Natural variation in the human sex ratio

Analysis of the effect of multiple birth, birth order, age of parents and the sexes of preceding siblings on the secondary sex ratio was performed for 815 891 children, born in Denmark, 1980-1993. The proportion of males was analysed as a function of multiple birth, birth order, age of parents and the sexes of preceding siblings, using contingency tables, chi(2) tests and logistic regression analysis. The secondary sex ratio decreased with increased number of children per plural birth and with paternal age, whereas no independent effect was observed for maternal age, birth order, the sex of the preceding child, or the combination of sexes of previously born children in the family.