Boys more at risk for birth defects

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Nov 21, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Florida scientists say twins, triplets or other multiples have about a 50 percent greater chance of having birth defects, with boys more at risk.

University of Florida researchers studied all Florida births from 1996 through 2000 and found multiples have a higher risk than babies born singly of developing 23 of 40 birth defects, including brain, heart, bladder and liver problems.

The same team from UF's Maternal Child Health Education Research and Data Center studied 4,768 pairs of opposite-sex twins and found boys had a 29 percent higher risk for birth defects than girls. This could be because boys tend to develop at a slower pace, leaving more time for potential problems to arise.

"In the past 20 years, multiple births have increased because of greater reliance on assistive reproductive technology, especially among women delaying childbirth until their 30s and 40s," said Dr. Yiwei Tang, an assistant professor of pediatrics and a lead researcher in both studies. "In offering (such) options to women, full disclosure of an increased risk of birth defects should be made."

The research was published online in the Maternal and Child Health Journal.

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