Predicting the sex of fetus in first trimester based on the crown-rump length

Jacek Borowski, Julia Borowska, Anna Szczepańska-Przekota, Agata Walaszczyk, Marek Bulsa

Abstract


Introduction: Ultrasound examination of pregnant women to assess the anatomy and normal developmental parameters of the fetus has been a standard in obstetrics since the 1980s. Nowadays, attempts are being made to identify sex in early pregnancy. The method of fetal sex determination based on cytogenetic evaluation of fetal cells isolated from maternal blood and free fetal DNA detectable in pregnant women’s blood, developed in recent years, requires a specialised laboratory. In view of these conditions, it seems obvious and necessary to search for alternative methods of fetal sex determination at the earliest possible stage of pregnancy. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the sex of the fetus in the I trimester of pregnancy.
Materials and methods: The initial study included 187 pregnant women who were between 5–10 weeks of gestation (model 1) and the actual study included 240 subjects who were between 5–13 weeks of singleton pregnancy (model 2). A logistic regression model was used to assess the probability of fetal sex based on crown-rump length (CRL), gestational sac volume (GSV), and gestational age.
Results: The study indicates that the sex of the fetus can be predicted with a high probability from ultrasound earlier than previously thought.
Conclusions: After 7 weeks of gestation, differences in the size of male and female fetuses start to become apparent. Male fetuses have on average higher CRL and GSV than female fetuses. This allows predicting male  sex with a significantly higher probability.

Keywords


crown-rump length (CRL); gestational sac volume (GSV); sex of fetus; I trimester; ultrasonography

Full Text:

PDF (Język Polski)

References


Efrat Z, Perri T, Ramati E, Tugendreich D, Meizner I. Fetal gender assignment by first-trimester ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2006;27(6):619-21.

Chelli D, Methni A, Dimassi K, Boudaya F, Sfar E, Zouaoui B, et al. Fetal sex assignment by first trimester ultrasound: a Tunisian experience. Prenat Diagn 2009;29(12):1145-8.

Lubusky M, Studnickova M, Skrivanek A, Vomackova K, Prochazka M. Ultrasound evaluation of fetal gender at 12–14 weeks. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2012;156(4):324-9.

Manzanares S, Benítez A, Naveiro-Fuentes M, López-Criado MS, Sánchez--Gila M. Accuracy of fetal sex determination on ultrasound examination in the first trimester of pregnancy. J Clin Ultrasound 2016;44(5):272-7.

Hsiao CH, Wang HC, Hsieh CF, Hsu JJ. Fetal gender screening by ultrasound at 11 to 13(+6) weeks. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2008;87(1):8-13.

Arfi A, Cohen J, Canlorbe G, Bendifallah S, Thomassin-Naggara I, Darai E, et al. First-trimester determination of fetal gender by ultrasound: measurement of the ano-genital distance. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2016;203:177-81.

Mielke G, Kiesel L, Backsch C, Erz W, Gonser M. Fetal sex determination by high resolution ultrasound in early pregnancy. Eur J Ultrasound 1998;7(2):109-14.

Benoit B. Early fetal gender determination. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999;13(5):299-300.

Whitlow BJ, Lazanakis MS, Economides DL. The sonographic identification of fetal gender from 11 to 14 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999;13(5):301-4.

Mazza V, Contu G, Falcinelli C, Battafarano S, Cagnacci A, Vito G, et al. Biometrical threshold of biparietal diameter for certain fetal sex assignment by ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999;13(5):308-11.

Efrat Z, Akinfenwa OO, Nicolaides KH. First-trimester determination of fetal gender by ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999;13(5):305-7.

Pedreira DA. In search for the ‘third point’. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2000;15(3):262-3.

Pedreira DA, Yamasaki A, Czeresnia CE. Fetal phallus ‘erection’ interfering with the sonographic determination of fetal gender in the first trimester. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2001;18(4):402-4.

Mazza V, Falcinelli C, Percesepe A, Paganelli S, Volpe A, Forabosco A. Non-invasive first trimester fetal gender assignment in pregnancies at risk for X-linked recessive diseases. Prenat Diagn 2002;22(10):919-24.

Chi C, Hyett JA, Finning KM, Lee CA, Kadir RA. Non-invasive first trimester determination of fetal gender: a new approach for prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia. BJOG 2006;113(2):239-42.

Hyett JA, Gardener G, Stojilkovic-Mikic T, Finning KM, Martin PG, Rodeck CH, et al. Reduction in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions by non-invasive determination of fetal sex in early pregnancy. Prenat Diagn 2005;25(12):1111-6.

Mazza V, Di Monte I, Pati M, Contu G, Ottolenghi C, Forabosco A, et al. Sonographic biometrical range of external genitalia differentiation in the first trimester of pregnancy: analysis of 2593 cases. Prenat Diagn 2004;24(9):677-84.

Bogers H, Rifouna MS, Koning AHJ, Husen-Ebbinge M, Go ATJI, van der Spek PJ, et al. Accuracy of fetal sex determination in the first trimester of pregnancy using 3D virtual reality ultrasound. J Clin Ultrasound 2018;46(4):241-6.

Carlson BM. Human Embryology and Developmental Biology. Philadelphia: Mosby; 2004.

Jauniaux E, Johns J, Burton GJ. The role of ultrasound imaging in diagnosing and investigating early pregnancy failure. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2005;25(6):613-24.

Oh JS, Wright G, Coulam CB. Gestational sac diameter in very early pregnancy as a predictor of fetal outcome. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2002;20(3):267-9.

Robinson HP. ‘‘Gestation sac’’ volumes as determined by sonar in the first trimester of pregnancy. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1975;82(2):100-7.

Streeter GL. Contributions to Embryology. Vol. 143. Washington, DC: Carnegie Institution Publications; 1921. p. 10-1.

Lo YM, Corbetta N, Chamberlain PF, Rai V, Sargent IL, Redman CW, et al. Presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and serum. Lancet 1997;350(9076):485-7.

Borowski J, Bulsa M, Słabikowski A, Walaszczyk A, Borowska J. Ultrasound evaluation of the sex of the fetus after the 7th week of pregnancy, Averroes. Eur Med J 2021;2(1):1-10.

Speroff L, Fritz MA. Kliniczna endokrynologia ginekologiczna i niepłodność. Warszawa: MediPage; 2007.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.843

Copyright (c) 2022 Jacek Borowski

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/pl/