH, insulin, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the different BMI groups. One-day dWOI increased significantly with BMI, and significant differences were observed in the non-obese versus obese categories (9.7% vs 25.3 %, respectively (p = 0.02)). dWOI was most pronounced in patients with class II-III obesity. In addition, displacement was longer as BMI increased since ERA revealed a higher proportion of displacements of 1 day than of 12 h and showed they were predominantly pre-receptive. In conclusion, obesity has a negative effect on endometrial receptivity through delaying of the WOI, which increases in function of BMI as well as the metabolic disturbances of the patient.

Association of preconception paternal health and adverse maternal outcomes among healthy mothers

BACKGROUND

Maternal morbidity continues to be an issue of national and global concern. Paternal preconception health may play a significant role in pregnancy outcomes and has received less attention than maternal health.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association between preconception paternal health and the risk for adverse maternal outcomes among healthy mothers.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective analysis of live births from 2009 through 2016 to healthy women aged 20 to 45 years recorded in the IBM Marketscan research database. Infants were linked to paired mothers and fathers using family ID. Preconception paternal health was assessed using the number of metabolic syndrome component diagnoses and the most common individual chronic disease diagnoses (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and depression). Women with metabolic syndrome components were excluded to avoid potential confounding of maternal and paternal factors. Adverse maternal outcomes that were assessed included (1) abnormal placentation including placenta accreta spectrum, placenta previa, and placental abruption; (2) preeclampsia with and without severe features including eclampsia; and (3) severe maternal morbidity, identified as any indicator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Index of life-threatening complications at the time of delivery to 6 weeks postpartum. The trend between preconception paternal health and each maternal outcome was determined using the Cochran-Armitage Trend test. The independent association of paternal health with maternal outcomes was also determined using generalized estimating equations models, accounting for some mothers who contributed multiple births during the study period, and by adjusting for maternal age, paternal age, region of birth, year of birth, maternal smoking, and average number of outpatient visits per year.

RESULTS

Among 669,256 births to healthy mothers, there was a significant trend between all adverse maternal outcomes and worsening preconception paternal health defined either as the number of metabolic syndrome diagnoses or number of chronic disease diagnoses (P<.001; Cochran-Armitage Trend test). In the generalized estimating equations model, the odds for preeclampsia without severe features increased in a dose-dependent fashion and were 21% higher (95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.26) among women whose partners had ≥2 metabolic syndrome diagnoses than among women whose partners had no metabolic syndrome diagnosis. The odds for preeclampsia with severe features and eclampsia increased in a dose-dependent fashion and were 19% higher (95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.30) among women whose partners had ≥2 metabolic syndrome diagnoses than among women whose partners had no metabolic syndrome diagnosis. The odds for severe maternal morbidity were 9% higher (95% confidence interval, 1.002-1.19) among women whose partners had ≥2 metabolic syndrome diagnoses than among women whose partners had no metabolic syndrome diagnosis. The odds for abnormal placentation were similar between the groups (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.03).

CONCLUSION

Among healthy mothers, we report that preconception paternal health is significantly associated with increased odds of preeclampsia with and without severe features and weakly associated with increased odds of severe maternal morbidity. These findings suggest that paternally derived factors may play significant roles in the development of adverse maternal outcomes in healthy women with a low a priori risk of obstetrical complications.