Do you think gender selection is ethical?

[Disneyland1084]

As in chosing the gender of your child through Microsort or PGD/IVF. I don't personally know anyone who's done it. I'm not really sure what I think about it. My sister had IVF done in December due to infertility. I asked if she and her DH were going to do gender selection, and they said no, even though they're hoping for a girl. She's due in August. When she was getting her treatment, I just thought about how much science has advanced.

 

[handinpocket]

I don't know. I know I wouldn't do it.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We were offered it (when we did fertility treatments) and we declined.

When we adopted we left our homestudy as vague as we could (0-8, either sex, 1 or 2 siblings or twins, any race, "typical" or special needs.) We figured God picked a child for us already and we didn't want to meddle. Xander is amazing, and I can't imagine not having him. What if I would have chosen a girl instead?

When we start the process to adopt later this year, we will leave it open again.

 

[disney_family_1247]

Only in cases where the parents carry genes for a sex-specific condition. Look at modern day China. Millions more men than women. Not good.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

There's just something "wrong" with it. I can't put my finger on it other than to say I would never do it. I don't want to offend anyone with the word "wrong", but I can't think of another way to say it.

 

[december]

Only in cases where the parents carry genes for a sex-specific condition. Look at modern day China. Millions more men than women. Not good.

I agree with this. I would only condone it in the case of a gender specific disorder.

 

[mommasita]

I don't think it is something I would do, but I would not say it is unethical either. After what many couples do to be able to conceive in ANY way, hats off to them. They can do whatever they please.

The stores of success just please me so much, especially on these boards.

 

[PigletsMommy]

As in chosing the gender of your child through Microsort or PGD/IVF. I don't personally know anyone who's done it. I'm not really sure what I think about it. My sister had IVF done in December due to infertility. I asked if she and her DH were going to do gender selection, and they said no, even though they're hoping for a girl. She's due in August. When she was getting her treatment, I just thought about how much science has advanced.

We did IVF 3 years ago & are in the midst of planning another round at the end of this year. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about selecting the gender, or anything else, for my child. Also, in my experience, the genetic testing is only done if there is a reason for it...family history or age of the mother. Choosing my child's characteristics (sex, hair color, eye color, or otherwise) was not ever brought up.

We were just thrilled to be having a baby...at that point, nothing else mattered.

 

[*JoGo*]

Only if there was a chance of a gender specific disease.

I once dated someone that carried a disease passed on to baby boys. After seeing what his father battled with the disease (and died from), what he would eventually battle, I knew I could not have kids with him. We eventually broke up before we were to the point of discussing children (i was 15).

 

[bicker]

Each person needs to make that decision for themselves, until things get to the point where society begins to be affected. We're nowhere near that point, and there doesn't seem to be any significant bias in our nation that would make it seem likely that there will ever be a problem in this regard.

 

[luvmy3]

No I don't think its unethical at all.

 

[Art 1]

I do not think it would be ethical.

 

[Pigeon]

I don't have an opinion one way or another. I wouldn't do it, but I think it's a decision best left to the people involved.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do I think it is ethical? Yes. There could be many reasons besides genetics where this might be a viable option.

Now in terms of futuristic unknowns, it may be totally creepy sci-fi gone awry or necessary for the survival of the human race? That remains to be seen.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

To be perfectly honest, I don't have a problem with it at all. I can certainly see how a couple with two boys might prefer a girl as their third child, or vice versa. I'm sure most couples going through fertility treatments would prefer a healthy baby than none at all, but if the option to choose gender is available to them and they want to take it, that's between them and their doctor.

On the other hand, I believe that using gender as a criterion for abortion IS unethical.

 

[livie1205]

I think a healthy baby would be a first choice BUT if given the choice I would have no problem saying I would love another girl.I have no issue with it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

For me, yes it is unethical, but for other people, no, let them do as they wish. I don't like it but it's better for a child to be born wanted. If a parent can't love a child no matter what it's gender is then this is better than mistreatment.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I'm personally not against it. Whatever floats their boat. It's funny though, I desparately wanted another girl. I even tried low-tech gender selection initially, before I figured out that I had a fertility problem, and at that point I wanted any baby I could get! That said, I was *terrified* at the thought of having a boy... well guess what I had! A boy! Now, I wouldn't trade him for the world, I love that little man so much! He's such a little joy. I figure it's like the Rolling Stones song, "You can't always get what you want, and if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need!"

 

[AKL_Megs]

I know a woman with FOUR sons. They had the first son, and the next three times hoped for a daughter. They don't want to try again because they think they will have another boy. I think if they KNEW it would be a girl, they might try again.

I wouldn't. I believe God deals us our cards and has a master plan. We are hoping for a girl, but it's sort of fun to wonder WHAT is in there! To me, happy and healthy is all that matters.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It depends on the method used. If it involves creating an embryo for non-genetic disease determination, then no. If it's done using sperm selection before creation of the embryo, personally I wouldn't do it but I don't find it morally objectionable.

BTW these methods are very expensive and add quite a bit to the overall costs of ART procedures. In the case of IVF it can add $2-4K (not that that has bearing, necessarily).