The techniques to choose your child’s gender Some couples dream of being able to choose the gender of their children. If some methods have been scientifically validated, it should be kept in mind that no technique is 100 % reliable.
One in 2 chance to have a girl or boy
Did you know that? Baby sex is determined from conception, when the egg and a sperm are merged. At this point, the mother’s X chromosome is associated with either an X-or a Y-chromosome, brought by the father’s sperm:
An alliance of chromosomes XX gives birth to a girl,
An XY chromosome ring to a boy.
It is during the second pregnancy ultrasound (week 22) that couples discover the gender of their child. If nature lets chance, some couples are looking for techniques to choose the gender of their future baby.
Choosing baby sex with dates of sex: the Shettles method
To design a little boy, it’s better to hug at the time of ovulation or a few days later (up to 2 days later), and for a little girl a few days before (up to 5 days before)… C In any case, it is what sex choice technique based on dates of sex, also called the Shettles method. But by the way, why do they say that?
Not so crazy, this technique is actually based on the physical properties of cervical mucus, this white and viscous secretion that makes it easier to move from sperm to the womb.
Throughout the menstrual cycle, the consistency of this cervical mucus is evolving.
Before ovulation, the mesh of the mucus prevent sperm and only the most resistant can get through it.
During an ovulation period, the mesh is released and all sperm in the sperm can go through it.
But not all " little swimmers " have the same properties… X-chromosome holders, which will lead to the formation of a " girl " embryo, are slower and more resistant. Y-chromosome holders are faster but less resistant. And since only the nature of the sperm determines the gender of the embryo, the specificities of these gametes are decisive.
For example, Y-chromosome sperm would be favored during sexual relationships after ovulation, while X-chromosome holders would be privileged during sex before ovulation! Now it remains to define the exact date of ovulation and to be done you can relate to your temperature curve or a more reliable urinary test.
Choosing baby sex with diet: Dad’s method
To have a daughter, the mom must have a calcium-rich diet that is poor in salt. On the other hand, to have a boy, a salty and non-potassium diet is recommended… This is what the Dad method, based on a diet girl or boy, during pregnancy.
This time, it is the chemical (not physical) properties of cervical mucus that come into play. From acid pH outside the ovulatory period, cervical mucus becomes basic for a few days of the menstrual cycle, to allow, once again, sperm passage for possible fertilization.
A specific diet of the mother could slightly change this pH and promote the passage of some kind of sperm:
The girl diet, poor in salt and rich in calcium, acidifierait the mucus, thus guarantee only the passage of more resistant X-chromosome gametes. So eat dairy, green vegetables, fish to give birth to a girl.
The boy diet, rich in sodium and potassium changes the pH less. With the latter, all sperm support the alkalinity of the vaginal environment, so the fastest will be privileged for fertilization. On the menu: charcuterie, meat and fish would therefore be the guarantee of a male descent.
Choosing baby sex with genetics: Ericsson method
Progress in Assisted Human Reproduction (LDCs) could also make it possible to choose baby sex. Thus, thanks to genetics, it is possible to determine sperm carrying sperm from X or Y. This technique called the Ericsson method, is based on sperm weight:
Y-chromosome holders would be lighter and faster.
X-chromosome holders would be heavier and slower.
Thanks to sperm sorting, sperm are separated and artificial insemination is done to give birth to a boy or girl. But this practice is not allowed in France.
Choosing baby sex with an DPI
In case of risk of transmission of rare genetic diseases, an DPI (preimplantation diagnosis) is possible. The idea is to perform in-vitro fertilization (IVF), then to analyse the DNA of the embryo to find out if it is carrying the disease or not. If the embryo is healthy, it is implanted in the womb for pregnancy. Thus, it is possible to know baby sex by observing the presence of the X or Y sex.
Please note: know that this technique is regulated by bioethics law and is forbidden when it has no therapeutic purpose.
Baby sex screening test
Knowing your child’s sex from sixth week of pregnancy would you try? A method of early screening for the sex of the fetus is being sold in Great Britain.
Based on mother’s presence of a fetal DNA typical of Y-chromosomes…