Stupid question ahead....

[wvjules]

Is it possible to choose the sex of your baby? I'm talking about genetically in a lab, not by using certain positions or old wive's tales.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I want to say yes.

I can't, however, remember where I read it for back-up.

It was something about the weight of the sperm and a centrifuge. But it was really expensive (or was going to be very expensive).




ETA: And I am assuming you mean choosing BEFORE the egg and the sperm meet, not after as in selective reduction.

 

[mumom95]

Well, considering we can clone animals, I would imagine it's possible to select the sex of a baby.

I'm not so sure you would find anyone who would actually do it though (meaning a doctor).

 

[Nennie]

Yes there is. For couples who undergo In Vitro Fertilization, there is a PGD test that can be done on the embryos to determine their sex.

The only time PGD is done, however, is when there is risk of a sex-linked disease that the couple is trying to avoid be passed on to their child. It's not done just b/c someone wants a boy or girl (at least MOST doctors won't do it just for that)!

 

[sunshine1178]

Is it possible to choose the sex of your baby? I'm talking about genetically in a lab, not by using certain positions or old wive's tales.

Definitely possible. Rarely done, except in the case of avoiding a hereditary disease (ie a fatal trait).

 

[MnMomtoboys]

I want to say yes.

I can't, however, remember where I read it for back-up.

It was something about the weight of the sperm and a centrifuge. But it was really expensive (or was going to be very expensive).

I remember reading it had something to do with the spinning of the sperm but thats all I remember. Reading it just started the jokes of putting dh on one of those spinning rides.

 

[wvjules]

Yes, definately before fertilizaion by picking out the boy or girl spermies depending on which you want.

For some reason I thought that could be done now but couldn't really find the answer in a quick google search.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I remember reading it had something to do with the spinning of the sperm but thats all I remember. Reading it just started the jokes of putting dh on one of those spinning rides.

And the child would pop out spinning like it just came off of the Tea Cups.

 

[Frantasmic]

Find the right swimmer and give it a map?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

For all intensive purposes, yes. There's a website called "in gender" that tells you all about the high-tech (through PGD/IVF or Ericsson/IUI) and low-tech (Shettles/diet) ways of influincing gender. PGD is probably the best bet since only the desired gender embryos are transferred.

Let me tell you, from my own personal experience, there's something to the Shettles method. With DD, we did-the-deed a few days before ovulation, we have a DD. With this pregnancy, we wanted to up our chances of conceiving because we were having fertility issues, so I used my clearblue fertility monitor, and we did-the-deed on ovulation day-- and we're having a boy. I think there's a lot to this, there is actual "science" behind it!

 

[mjkacmom]

For all intensive purposes, yes. There's a website called "in gender" that tells you all about the high-tech (through PGD/IVF or Ericsson/IUI) and low-tech (Shettles/diet) ways of influincing gender. PGD is probably the best bet since only the desired gender embryos are transferred.

Let me tell you, from my own personal experience, there's something to the Shettles method. With DD, we did-the-deed a few days before ovulation, we have a DD. With this pregnancy, we wanted to up our chances of conceiving because we were having fertility issues, so I used my clearblue fertility monitor, and we did-the-deed on ovulation day-- and we're having a boy. I think there's a lot to this, there is actual "science" behind it!

LOL - I looked into that method, and all of my kids should've been the opposite sex than they are (except my b/g twins ). I guess you have a 50/50 shot!

 

[wvjules]

So its either going to be a boy or a girl?

 

[pigletgirl]

Yeah, a friend of mine, her mom just had a baby boy, about 10 months ago. She had 9 girls, and was wanting a boy!

I don't know the ins and outs of the process, but to me it seems like 'playing' God. There is a reason we don't get the decide each time we get pregnant!

 

[SandrA9810]

PGD is really expensive on top of the already expensive in vitro costs. But an embryo has to be made for them to be tested.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

So its either going to be a boy or a girl?

or maybe twins!

 

[pearlieq]

I remember reading it had something to do with the spinning of the sperm but thats all I remember.

Yeah, then spin them to sort them by weight. The girl sperm weigh more because they have the X chromosome. The Y chromosome sperm for the boys are lighter.

It's not 100%, but it's pretty sucessful--especially for getting a girl.

http://www.microsort.net/

 

[vettechick99]

I learned this in my Psychology of Sex class in college, so I assume it has some scientific basis behind it:

Boy sperm are strong, fast swimmers, but don't live long. If you want a boy, have sex as close to ovulation as possible.

Girl sperm are slow and steady swimmers, and live several days longer. If you want a boy, have sex more than a day before ovulation.

Good luck!!