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Research Christmas 2013: Strange Nativities

Like a virgin (mother): analysis of data from a longitudinal, US population representative sample survey

BMJ 2013; 347 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7102 (Published 17 December 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f7102

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Re: Like a virgin (mother): analysis of data from a longitudinal, US population representative sample survey

Religiously and scientifically these claims are highly implausible. There are no known cases of naturally occurring mammalian parthenogenesis, let alone in humans. A simple DNA test would reveal whether the claim of parthenogenesis is correct. If half of the DNA came from elsewhere, then those 45 women have some explaining to do.

If anything, these women most likely became pregnant after practicing failed outer-course contraceptive methods.

Understanding of sexual activities varies between different communities. Rather than focusing on chastity pledges, re-analyse data with various definitions of sex and participant's response.

Among the so called "virgin pregnancies", any form of sexual contact with opposite gender should be explored.

Competing interests: No competing interests

19 December 2013
ASIF IQBAL
Doctor and clinical scientist
King's College Hospital
London, United Kingdom