Baby boys are much more likely to face potentially life-threatening outcomes at birth than girls, new research Tuesday suggests.
Newborn boys are at greater risk of being born spontaneously premature, while their mothers are at greater risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.
The study, the first of its kind, examined data on more than 574,000 births in Australia over a 30-year period, from 1981 to 2011.
Lead researcher and senior author of the paper, Prof. Claire Roberts, from the University of Adelaide, Australia, said: “The major conclusion of our study is that the evidence is there and it is very clear: the sex of the baby has a direct association with pregnancy outcomes.”
The findings, published Tuesday in the journal PLOS ONE, include:
*Boys are more likely to be born spontaneously pre-term. Boys show a 27 per cent higher risk for a pre-term birth between 20-24 weeks’ gestation, 24 per cent higher risk for a pre-term birth between 30-33 weeks, and 17 per cent higher risk for pre-term birth between 34-36 weeks.
*Mothers carrying boys are four per cent more likely to suffer gestational diabetes.
*Mothers carrying boys are 7.5 per cent more likely to suffer pre-eclampsia at term.
*However, pregnant women carrying a girl have a 22 per cent higher risk for early onset pre-eclampsia requiring a pre-term delivery.
The researchers, who worked with colleagues at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, and the Pregnancy Outcome Unit of SA Health, examined the relationship between a baby’s sex and adverse outcomes, including pre-term birth, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure disorders, and gestational diabetes.
Lead author, Dr. Petra Verburg, from the University of Groningen, also based at the University of Adelaide, said: “Our results indicate there may be a need for specific interventions tailored to male and female babies, to prevent adverse outcomes for both child and mother.
“We’re investigating other factors that may predict pregnancy complications, taking fetal sex into account.”
Roberts and her team have previously published research on sex differences in the expression of 142 genes in the placenta from normal pregnancies.
“The placenta is critical for pregnancy success,” Roberts said.
“We believe that sex differences in placental function may explain the differences we’re seeing in outcomes for newborn boys and girls, and their mothers.
The study, the first of its kind, examined data on more than 574,000 births in Australia over a 30-year period, from 1981 to 2011.
Lead researcher and senior author of the paper, Prof. Claire Roberts, from the University of Adelaide, Australia, said: “The major conclusion of our study is that the evidence is there and it is very clear: the sex of the baby has a direct association with pregnancy outcomes.”
The findings, published Tuesday in the journal PLOS ONE, include:
*Boys are more likely to be born spontaneously pre-term. Boys show a 27 per cent higher risk for a pre-term birth between 20-24 weeks’ gestation, 24 per cent higher risk for a pre-term birth between 30-33 weeks, and 17 per cent higher risk for pre-term birth between 34-36 weeks.
*Mothers carrying boys are four per cent more likely to suffer gestational diabetes.
*Mothers carrying boys are 7.5 per cent more likely to suffer pre-eclampsia at term.
*However, pregnant women carrying a girl have a 22 per cent higher risk for early onset pre-eclampsia requiring a pre-term delivery.
The researchers, who worked with colleagues at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, and the Pregnancy Outcome Unit of SA Health, examined the relationship between a baby’s sex and adverse outcomes, including pre-term birth, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure disorders, and gestational diabetes.
Lead author, Dr. Petra Verburg, from the University of Groningen, also based at the University of Adelaide, said: “Our results indicate there may be a need for specific interventions tailored to male and female babies, to prevent adverse outcomes for both child and mother.
“We’re investigating other factors that may predict pregnancy complications, taking fetal sex into account.”
Roberts and her team have previously published research on sex differences in the expression of 142 genes in the placenta from normal pregnancies.
“The placenta is critical for pregnancy success,” Roberts said.
“We believe that sex differences in placental function may explain the differences we’re seeing in outcomes for newborn boys and girls, and their mothers.
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