Chronic kidney disease, female infertility, and medically assisted reproduction: a best practice position statement by the Kidney and Pregnancy Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology

Fertility is known to be impaired more frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease than in the general population. A significant proportion of chronic kidney disease patients may therefore need Medically Assisted Reproduction. The paucity of information about medically assisted reproduction for chronic kidney disease patients complicates counselling for both nephrologists and gynaecologists, specifically for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis or with a transplanted kidney. It is in this context that the Project Group on Kidney and Pregnancy of the Italian Society of Nephrology has drawn up these best practice guidelines, merging a literature review, nephrology expertise and the experience of obstetricians and gynaecologists involved in medically assisted reproduction. Although all medically assisted reproduction techniques can be used for chronic kidney disease patients, caution is warranted. Inducing a twin pregnancy should be avoided; the risk of bleeding, thrombosis and infection should be considered, especially in some categories of patients. In most cases, controlled ovarian stimulation is needed to obtain an adequate number of oocytes for medically assisted reproduction. Women with chronic kidney disease are at high risk of kidney damage in case of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and great caution should be exercised so that it is avoided. The higher risks associated with the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and the consequent risk of chronic kidney disease progression, should likewise be considered if egg donation is chosen. Oocyte cryopreservation should be considered for patients with autoimmune diseases who need cytotoxic treatment. In summary, medically assisted reproduction is an option for chronic kidney disease patients, but the study group strongly advises extensive personalised counselling with a multidisciplinary healthcare team and close monitoring during the chosen medically assisted reproduction procedure and throughout the subsequent pregnancy.