Introduction:

Recent studies have confirmed differences among the female and male sex and their influence in basic aspects of biology, which can also impact in the etiology and physiopathology of diseases in the neonatal stage. It is known that changes in the epigenetic regulation due to factors that affect the exposition to fetal cortisol show specific effects according to the type of sex.

Objective:

Determine the possible relation among the epigenetic changes, male sex and the neonatal diseases.

Methods:

It was carried out a bibliographic search in Pubmed, Scielo, LILACS and in the platform called Clínica Key, in the period 2017-2020, in English and Spanish languages. The following key words were used: sexual differences, male sex, epignetic and neonatal diseases.

Analysis and Integration of the information:

This review deals with aspects as epigenetic in human development and its relation with sex, the role of placenta and its relation with fetal sex, perinatal complications and their relation with male sex. In addition, the review also mentions respiratory conditions, neurologic conditions and others of the neonatal stage related with sex and the possible relation with epigenetic mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Male sex is a predisposing factor in the prevalence of certain neonatal diseases. Epigenetic can be involved in the onset of many neonatal diseases modulated by the sex due to mechanisms that are not clear yet. Future researches might show more knowledge on the etiopathogenesis of these disease and the way to approach them.

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