Objective: To compare amniotic fluid total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values of spontaneous pregnancies and IVF/ICSI pregnancies.

Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients who became pregnant spontaneously or by IVF/ICSI were included in the study. Twenty of the fifty participants consisted of patients who became pregnant by IVF/ICSI (n=20). The remaining 30 patients consisted of patients who became pregnant spontaneously (n= 30). Following the classical lower segment incision during C/S delivery, amniotic fluid sample was taken with a 5 cc syringe before the fetal membranes were cut. TAS and TOS levels were studied in an autoanalyzer by using TAS or TOS kits. OSI value was obtained by dividing TOS by TAS (TOS/TAS=OSI). OSI results are presented as percentages.

Results: The amniotic fluid TOS levels of the patients in the ICSI group were found to be significantly higher than the pregnant women in the control group (23.11 ± 4.55 vs. 20.30 ± 6.05, p<0.01). On the other hand, amniotic fluid TAS levels of the pregnant women in the ICSI group were found to be significantly lower than the patients with spontaneous pregnancy (0.84 ± 0.10 vs. 0.96 ± 0.32, p<0.03). The OSI values (TOS/TAS) of the patients who became pregnant with ICSI were found to be significantly higher than the patients with spontaneous pregnancy (27.51 ± 6.33 vs. 21.1 ± 8.20, p<0.02). There was no significant correlation between OSI values and obstetric and neonatal parameters. There was no significant correlation between OSI and age, gravidity, parity, birth weight and gestational age at birth.

Conclusions: The amniotic fluid oxidant/antioxidant balance of IVF/ICSI pregnancies was pathologically increased compared to natural conceptions. This increase in oxidative stress may negatively affect the long-term well-being of ICSI babies.