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Aims: To explore the differences in some maternal-neonatal metabolic markers and placenta status by foetal sex., Methods: One hundred thirty-nine Caucasian pregnant women from the GESTAFIT project and their new-borns were included in the present cross-sectional study. Serum cardiometabolic markers (i.e. lipid and glycaemic profile and uric acid) were analysed at late pregnancy and at birth. In placenta, telomeres length, proportion of deleted mitochondrial-DNA and mitochondrial-DNA density, some minerals and interleukin 8, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured. The study was run between November 2015 and April 2018., Results: Mothers carrying a male showed higher serum triglycerides than mothers carrying a female at late pregnancy ( p  < .05). Serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were greater in males' umbilical cord blood artery compared to females' new-borns (both, p  < .05). Mothers of males and male new-borns presented higher uric acid than mothers of females and female new-borns at birth ( p  < .05). Female's placentas presented greater placental-newborn weight ratio, manganese content and fibroblast growth factor-2 (all, p  ⩽ .05), and evidence of statistical significance in telomeres length, which were 17% longer ( p  = .076)., Conclusion: Our findings show weak differences in some cardiometabolic and placental status markers by foetal sex. Notwithstanding, we observed a slightly more proatherogenic profile in both, mothers carrying males' foetuses and male new-borns. We also found lower serum uric acid and better placenta status in mothers carrying a female. These findings indicate that foetal sex might need to be considered for a more personalized follow-up of pregnancies.

Background: Menstrual disorders were not reported as a possible secondary effect in any of the clinical trials for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines., Aim: To describe the prevalence of perceived premenstrual and menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccine administration., Design: Cross-sectional study., Methods: A total of 14,153 women (mean age 31.5 ± 9.3 years old) who had received the full course of vaccination at least three months earlier were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including the type of vaccine administered, perceived changes in the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, presence of clots, cycle length, and premenstrual symptoms were collected through a retrospective online survey from June to September 2021., Results: Of the women who participated in this study, 3136 reported no menstrual changes and 11,017 (78% of the study sample) reported experiencing menstrual cycle changes after vaccination. In summary, women who reported menstrual changes after vaccination were older (overall p  < 0.001) and slightly more smokers ( p  = 0.05) than women who did not report any changes. The most prevalent changes in relation to premenstrual symptoms were increased fatigue (43%), abdominal bloating (37%), irritability (29%), sadness (28%), and headaches (28%). The most predominant menstrual changes were more menstrual bleeding (43%), more menstrual pain (41%), delayed menstruation (38%), fewer days of menstrual bleeding (34.5%), and shorter cycle length (32%)., Conclusion: Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes. Future studies are warranted to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind these widely reported changes.