The use of inhaled steroids increased significantly in asthmatic women pregnant with a female fetus, but did not change in asthmatic women pregnant with a male. This is because pregnant women with asthma who are carrying a female baby are more likely to experience a worsening of their asthma than pregnant asthmatic women carrying a baby boy.

Although there is no definite reason for this difference, Dr. Gibson believes that female fetus may produce a substance in response to the inflammation of the asthmatic mother’s airways that somehow worsens the asthma.

From Medical News Today:

The study followed 151 pregnant women; 33 did not have asthma, 38 had asthma but did not use inhaled steroids during pregnancy, and 80 had asthma and used inhaled steroids every day during their pregnancy. Steroids control the inflammation of the airways that occurs in asthma. “Inhaled steroids are generally considered safer for the fetus than oral steroids,” Dr. Gibson said.

He found that 60% of asthmatic women who were pregnant with a male fetus were symptom-free throughout their pregnancy and did not report nighttime breathing problems from the 18th to the 30th week of pregnancy. In contrast, 61% of asthmatic women pregnant with a female fetus were symptom-free at 18 weeks, but at 30 weeks only 28% were symptom-free. Nighttime symptoms increased significantly from 18 to 30 weeks in women pregnant with a female fetus.

Use of inhaled steroids increased significantly in asthmatic women pregnant with a female fetus, but did not change in asthmatic women pregnant with a male.

In order to address this condition, Dr. Gibson suggests that pregnant women should continue to treat their asthma with inhaled corticosteroids. According to him, asthma is dangerous to the mother and baby since it can result in reduced oxygen, which is needed for normal fetal growth and development.

Tags:  asthma, Dr. Gibson, female fetus, inhaled steroids, pregnant asthmatic women

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