Stress leads to decline in male births

Researchers have found that women experiencing high levels of stress are more likely to give birth to females.

Scientists analysed birth certifcates of all babies born in Chile between 2004 and 2006. The records included information about the babies sex, weight and height, as well as informationa about mothers’ marital status, age and home county.

Women in their second or third month of pregnancy who lived in counties near the epicenter of a major earthquake during that period in question were at higher risk of pre-term delivery and had shorter pregnancies.

Researchers also found a 5.8% decline in live male births, which translates to 45 male births for every 100 births.