After the attacks on 9/11, it was not only the DOW or air travel that fell. For male babies the birth rate dropped also. Scientists are stating there was a high rate of male fetuses miscarried due to the trauma of the attack. A study that is soon to be released by the BMC Public Health states they look at miscarriages instead of other factors and have concluded the 9/11 attacks is the reason for the rate decrease.

Research that was compiled from ‘96 to ‘02 on fetal deaths showed 156,000 deaths total for both sexes. Male deaths jumped 12% from 2000 to 2001. Scientists know that stress reduces the birth ratio. Male fetal deaths are more than females. So why is this happening? A professor from Berkeley California says males require more resources and usually have a higher rate of death before they reach the age of reproducing.

This is just a simple natural selection process. When a mother’s body senses environmental risks her body automatically aborts the baby so they won’t have any more challenges to deal with. Here are some examples of a range of factors affecting the birth ratio:

1. Natural disasters: Birthrates have been historically recorded worldwide after a major catastrophe.

2.Unemployment: Due to a mother’s stress level, male deaths rose with the unemployment rate. But, if it happens slowly, the mother can softly cushion the stress on the baby.

3. Timing: Males are only conceived through a very narrow window of the menstruation cycle. If conception is in the early part it usually produces more boys, if at the later part more girls.

4. Weather: Males do not like it hot. Scientists cannot explain this one. Maybe the sperm count was altered or the miscarriages played a factor in being higher. Studies show in warmer climates the male-female ratio was lower.

5. Diet: Mothers have been broken down to three study groups with the basis on calorie consumption. The higher energy the mother has the more sons produced. As stated previously males need more resources for survival. The low end of the energy showed lesser males as less nutrients were consumed.

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