Gender Selection

Yes! Choosing the gender of your child is possible. Since there are a plethora of online resources related to this topic, it's important to keep in mind that most of them are not based on scientific evidence and therefore are just a waste of time.

There are only 2 scientifically proven methods for choosing the gender (sex) of your child. One is sperm sorting and the other is In Vitro Fertilization with PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis).

Sperm Sorting

This technique has been used in many forms over the last 30 years. The principle of this technique is the separation of X and Y sperm through centrifugation. Initially, sperm are separated from the seminal fluid, then the healthiest and most motile sperm are identified. At the end of the technique, the X sperm (heavier) are separated from the Y sperm (lighter).

In a healthy male, half of the sperm carry the X chromosome and can only result in female embryos if they fertilize the partner's oocytes (eggs), while the other half, being carriers of the Y chromosome, can only result in male embryos if they fertilize the partner's oocytes. Thus, at the end of the procedure, we will have a sample of sperm that will have a high chance of pregnancy according to the desired gender.

This technique is used in many countries as a standard process in artificial reproduction procedures (artificial insemination - IUI and in vitro fertilization - IVF. The chances of success for having a boy vary from 78-85% while for a girl vary from 73-75%.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) is the only method that virtually guarantees the choice of gender as desired because embryos are analyzed before their transfer to the uterus. These embryos are formed during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. So, there cannot be PGD without IVF.

Oocytes (eggs) after being taken from the mother's body are combined with the father's sperm in a process called fertilization which is carried out under laboratory conditions. These embryos undergo blastomere biopsy on the 3rd day of life. During the biopsy, one of the cells (blastomere) of the 3rd-day embryo is analyzed in terms of its chromosomal status (XX - female or XY - male).

PGD is the most accurate technique in choosing the gender of the child but also the most expensive. PGD is reserved for couples with a family history of genetic diseases or for older mothers who are more at risk of having embryos with chromosomal abnormalities.

However, PGD cannot avoid all genetic anomalies! It is only valid for certain diseases. In most countries, the desire to choose the child's gender is not enough to be accepted into an IVF process with PGD. The chances of success for such a procedure are 97–99% for both girl and boy.