title: Fetal gender effects on induction of labor in postdate pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine delivery outcome in women undergoing induction of labor for postdate pregnancy in relation to fetal gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 365 nulliparous and 127 multiparous women carrying singleton postdate pregnancies with unfavorable cervix were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and delivery outcome were analyzed in relation to fetal gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women carrying male fetuses showed higher rate of caesarean section than those carrying females, in both nulliparous and multiparous women. Moreover, women carrying male fetuses presented more frequently with (i) interval between induction of labor and delivery >24 hours (P < .0002); (ii) augmentation of labor after cervical ripening (P < .0391); (iii) meconium-stained liquor (P< .0126); and (iv) higher neonatal weight (P < .0011) than those carrying females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male fetuses are more likely to be associated with higher rates of cesarean section. In maternal fetal medicine, gender differences may add prognostic information on the delivery outcome in women induced for postdate pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voltolini
authors.forename: Francesca L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vellucci
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bocchi
authors.forename: Filiberto M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Severi
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Challis
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D020070:Cervical Ripening; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000378:metabolism; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors