Gender Selection Methods

"Cindy grew up with 4 brothers. Ever since childhood, she dreamed of dressing her little girl in pretty pinks. But, nature had something else in store for her. Cindy had 3 sons. She really wanted a girl. She did her research and tried out a few gender selection methods. You can imagine her joy when the next child she had, was a girl."

Now, I know you are going to ask me, what are those miracle methods that she used to make her dream come true. Let us see all the gender selection methods.

Artificial Gender Selection Methods
These methods can give out the best odds for getting the gender of your choice. However, they are quite heavy on the pocket.

Artificial Gender Selection Methods # 1 - Sperm Sorting Method
In this method, the X sperm and Y sperm are sorted. Hence, if the desired gender is male, the Y sperms are used. On the other hand, if the desired gender is a female, then the X sperm are used. The sorted sample is then used to impregnate the woman, through human artificial insemination. The success rates are high but not 100%. This is, if the woman is to conceive, if the desired gender is boy, there is 10% chance that it can be a girl. If, on the other hand, the desired gender is girl, there is a 24% chance that it can be a boy.

Artificial Gender Selection Methods # 2 - Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnoses
In this process, the eggs are collected from the mother and fertilized with the father's sperm. The consequential embryos are then, incubated for 3 days, until they have grown to 6 - 10 cells each. Then a single cell is removed from each of the embryos and studied. Each of these cells consists of complete copy of the DNA in its chromosomes. Analysis of this single cell can foretell the embryo's future. So, whether it will have a genetic disease, chromosomal abnormalities, and whether it will become a boy or a girl, we can answer these questions. The embryos containing cells of the desired gender are then artificially inseminated into the woman.

Natural Gender Selection Methods
These methods are natural and have fairly good success rates. They are relatively slower acting, but cost lesser as well.

Natural Gender Selection Methods # 1 - The Shettles Method
As per the Shettles theory, X sperms and Y sperms have certain characteristics. X sperm (leading to a girl) is slower, larger, oval headed, more resilient and long lived. On the other hand, Y sperm (leading to a boy) is faster, smaller, round headed, fragile and short-lived. As such, ideal conditions would see a Y sperm, with its speed, winning the race to the egg, leading to conception of a boy. However, under less than ideal conditions, the X sperm, due to its resilience, will out live the Y sperm, leading to conception of a girl. Hence, as per this method the timing of intercourse and the time of ovulation are kept track of, for best results.

Natural Gender Selection Methods # 2 - O+12 Method
This method negates the Shettles method and states that, for conception of a girl, intercourse needs to be had 1 day after ovulation. Although, there are a list of instructions that need to be followed for best effects of this method.

• The father cannot ejaculate at least 7 days prior (if possible, more). This will lead to more X sperm, as compared to Y sperms.
• Have intecourse only 8 - 20 hours after ovulation.
• Avoid intercourse until you are infertile. That is, either use condoms or avoid sex until your 'safe days'.

All these methods are not 100% successful. But they increase the probability of the desired gender. Nonetheless, no matter what the gender, you need to love your child come what may. This is where I sign off! Take care!