Comparison of outcomes of twins conceived spontaneously and by artificial reproductive therapy.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of twin pregnancies conceived by artificial reproductive techniques (ART) with those of spontaneous conception.

Study Design: In this multicenter prospective trial, comparisons were made between methods of conception in twin pregnancies, for maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Results: Of 1001 twin pairs, 763/1001 (72.

The lack of routine surveillance of Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy prevents an accurate understanding of this regular cause of fetal loss and the risks posed by occupational exposure.

In Europe, fetal loss due to Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is under-reported and a poorly addressed occupational risk to pregnant women. This is exemplified internationally, where it was unmentioned in the last two European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) annual surveillance reports or its 2009 special report on infections in pregnancy. To assess this potential for underestimating B19V fetal loss in pregnancy, we undertook a systematic review of practice in Northern Ireland in the management and reporting of B19V infections over a 12-month period of heightened transmission, one of six observed in a span of 9 years.