Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40954550›Full record

ArticlePrenatal diagnosis2025

Perspectives on Fetal Sex and Prenatal Diagnosis of Differences of Sex Development Among Midwives.

Madeline Dingle, Sharon Aufox, Emilie K Johnson, Jeffrey S Dungan, Aimee Clark, Katie Abihider, Allison Goetsch Weisman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Prenatal diagnosis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Madeline DingleGraduate Program in Genetic Counseling, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0009-0003-2532-7739
Sharon AufoxCenter for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4424-8588
Emilie K JohnsonDivision of Urology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8500-9084
Jeffrey S DunganDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Aimee ClarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Katie AbihiderDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Allison Goetsch WeismanDivision of Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-3747-5072

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveCell-free DNA screening has increased prenatal diagnosis/suspicion of fetal differences of sex development (DSD). This study explored how midwives discuss fetal sex and possible DSD with pregnant patients.

methodActive members of the American College of Nurse-Midwives were surveyed electronically to assess terminology use when discussing fetal sex and DSD, terminology influences, and comfort and preparedness levels when discussing a fetal DSD.

resultsMost participants (59.1%) reported a preference for use of gender-specific language (e.g., baby boy or baby girl) when disclosing predicted fetal sex results, often reflecting language used by patients. However, use of non-gendered language increased (40.9% vs. 76.2%) with suspicion of fetal DSD. Participants reported discomfort (41.9%) and unpreparedness (48.1%) when disclosing results related to genital variation. Additionally, some participants reported comfort with using terminology that may be inappropriate or outdated when discussing DSD (e.g., hermaphrodite, 16%). While a minority of participants (20.3%) reported having prior education about DSD, most participants (81.7%) desired education on this topic. Notably, participants with prior DSD education consistently expressed higher levels of preparedness for discussing DSD compared with those who did not receive this education.

conclusionFindings underscore the importance of DSD education for midwives to increase knowledge, comfort, and preparedness in this area of care.

Indexed as

Disorders of Sex DevelopmentMidwiferyNurse MidwivesPrenatal DiagnosisAdultFemaleHumansMalePregnancySurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40954550
PMCPMC12692983

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.