title: Relevance of lunar periodicity in human spontaneous abortions.
abstract: The effect of the moon on human reproduction has been scarcely investigated and with controversial results. The present analysis describes a significant effect of extreme perigeal lunar positions on the number of hospitalized spontaneous abortions (n = 1,329) recorded at two university clinics and a public hospital at Padova, Italy, during the years 2000-2003. Spectral analysis evidenced a 205-day period which appears to be correlated with the 206-day periodicity in extreme lunar distances. Circa-septan and circa-annual periodicities were also observed. Peak significances were determined by a Monte Carlo approach (circa-septan and 205-day periodicities: p < 0.001; circa-annual periodicity: p < 0.05). Our study indicates that the occurrence of human abortions displays suggestive periodicities that may be of relevance for gynecological and obstetrical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via G. Colombo 3, IT-35131 Padua, Italy. valandro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valandro
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zordan
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polanska
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puricelli
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016081:Moon; D010507:Periodicity