ECMO Birth Rates

[Pitt2005]

Is there any evidence to support the popular opinion that ECMO's tend to have a higher birth rate of girls to boys? I have heard this from numerous people and was curious if there is actual evidence to support any effect of the radiation of the Y chromosome. Thanks guys,
Luke

 

[tailspin]

It's in you jeans, er...genes

First kid was a girl, pre EA-6B. Second one was a boy, after the RAG and a deployment. What I want to know, since we were protected by the fancy gold canopies, is what the sterility rate among aircrews that flew on our wing is. We're flying along, jamming it harder, and next thing you know there's some poor guy out there hangin' on our wing smiling while his gonads toast.

There should be a lot medical history out there to answer the question since I'm talking about deployment to Yankee Station (that'd be Vietnam, lad) and those were A-7s or F-4s on our wing.

Yup, I'm am old fart. For more such tales visit Tailspin's Tales. Trying to put a new one up each day. Comments welcome, ney, incouraged.

 

[MasterBates]

There is anecdotal observations (no scientific study that I know of) that HSL pilots cruising on CG's and DDG's have about 70% girls. This is "attributed" to getting zapped by SPY-1 radar, similar to the "wives tale" that ECMOs balls are fried.

Again, no hard evidence that I know of, but of the 23 kids born in my squadron this tour, 15 were girls. All the fathers who had boys cruised on FFGs or DD's. But, the sample population is so small, it does not take much to throw the numbers off.

 

[Brett327]

Is there any evidence to support the popular opinion that ECMO's tend to have a higher birth rate of girls to boys?

Simply, no. It's an urban legend, personal anecdotes notwithstanding.

Brett

 

[IRfly]

Doesn't the Navy run on anecdotes?

 

[Pitt2005]

Thanks guys

Yeah it was something I have heard a few times now so I was just curious what people knew about it.

 

[nittany03]

Is there any evidence to support the popular opinion that ECMO's tend to have a higher birth rate of girls to boys? I have heard this from numerous people and was curious if there is actual evidence to support any effect of the radiation of the Y chromosome. Thanks guys,
Luke

Well, just so long as it's the ECMOs and not the pilots . . .

 

[MasterBates]

I thought the ECMO's castrated the pilots upon checkin to the fleet squadron?

Maybe I listen to Brett too much..

 

[Brett327]

I thought the ECMO's castrated the pilots upon checkin to the fleet squadron?

Maybe I listen to Brett too much..

Quite the contrary. I want my pilot to have big brass ones. It just has to figure out when to use them, and when to do what it's told (or it gets the hose).

Brett

 

[Goober]

"It puts the lotion on its skin..."

 

[Brett327]

"It puts the lotion on its skin..."

Speaking of indiscriminately spewing trons, you guys are packing quite a wallop. Any similar urban legends in the E-2 community WRT female progeny?

Brett

 

[Goober]

Dude, I'm a firm believer that if you duct taped a steak to the business side of the dome, you'd get charcoal. That ain't no sh!t. Not an issue for the tube (supposedly), but the front side cockpit windows are gold plated like yours. Don't know if they do any good.

Mine's a girl (she's our first), but I know 2 career-long guys who had 3 boys each and one guy w/ 2 sets of fraternal twins (but both he and his wife had twins in their families). Again, I'd chalk it up to urban myth; but the smart money says don't join on us and fly form. Had one VFA guy who thought he'd do it one night, and after we told him how much the waveguide was cranking out, he quickly changed his mind. We don't see a lot of company.

 

[MasterBates]

I think between sitting on top of the Radar now, being "illumninated" in the past, and sitting under it in the future, I don't have to worry about any anklebiters period.

 

[fc2spyguy]

There is anecdotal observations (no scientific study that I know of) that HSL pilots cruising on CG's and DDG's have about 70% girls. This is "attributed" to getting zapped by SPY-1 radar, similar to the "wives tale" that ECMOs balls are fried.

Again, no hard evidence that I know of, but of the 23 kids born in my squadron this tour, 15 were girls. All the fathers who had boys cruised on FFGs or DD's. But, the sample population is so small, it does not take much to throw the numbers off.

Aww, come on we sector SPY for landings and takeoffs, we NEVER fry you guys. :watching3

 

[HAL Pilot]

This reminds me of a verse from an AOCS running jody....

I wanna fly in an EA-6B
Hamming, jamming that's for me
I'm gonna make a deposit in a sperm bank
So my kids will look like me