A history of miscarriages and abortions increases a woman's chances of giving birth too early. Scientists from Britain, Denmark and Spain analysed the results of 75 investigations into early pregnancy complications conducted between 1980 and 2008.

A British woman collapsed and died from a blood clot just three months after she started taking a new contraceptive pill. Helen Schofield was not told there was a risk of deep vein thrombosis when her GP prescribed Dianette. But weeks later Miss Schofield, 33, collapsed as she was walking with ...