Which statistical test is appropriate for comparing means of two groups of continuous, normally distributed data?

The appropriate statistical test for comparing means of two groups when the data is continuous and normally distributed is the Student-T Test. This test assesses whether the means of two independent groups are significantly different from each other. It assumes that the data follows a normal distribution and that the variances in both groups are equal or similar, making it suitable for many common comparisons in clinical and research settings.

The Student-T Test is particularly valuable when working with small sample sizes, as it adjusts for variability. It provides a clear mean comparison between the two groups and generates a p-value that indicates the statistical significance of the observed difference. This makes it a fundamental tool in the analysis of continuous data in the context of maternal-fetal medicine research, where understanding differences in measurements (such as hormone levels, blood pressure, or other continuous variables) between two distinct groups can be crucial for making clinical decisions.