The use of three-dimensional ultrasound for fetal gender determination in the first trimester

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy of fetal gender prediction at a routine first trimester scan using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. 200 women were recruited for this study and they agreed to have a transvaginal scan for their routine first trimester scan for fetal anatomy and nuchal thickness measurement. 3D volumes were obtained and stored. Two examiners independently reviewed all the volumes and recorded their diagnosis of fetal gender and measured the angle between the genital tubercle and the skin overlying the sacrum. After studying the 3D volumes both examiners recorded a diagnosis of male or female in 150 cases (81.5%). In 34 cases (18.5%) either both (n=21) or one of them (n=13) could not comment on fetal gender by studying the saved volume. From these 150 cases correct prediction of fetal gender by both examiners was achieved in 85.3% of cases. In 6.7% of cases both examiners predicted the wrong gender while for the rest 8% of cases each examiner assigned different gender to the fetus (k=0.84; standard error 0.045). Angle measurements performed from the saved 3D volumes were highly reproducible. Gestational age did not affect the accuracy of gender identification. This study demonstrates that 3D ultrasound can be an effective and fast way of identifying fetal gender in the first trimester. The advantages of 3D ultrasound stem from its ability to virtually reproduce all required views.

Is son preference pervasive in India?

“…Social factors include favouritism towards boys in the care of disease and injury and also in food allocation (Pandey et al 1998). An all-important technological factor is the ultra-sound technique, which is used to determine the sex of the foetus in the mother's womb, culminating in the growth of sex-selective abortions (Birnholz 1983, Retherford and Roy 2003, Michailidis et al 2003, Hsiao et al 2008. Sen (2001b) refers to this as 'high-tech sexism'.…”

Current 3D/4D ultrasound technology in prenatal diagnosis

“…Surface rendering provides the examiner with a 3D spatial view of the embryo and the foetus at all stages [5,6,14,[41][42][43][44][45]. The first view of the foetal face has an important psychological effect on the parents to whom the detailed images, compared to 2D pictures, are much better recognizable.…”

Profile of Women Seeking To Know Fetal Sex at Ultrasoun in a Nigerian Obstetric Population

“…It may also be associated with negative or positive effect on the parents. In some countries, there have been restrictive laws on antenatal fetal sex determination because of the fear of parents undergoing termination of an unwanted sex 6,10 . In countries like India, where the population is very high and the law permits only one child, there may be increase incidence of selective abortion and fetocide of an unwanted sex 12 .…”