title: Fetal gender and pregnancy outcomes in Libya: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between pregnancy outcomes and fetal gender is well reported from different areas in the world, but not from Africa. In this study, we try to understand whether the recorded phenomenon of association of adverse pregnancy outcomes with a male fetus applies to our population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29,140 patient records from 2009 and 2010 were retrieved from Aljalaa Maternity Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. Analysis was carried out to find the correlation between fetal gender and different pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A male fetus was associated with an increased incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (odds risk 1.4), preterm delivery (6.7% for males, 5.5% for females, odds risk 1.24), cesarean section (23.9% for males, 20% for females, odds risk 1.25), and instrumental vaginal delivery (4.4% for males, 3.1% for females, odds risk 1.48), p<0.005. Preeclampsia was more frequent among preterm females and postterm males, p<0.005. It was also more frequent in male-bearing primigravids, p<0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm the existence of an adverse effect of a male fetus on pregnancy and labor in our population. We recommend further research to understand the mechanisms and clinical implications of this phenomenon.
authors: Al-Jalaa Maternity Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. monisoft@gmail.com
authors: Mounir M
authors: MM
authors: Khalil
authors: Esgair
authors: E
authors: Alzahra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: cesarean rates; fetal gender; fetal sex; pregnancy outcomes; pregnancy risk factors