Cited by 83Maternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsHistorical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal ChangesMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

The effect of the lunar cycle on frequency of births and birth complications

Arliss, Jill M., Kaplan, Erin N., Galvin, Shelley L.·2005·American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the lunar cycle on the frequency of deliveries and/or delivery complications.Study design This was a retrospective cohort, secondary analysis of 564,039 births across 62 lunar cycles that were identified from North Carolina birth certificate data from 1997 to 2001.Results Using analysis of variance and t-tests, we found no significant differences in the frequency of births, route of delivery, births to multigravid women, or birth complications across the 8 phases of the moon or between documented high- and low-volume intervals of the lunar cycle.Conclusion An analysis of 5 years of data demonstrated no predictable influence of the lunar cycle on deliveries or complications. As expected, this pervasive myth is not evidence based.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.12.034

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8 of 8 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Two studies from the USA, one from Germany, and one from Brazil showed no lunar influence on hospital admissions for labor.

    “Two studies from the USA [11, 12], one from Germany [16], and one from Brazil [3] showed no lunar influence on hospital admissions for labor.”

    From Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows (2016) · cites this paper as [12]

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Authors
Arliss, J. M., Kaplan, E. N., & Galvin, S. L.
Affiliations
Mountain Area Health Education Center (US)
Corresponding author
Galvin, Shelley L.
Venue
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2005-05
Volume
192
Issue
5
Pages
1462-1464
ISSN
0002-9378 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2161496443
Cited by
83
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords
lunar cycle, lunar phases, birth frequency, childbirth complications, mode of delivery, pregnancy myths, birth certificate data
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Birth Rate, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Obstetric Labor Complications, North Carolina, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Multiple, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Incidence, Moon

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