---
title: "Gender Selection: Myths and Facts"
date: 2025-01-09
author: "HSFC Kenya"
featured_image: "https://hsfckenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Gender-Selection_-Myths-and-Facts.png.webp"
categories:
  - name: "Treatments and Services"
    url: "/resource-library/articles/category/treatments-and-services.md"
---

# Gender Selection: Myths and Facts

When trying to plan for the gender of your baby, relying on certain foods, sexual positions, or timing during intercourse are generally ineffective. While home methods lack scientific backing, advanced techniques like sperm sorting and preimplantation genetic screening ([PGS](https://hsfckenya.com/resource-library/articles/treatments-and-services/pre-implantation-genetic-testing-during-the-ivf-process-screening-pgs-and-diagnosis-pgd/)) with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are reliable. PGS can determine and select embryos processed through IVF of a desired gender, while ensuring they are genetically healthy. The Ericcson Method aims to separate faster-swimming, boy-producing sperm from slower-swimming, girl-producing sperm. It’s used in combination with intrauterine insemination (IUI) and the success rates are lower than PGS with IVF. The MicroSort technique involves staining sperm with a fluorescent dye and separating the male and female conferring sperm cells using a flow cytometer. Once the sperm are identified, the preferred sperm can be placed in the uterus during ovulation through IUI or processing through IVF.

###### 🧬 Key Concepts & Background

- Here we focus on sex (biological male/female) of the child, not gender (social identity).
- Historically, influencing a baby’s biological sex has been attempted through various methods, including timing intercourse relative to ovulation (Shettles method), dietary changes, and behavioural methods.

###### 📋 Methods & Theories Reviewed

Timing of Intercourse (Shettles-type methods)

- The theory suggests that Y-bearing sperm (male) are faster but more fragile, while X-bearing sperm (female) are slower but more resilient. Therefore:
    
    
    - For a boy: intercourse should occur very close to ovulation so the fast Y-sperm reach the egg first.
    - For a girl: intercourse should occur a few days before ovulation so that slower X-sperm persist until the egg is released.
- Despite the Shettles-type methods’ popularity, large-scale studies do not reliably support this method’s effectiveness.

Diet, Environment & Lifestyle Influences

- Some older research roughly links a woman’s testosterone, body mass index (BMI), stress, or diet with a child’s sex outcome, but results are inconsistent and not clinically reliable.
- Claims such as “more male births when mom has higher testosterone” is a school of thought, but there is no scientific support for this.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) & Genetic Methods

- The only scientifically reliable way to select a baby’s sex is via assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like Preimplantation Genetic Testing or Screening (PGT/S) during an IVF cycle.
- These methods are costly, invasive, ethically complex, and typically reserved for medical situations (e.g., to prevent sex-linked genetic disorders).

###### ✅ Scientific Conclusions & Evidence Summary

- For natural conception, there is no dependable method to guarantee a boy or a girl beyond the ~50/50 natural odds.
- Timing methods such as the Shettles method, diet tweaks, or sexual positions may influence odds slightly in small, poorly controlled studies, but the effect size is minimal and unreliable.
- Genetic/ART-based selection can achieve high accuracy but come with significant cost, complexity, and ethical considerations.

###### **🧭** Key Takeaway

While many couples express a desire to “choose” their baby’s sex, the scientific reality is that natural conception remains largely a chance event, with odds close to 50/50. For most people, attempts to influence sex by timing, diet or lifestyle are not reliable and may distract from the main focus; optimising health and fertility for both parents and future child.

If a family is pursuing sex selection for medical reasons, such as preventing sex-linked genetic disorders, or for family balancing, ART methods exist and are effective. Ethical considerations and costs are important factors when choosing these options.

This article by the [babycenter](https://www.babycenter.com/getting-pregnant/how-to-get-pregnant/choosing-your-babys-sex-what-the-scientists-say_2915) gives more information on the options for gender selection.