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Fetal sex and perinatal outcomes

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Published/Copyright: January 23, 2012
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Volume 40 Issue 3

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of fetal sex with obstetric risk factors and perinatal outcomes.

Material and methods: Retrospective study of deliveries during 2003–2009 at a tertiary hospital based on the analysis of obstetric and neonatal risk variables according to neonatal sex.

Results: Of the 29,530 deliveries studied, the neonate was a boy in 15,038 (50.92%) and a girl in 14,492 (49.08%). The rates of gestational diabetes, prematurity, true umbilical cord knot and nuchal cord were higher for male newborns, whereas the rate of echographic diagnosis of intrauterine fetal growth retardation was higher for female newborns. Mothers of male fetuses had higher rates of cesarean delivery and instrumental vaginal delivery. The indication for ending labor due to the non-reassuring fetal heart rate was also more frequent among male newborns. This group had higher rates of acidemia, although there were no significant differences between sexes in other short-term neonatal outcomes. In all subgroups analyzed here, fetal weight was higher in male newborns.

Conclusions: Male sex is an independent risk factor for unfavorable outcomes of pregnancy and delivery.

Keywords: Fetal; gender; sex; pregnancy; outcome
Corresponding author: Dra. Alberto Puertas Avda/de las Fuerzas Armadas, 2 18014 Granada Spain
Received: 2011-6-3
Revised: 2011-9-9
Accepted: 2011-12-16
Published Online: 2012-01-23
Published in Print: 2012-04-01

©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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  1. Review Article
  2. Retinal microvascular changes in low-birth-weight babies have a link to future health
  3. Original Articles – Obstetrics
  4. Chromosomal mosaicisms in prenatal diagnosis: correlation with first trimester screening and clinical outcome
  5. Perinatal impact of the use of metformin and glyburide for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus
  6. Incidence and causes of maternal thrombocytopenia in triplet gestation
  7. Maternal and paternal age and twinning in the United States, 2004–2008
  8. Correlates of the trend of cesarean section rates in twin pregnancies
  9. Prospective risk of stillbirth: monochorionic diamniotic twins vs. dichorionic twins
  10. Association between increased yolk sac diameter and abnormal karyotypes
  11. No “masculinization” effect of a male on birth weight of its female co-twin
  12. Comparison of risk calculation approaches in a screening programme for Down syndrome
  13. Individual decisions in placenta increta and percreta: a case series
  14. Original Articles – Fetus
  15. Fetal sex and perinatal outcomes
  16. Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG): moving forward in the establishment of clinical reference data by advanced biomagnetic instrumentation and analysis
  17. Maternal and fetal cord blood lipids in intrauterine growth restriction
  18. Assessment of long-axis ventricular function in the fetal heart with a tissue-tracking algorithm
  19. Original Articles – Newborn
  20. A cluster of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a nursery
  21. Intermittent flushing improves cannula patency compared to continuous infusion for peripherally inserted venous catheters in newborns: results from a prospective observational study
  22. Opinion Paper
  23. Cross-over training in neonatology and obstetrics
  24. Congress Calender
  25. Congress Calendar
  26. Masthead
  27. Masthead
https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2011-0137
Keywords for this article
Fetal; gender; sex; pregnancy; outcome

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Review Article
  2. Retinal microvascular changes in low-birth-weight babies have a link to future health
  3. Original Articles – Obstetrics
  4. Chromosomal mosaicisms in prenatal diagnosis: correlation with first trimester screening and clinical outcome
  5. Perinatal impact of the use of metformin and glyburide for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus
  6. Incidence and causes of maternal thrombocytopenia in triplet gestation
  7. Maternal and paternal age and twinning in the United States, 2004–2008
  8. Correlates of the trend of cesarean section rates in twin pregnancies
  9. Prospective risk of stillbirth: monochorionic diamniotic twins vs. dichorionic twins
  10. Association between increased yolk sac diameter and abnormal karyotypes
  11. No “masculinization” effect of a male on birth weight of its female co-twin
  12. Comparison of risk calculation approaches in a screening programme for Down syndrome
  13. Individual decisions in placenta increta and percreta: a case series
  14. Original Articles – Fetus
  15. Fetal sex and perinatal outcomes
  16. Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG): moving forward in the establishment of clinical reference data by advanced biomagnetic instrumentation and analysis
  17. Maternal and fetal cord blood lipids in intrauterine growth restriction
  18. Assessment of long-axis ventricular function in the fetal heart with a tissue-tracking algorithm
  19. Original Articles – Newborn
  20. A cluster of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a nursery
  21. Intermittent flushing improves cannula patency compared to continuous infusion for peripherally inserted venous catheters in newborns: results from a prospective observational study
  22. Opinion Paper
  23. Cross-over training in neonatology and obstetrics
  24. Congress Calender
  25. Congress Calendar
  26. Masthead
  27. Masthead
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