More boys born linked to cat parasite!

[weeziewoozles]

I'd not heard of this before but there's evidence of a link between the toxoplasma parasite and having boys. Any thoughts ladies? We don't have pets but I was brought up in houses with lots of cats!

Pregnant women infected by cat parasite more likely to give birth to boys, say researchers | Science | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/oct/12/uk.health)

[SamS_TTCPink]

I've never had a cat until just recently, and now we have 2. I grew up with dogs and have always had dogs (we also have 2 dogs and a rabbit) so cats weren't a contributing factor for me! 😉

[weeziewoozles]

Apparently most people who carry the parasite caught it from not washing vegetables enough or undercooked meat!

[blueeyedguys]

It is an interesting idea, I've had cats most of my life & the ones when I was a kid were outdoor cats, so I've probably been exposed multiple times.

It's a very confusing article though. You can only get toxoplasmosis once & and it sounds like it was women with current infections who were more likely to have boys, but gender is determined long before that point so....I think a lot more study needs to be done, unless the actual study makes a heck of a lot more sense than the article. :)

[weeziewoozles]

I agree. I've not had a chance yet to read the original paper but another article I read mentioned the women as having a "latent" infection rather than an acute one. Definitely worth digging more!

[emmake]

I agree, i had toxoplasmose.

[covered in blue]

Very interesting! This is the first thing that came up when I typed it into Google
Toxoplasmosis - reducing the risks | Better Health Channel (http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Toxoplasmosis_reducing_the_risks)

States that the infection can be long term and survive in cysts throughout the body. Might be something we could get tested for... Will be interested to see the study :)

[covered in blue]

Really it's so easy to pick up this infection. Remember being a kid and eating strawberries straight from the garden? You don't actually have to have a cat or handle their poo

[purplepoet20]

We moved a lot as kids had lots of cats or dog over the years and most my mom left behind when we moved. All were outdoors 24/7. I hardly played around them except for the dogs my parents had when they were married. I did have a cat (13y) that I would sneak in my room at night and she slept by my stomach all night.

Honestly I think diet is a big thing!

[odd]

My son's baby sitter has a ton of animals including a few cats. But she has all girls

[butterflywarbie]

ive never had a cat as a child or now and ive still had 5 boys so i dont think theres a link there with me, my opinion is its the timing before the ovulation process to kill off the males and leave the female swimmers, i have been doing the diet but if the timing isnt right i dont think it would make much difference, wish there was one thing we could do to guarantee a gender, xx

[weeziewoozles]

It's not implying that owning a cat means a guaranteed boy, but there is a statistical correlation between women with a latent toxoplasma parasite and having boys.

[myurkanin817]

Oh boy. I have 5 cats!! :hair:

[atomic sagebrush]

Yep, it's a real thing. There are a couple diseases like that, which seem to alter the gender ratio. (Hep B is another that seems to make more boys)

My understanding is that it is an active infection (high levels of antibodies), which for most of us in the modern world, our bodies are able to easily and quickly defeat. Some people, (those in poor health probably from chronic food deprivation and infection with other parasites) may not be able to get over it as quickly and perhaps would have the antibodies for a longer time. Now that having been said, the parasite does go into a dormant phase and hangs around and no one is really quite sure how much it affects gender ratio and personality.

[atomic sagebrush]

I agree. I've not had a chance yet to read the original paper but another article I read mentioned the women as having a "latent" infection rather than an acute one. Definitely worth digging more!

It has to do with the level of antibodies

[atomic sagebrush]

Very interesting! This is the first thing that came up when I typed it into Google
Toxoplasmosis - reducing the risks | Better Health Channel (http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Toxoplasmosis_reducing_the_risks)

States that the infection can be long term and survive in cysts throughout the body. Might be something we could get tested for... Will be interested to see the study :)

the info I've read seemed to indicate it was levels of antibodies, meaning the body is actively fighting off the infection. This can happen straightaway for someone in good health or longer for someone who has other health issues.

[atomic sagebrush]

ive never had a cat as a child or now and ive still had 5 boys so i dont think theres a link there with me, my opinion is its the timing before the ovulation process to kill off the males and leave the female swimmers, i have been doing the diet but if the timing isnt right i dont think it would make much difference, wish there was one thing we could do to guarantee a gender, xx

Timing doesn't sway and X and Y sperm live the same amount of time and are equally hardy.

You don't have to own a cat to have it, you can get from fruit, veg, meat, or even inherit from your mother!

But I don't want anyone taking this real seriously, this is one of those interesting swaying curiosities and I doubt makes much of a difference overall.

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh boy. I have 5 cats!! :hair:

Cats have gotten a bad rap on this. most people do not contract toxoplasmosis from cats, but from foods.