On the basis of MEDLINE and manual searches, we examined the main papers in the English literature regarding risk factors for spontaneous (i.e. not related to fertility drug use) multiple births. The constant frequency of monozygotic (MZ) pregnancies over time and in different geographical areas suggests that the determination of MZ twins is largely unchanged over time, and that a genetic mecha...

introduction : osteoporosis is characterized by low bone density and increase in the risk of fracture. because in pregnancy and lactation there are many factors which influence bone mineral density, we sought to assess whether the accumulation of multiple pregnancies and the accompanying extended periods of lactation were a risky factor for low bone mineral density and osteoporosis. materials &...

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the types of congenital anomalies affecting infants of women with gestational diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes and to examine the relationship between those malformation types and measures of initial glycemia of women at entry into prenatal care with type 2 diabetes or at time of diagnosis in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. STUDY DESIGN A total ...

Ultrasound has revolutioned the care of women carring twins. First trimester evaluation is the best time to determine chorioniocity and amnioniocity in multiple gestations. First trimester diagnosis is based on the number of gestational sacs, amnions and yolk sacs. Growth rate in multiple multiple gestations during the fist and early second trimesters parallels the growth rate of singleton preg...

I n the past 20 years, advancing maternal age and greater reliance on assisted-conception techniques have dramatically increased the incidence of multiple births, including monochorionic twins (see Glossary) [1,2]. Concomitantly, there have been advances in our understanding of these high-risk pregnancies. The offspring of multiple pregnancies are at greater risk for adverse perinatal outcomes ...

A study was conducted aimed at establishing a range of plasma concentrations of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin that might predict ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer. From May 1984 to February 1986, 161 consecutive pregnancies at the Monash University in vitro fertilisation unit were analysed by determining plasma beta human chorionic gonadotrop...

Reproductive data of 1910 Thoroughbred mares from seven Polish studs were analyzed using linear animal model. The mares were born between 1929 and 1994. The frequency of multiple pregnancies was 3.5% in this population. Fecundity (defined as ratio of number of progeny to number of pregnancies) and length of reproduction were recorded. Heritability estimates of fecundity and the number of pregna...

Objective: To report the outcomes of rescue cervical cerclages performed at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at a single institution between 2006 and 2011. All patients presenting for cerclage placement were identified. From these patients, those undergoing rescue cerclage were studied. Results: 236 patients met inclusion criteria for cerclage placement. Of t...

BACKGROUND Oral contraceptives (OC) and pregnancy are known to have an influence on the risk of onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pregnancy itself has beneficial effects on the activity of the disease, with relapses post partum. It is not known, however, whether OC and pregnancies influence the ultimate outcome of RA. OBJECTIVES To explore whether OC use and pregnancies influence the 12 yea...

Physical exercise during postpartum period is beneficial to mothers, and the health gains are abundantly reported. This study characterises the postpartum exercise profile of a group of Nigerian women and reports how their exercise self-efficacies are influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were women attending the two largest postnatal clinics in Ibadan, south-western Nige...