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Fetal sex prediction measuring yolk sac size and yolk sac–fetal pole distance in the first trimester via ultrasound screening

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of fetal sex definition by measuring the yolk sac size and the yolk sac–fetal pole distance in the first trimester via ultrasound (US) screening.

Methods

We enrolled 92 gestational women in this prospective study. In the first trimester of US examination, the gestational sac, the gestational sac–fetal pole distance, and the yolk sac size were measured. When the fetal pole was in the longitudinal position, the distance between the fetal pole and the yolk sac was measured in millimeters (mm). The crown–rump length (CRL) was measured in the same position. US examination at 22 weeks was performed to determine whether the fetal gender was male or female. The genders of the fetuses were recorded. The sexes were also confirmed and recorded after birth.

Results

Fifty-five (59.8%) of the newborns were found to be male, while 37 (40.2%) of them were found to be female. We compared the yolk sac size and the yolk sac–fetal pole distance in both the female and male groups. We found that the genders showed a significant difference in terms of yolk sac–fetal pole distance, whereas the yolk sac size showed no significant difference between the genders. The optimal cutoff value of the yolk sac–fetal pole distance was 1.80 mm, with 70% sensitivity and 67% specificity for female gender prediction. The distance also showed an independent association with gender prediction in the first trimester.

Conclusion

Yolk sac–fetal pole distance may have the potential to predict gender in the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keciören Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Yüksel Kurban

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Ibrahim Uyar & Murat Alan

  3. Department of Radiology, Yenimahalle Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Cigdem Hacifazlioglu

Authors
  1. Yüksel Kurban
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  2. Ibrahim Uyar
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  3. Murat Alan
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  4. Cigdem Hacifazlioglu
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All the authors have accepted responsibility for entire content of this submitted manuscriptand approved submission.

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Correspondence to Yüksel Kurban.

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Authors declare no conficts of interest.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, and its later amendments.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Additional informed consent was obtained from all the patients for whom identifying information is not included in this article.

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Kurban, Y., Uyar, I., Alan, M. et al. Fetal sex prediction measuring yolk sac size and yolk sac–fetal pole distance in the first trimester via ultrasound screening. J Ultrasound 24, 489–492 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-020-00516-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-020-00516-0

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