Impact of economic conditions on the secondary sex ratio in a post-communist economy

Żądzińska, Elżbieta; Rosset, Iwona; Mikulec, Artur; Domański, Czesław; Pawłowski, Bogusław

doi:10.1016/j.jchb.2011.03.002

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Numerous biological and environmental factors have been shown to reduce the secondary sex ratio, including older maternal and paternal ages 4 , stressors (i.e. earthquakes 5 , war 6 and economic distress) 7 , and toxins (i.e. smoking, pollutants, and pesticides) 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sex ratio of singleton and twin delivery offspring in assisted reproductive technology in China

Chen

Zhao

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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In order to evaluate the impact of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure and individual factors on the sex ratio of singletons and twins at birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment in China. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients undergoing their first cycle of IVF or ICSI with autologous oocytes from 2001 to 2015. A total of 7410 babies were born from 5832 women with 7410 live birth. The secondary sex ratio (SSR) in singletons was significantly higher than twins (53.97% vs. 50.89%, P = 0.009). The largest disparity was observed in ‘thawed blastocyst embryos ICSI’ subgroup that SSR was 59.84% in singletons and 42.45% in twins (P = 0.013). Blastocyst transfer was positively associated with elevated SSR when compared to cleavage stage embryos in singletons (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.17, P < 0.001). In addition, paternal age was significantly associated with SSR (OR = 0.75, P = 0.014). While the decrease of SSR was significantly associated with ICSI when compared to IVF (OR = 0.61, P = 0.046) in twins. Blastocyst transfer increases SSR in comparing with cleavage stage embryos in singletons, while the use of ICSI reduces SSR in twins. Our findings offered important complement for better understanding the underlying determinant of SSR in ART offspring.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sex ratio of singleton and twin delivery offspring in assisted reproductive technology in China

Chen

Zhao

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…Studies have shown that SSR is associated with many biologcial and enviromental factors. It is shown that older materanl age, high stress, social factors reduce the SSR in natural conception [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Live Birth Sex Ratio after In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer in China - An Analysis of 121,247 Babies from 18 Centers

Chen

Huang

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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In order to study the impact of procedures of IVF/ICSI technology on sex ratio in China, we conducted this multi-center retrospective study including 121,247 babies born to 93,895 women in China. There were 62,700 male babies and 58,477 female babies, making the sex ratio being 51.8% (Male: Female = 107∶100). In univariate logistic regression analysis, sex ratio was imbalance toward females of 50.3% when ICSI was preformed compared to 47.7% when IVF was used (P<0.01). The sex ratio in IVF/ICSI babies was significantly higher toward males in transfers of blastocyst (54.9%) and thawed embryo (52.4%) when compared with transfers of cleavage stage embryo (51.4%) and fresh embryo (51.5%), respectively. Multiple delivery was not associated with sex ratio. However, in multivariable logistic regression analysis after controlling for related factors, only ICSI (adjusted OR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.88–0.93; P<0.01) and blastocyst transfer (adjusted OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09–1.20; P<0.01) were associated with sex ratio in IVF/ICSI babies. In conclusion, the live birth sex ratio in IVF/ICSI babies was influenced by the use of ICSI, which may decrease the percentage of male offspring, or the use of blastocyst transfer, which may increase the percentage of male offspring.

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“… Helle et al (2009) found a non-significant relationship between SRB and percentage change in real gross domestic product (GDP) in Finland in 1865–2003. Another study showed no relationship between consumption and SRB in Poland when using annual data for the period 1956–2005 ( Żądzińska et al , 2007 ), while a later investigation conducted by the same researchers using quarterly data for the period 1995–2007 reported a reduction in SRB in Poland four quarters after the occurrence of economic decline ( Żądzińska et al , 2011 ). An integrative review article suggested that the association between economic stress and SRB presented in former research remained largely speculative and acknowledged the needs for more research on this topic ( Margerison Zilko, 2010 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Maternal stress and sex ratio at birth in Sweden over two and a half centuries: a retest of the Trivers–Willard hypothesis

2021

Human Reproduction

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STUDY QUESTION Is there a negative relationship, as predicted in the Trivers–Willard hypothesis (TWH), between the intensity of maternal stress and sex ratio at birth (SRB)? SUMMARY ANSWER Using a comprehensive data set with multiple indicators of maternal stress, most measures of stress show no statistically significant association with SRB over a period spanning 243 years, indicating no support for the TWH. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Evolutionary biologists have proposed a widely discussed hypothesis that women in poor and stressful conditions during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to girls, and exposure to stressful events may therefore lead to a reduction in sex (male-to-female) ratio at birth. The empirical evidence so far is mixed. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Annual time series data, spanning 243 years between 1749 and 1991 for Sweden at the national level, were drawn from multiple sources. The outcome is defined as the percentage of male births relative to all births in Sweden in a given year. The covariates include a set of economic and climatic variables as proxies for maternal stress. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We conduct a series of ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average) models to examine the relationship between maternal stress and SRB during three periods: 1749–1991, 1749–1861 and 1862–1991. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In 1749–1991, economic proxies for maternal stress showed no statistically significant association with SRB. In 1749–1861, two indicators were significantly associated with SRB, but the coefficients were opposite in direction to the TWH. In 1862–1991, five out of six covariates showed no significant association with SRB. An additional analysis found no significant correlation between sex ratio of stillbirths and all covariates in 1862–1991. Our results are incompatible with the TWH and suggest that previous findings in support of the TWH are not robust. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study provides population-level evidence that may not necessarily reflect the nature of all individuals due to the ecological fallacy. The time series analysed in this study are annual data, and we cannot examine the potential seasonality due to the lack of disaggregated monthly data. Our findings may not be generalised to the contexts of extreme maternal stress conditions such as famine and war. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results from existing studies in this topic may be speculative, and additional research with more comprehensive design, data and covariates is needed to reconsider the robustness of previous findings. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The author receives no external funding and has no conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

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Impact of economic conditions on the secondary sex ratio in a post-communist economy

Cited by 22 publications

References 36 publications

The sex ratio of singleton and twin delivery offspring in assisted reproductive technology in China

The sex ratio of singleton and twin delivery offspring in assisted reproductive technology in China

Live Birth Sex Ratio after In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer in China - An Analysis of 121,247 Babies from 18 Centers

Maternal stress and sex ratio at birth in Sweden over two and a half centuries: a retest of the Trivers–Willard hypothesis

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