Hormonal control of sex ratio

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that the maternal gonadotrophin level at the time of conception is causally related to the sex of the resultant human zygote, high levels of hormone being associated with the production of female offspring. In this note, evidence for and against this hypothesis is reviewed. There seems so much evidence in its favour that one might conclude that it contains at least a kernel of truth. It is suggested here that of the components of gonadotrophin, the active one in this hypothesized sex-selective process is luteinizing hormone, rather than follicle-stimulating hormone. The hypothesis is nevertheless unable to accommodate several well-established sets of data. Accordingly it is suggested that other hormones, oestrogen and testosterone, have sex-selective properties too, high levels being associated with male offspring. This elaboration of the hypothesis, if it were true, would explain most, if not all, of the epidemiological data on the human secondary sex ratio. In particular it would explain Guerrero's data which have hitherto resisted explanation of any kind. No suggestion is made about possible mechanisms underlying these hypothesized sex-selective properties. But it seems that sex-selective abortion is not the only one. It is hoped that other workers may be stimulated not only to test the hypothesis as outlined here, but--if it survives this testing--to suggest such mechanisms.