Stressed-Out Women Are More Likely to Give Birth to Girls, Says Study

Would you believe it if we told you that if you’re stressed out at the time you conceive, you‘re more likely to have a daughter than a son? According to the Telegraph, a new study at Oxford University has found that the higher the level of cortisol (stress hormone) a woman has, the less likely she is to have a son.

Researchers asked 338 UK women who were trying to get pregnant to complete pregnancy diaries and fill out questionnaires about their stress levels. The women also had their cortisol and alpha-amylase (an enzyme that’s a sign of adrenaline) levels measured during their monthly cycles for six months or until they got pregnant. Of the participants in the study, 61 percent of the women became pregnant, and of the babies born, 58 were boys and 72 were girls.

Although the study overall didn’t show a significant gender difference, researchers did find that 50 percent of the women who had high cortisol levels were 75 percent less likely to give birth to a baby boy.

For now, there’s no explanation as to why women with higher cortisol levels were more likely to have girls than boys. But if you really want a baby girl, maybe stressing yourself out is worth a shot? (Just kidding!)

What do you think of this study?

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