Sex Selection

When it comes to babies and gender, lots of parents want to know if there is a way they can choose what they want. Some parents long for a little girl; others have their hopes set on a little boy. They can't help wondering if there are any methods available that allow them to select the gender of their baby.

The answer is yes. Various methods exist, and although some are more reliable than others, all have to some degree helped parents select a specific gender. None are completely guaranteed. For that reason, if the gender of your baby is paramount, the only sure way to guarantee you get what you want is to adopt. Some parents choose this route because they really do only want a little boy or a little girl.

The most reliable method is also the most invasive and expensive. You can use in vitro fertilization as a way to select the gender of your child. The restriction, of course, is that many clinics will not use this procedure simply as a means of picking a particular gender. If, however, you want to balance your family, some clinics will work with you. For instance, if you already have two daughters and really want a son, you may find a clinic that will perform in vitro.

The way in vitro works is that the mother's eggs are fertilized. After the embryos form, the DNA is tested and then only those embryos of the gender requested by the parents are implanted in the mother.

Besides in vitro, another method you can try is sperm separation. Various companies and clinics offer this service, and how they perform the actual separation varies between companies. The theory is that the X-carrying chromosomes are separated from the Y-carrying chromosomes. The parents then decide which gender they prefer. Check with your doctor to see if this is an option for you.

If you're looking for something a little less "high-tech," you can try douching. Some people feel that you can create an environment that is conducive to conceiving either a boy or a girl. If you douche with an alkaline base, such as baking soda, you're supposed to increase your chance of having a boy. If, however, you want a girl, you're supposed to douche with an acid such as vinegar. When it comes to using these douches, you should do your research because you need to mix them properly.

In addition to creating a favorable environment, the theory is that if your want a girl, you should have sex about three days before you ovulate. If you want a boy, you should have sex one day or less before ovulation.

Both douching and timing your conception efforts may or may not work for you. Some people have been quite pleased with how well these methods have worked. Your best approach when it comes to your baby's gender is to do your research and then see what happens.