Erum Ashraf, Humaira Nawab, Muhammad Akbar Mughal.
Association between Fetal Sex and Maternal Serum Testosterone Levels in Normotensive and Preeclamptic Pregnancies.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;6(4):817-20.

Objective: To determine the association between fetal gender and serum testosterone levels in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies matched for height, weight, age and gestational age. Methods: This comparative cross sectional study, conducted in the Department of Physiology B.M.S.I. J.P.M.C. Karachi, in collaboration with Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics from November 2005 to July 2006, consisted of 100 women with singleton pregnancies. Fifty pregnancies were uncomplicated; with 25 carrying male fetus and 25 carrying female fetus. Fifty pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia; out of which 25 were carrying male and 25 carrying female fetuses. Serum testosterone was measured in maternal peripheral blood. Result: The maternal serum levels of total testosterone are significantly higher in preeclamptics than in normotensive pregnancies with male (P<0.05) as well as with female fetuses (P<0.05). Male bearing preeclamptic pregnancies have significantly higher maternal serum testosterone levels than female bearing pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (P< 0.001). In uncomplicated pregnancies no significant gender differences are found in the maternal serum testosterone values. Conclusion: It is thus concluded from our study that there exist an association between a particular fetal gender and maternal serum testosterone levels. So if a mother is carrying male fetus frequent antenatals could be instructed in these preeclamptic women. This strategy may reduce a higher perinatal and maternal loss associated with preeclampsia.

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