Thromboelastography is an in vitro, point-of-care monitor of whole blood co
agulation. Thromboelastography studies have demonstrated a hypercoagulable
state during pregnancy. Perhaps the hypercoagulability is attributable to f
emale sex hormones. The aim of the study was to determine if sex, in additi
on to pregnancy, affected thromboelastography variables by studying male an
d female (pregnant and nonpregnant) volunteers. Thromboelastography showed
significant (P<0.01) differences in sex, with a significant (P<0.0001) tren
d of increasing whole blood coagulability from men through nonpregnant to p
regnant women. The thromboelastograph, used as a diagnostic tool, shows tha
t women have more whole blood coagulability than men.