OBJECTIVES: determine full-term newborns sexual dimorphism inhibition in fetal growth under the condition of uterine growth retardation. METHODS: 4931 full-term newborns with (497) and without (4434) intrauterine growth retardation were studied. All were > 37 weeks of gestation. The population was divided into two groups according to intrauterine growth conditions and sex. Anthropometric indicators of prenatal growth included body weight, length and cephalic perimeter. RESULTS: there were no statistically significant sex differences for birth weight and length for newborns submitted to intrauterine growth retardation. On the other hand, newborns with normal intrauterine growth showed a statistically significant difference between sex, males were heavier and longer than females. CONCLUSIONS: inhibition of sexual dimorphism is present in fetuses under stress as in the intrauterine growth retardation condition. Development perspective for this inhibitory phenomenon is discussed.
Sex characteristics; Fetal growth retardation; Adaptation
