Effect of Fetal Gender on Ductus Venosus Pulsatility Index and Diameter at Gestational Age 17-37 Weeks
Athita Chanthasenanont MD*, Densak Pongrojpaw MD*, Charintip Somprasit MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Maternal-Fetal- Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Objective : Recent findings have suggested that ductus venosus blood flow in the first trimester may be
influenced by fetal gender. The aim of the present study was to investigate further the influence of fetal gender
on ductus venosus (DV) pulsatility index (PI) and diameter at gestational age 17-37 weeks.
Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional study. Three measurements were made for each the DV PI
and diameter in each fetus during fetal quiescence. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 14.0 software
was used to create nomograms for the DV PI and diameter against gestational age in each gender group. The
DV PI and diameter were compared between fetal genders using independent Student’s t-test.
Results : There was no statistically significant difference in the DV PI and diameter between fetal sexes.
Conclusion : Fetal gender does not influence the DV PI and diameter at gestational age 17-37 weeks.
Keywords : Blood flow velocity, Crown-Rump length, Ductus arteriosus, Fetus, Pregnancy trimester - second, Pregnancy trimester - third, Pulsatile flow, Sex
