Effect of fetal sex on maternal total testosterone level

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the effect of fetal sex on maternal serum total testosterone level and its application for fetal sex determination.BackgroundOur study has been made to find a prenatal sex determination test that is rapid, accurate, and can be performed in early pregnancy.Patients and methodsThis study was done on 66 pregnant healthy women (aged 18–35 years) in their second trimester of pregnancy (13–26 gestational weeks) as a case group and another 20 healthy nonpregnant women, age-matched as a control group. Those cases with a history of drug intake, chronic diseases, and history of previous operations were excluded. Both groups were subjected to measurement of total testosterone levels. The pregnant women were rechecked after delivery to know the delivered baby's sex. After excluding five cases from the pregnant group, including three cases (abortion) and two cases (still birth) the final number of the case group was 61; after that the pregnant group was classified into two subgroups: pregnant with male (30) and pregnant with female (31).ResultsThe maternal serum total testosterone level is significantly higher in the pregnant group compared with the nonpregnant control group. Regarding maternal testosterone in women carrying female fetus and others carrying male fetus, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the maternal total testosterone level between those who are pregnant in women compared with those who are carrying male fetus.ConclusionMaternal serum total testosterone level is not a good predictor of fetal sex.