Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Controlling the Sex of Next Baby | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
Is it possible to conceive a boy or a girl based on when we have intercourse during my cycle? If so please explain when it is most likely to conceive a boy and when for a girl. Thanks.— dddd | | | ANSWER |
November 20, 2001 | | | Dear dddd,
There is no way to control whether you conceive a boy versus a girl without using high tech fertility treatments. But there are some theories that might allow you to influence your chances from the usual 50-50 to a bit better. The prevailing belief is that Y-chromosome carrying "male" sperm swim slightly faster than X-chromosome carrying "females," since there is a little less genetic material to carry around (Y chromosomes are smaller than Xs). And there is also some reason to believe that the "female" sperm are hardier, and may live longer. Using this theory, sex immediately at or after ovulation would predispose to boys, and sex a few days before ovulation would make a girl more likely. While these factors may play a role in determining the sex of the offspring, they can't be relied upon to get you what you want.
In the more "high tech" realm, there are procedures to separate the Y from the X-carrying sperm before using the semen for artificial insemination. Even this technologically advanced approach has only an 85-90 percent accuracy rate. The fertility doctors in your area can give you information about their own statistics in this matter.
If you are really serious about trying to influence the sex of your baby, there are even "higher tech" methods using in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology. If this sounds appealing, your local fertility specialist could let you know if this is available in your area. In general, unless you were going to do IVF anyway, this approach is so expensive and involved that it would be worthwhile only if your family had a genetic condition that ran in males or females, and not just to fulfill a gender preference.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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