Is Gestational Third Trimester Testosterone Level a Good Predictor of the Fetal Sex?

Abstract

Desire to know fetal gender is wide spread and cut across many cultures and religious believes. Current methods of determining this include the ultrasound scanning and karryotyping among others. This study set out to determine if gestational third trimester testosterone level is a good predictor of fetal gender. A four month longitudinal study was carried out. All pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic up to the third trimester of pregnancy had 5ml of intravenous blood taken from either ante cubital fossa between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. These were checked again to ascertain the gender of the baby after delivery. The third trimester testosterone levels in pregnancies with male and female fetuses are 2.6 ± 1.6 vs 2.5 ±1.6 nmol/L. There is no significant difference between the third trimester testosterone levels in pregnancies with male and female fetuses p = 0.05. Thus, the gestational third trimester is not a good predictor of fetal sex. Other tests should be used to determine the fetal sex/gender at this gestational age.

Keywords: fetal sex, testosterone, pregnancy.