Choosing Babies Sex

Will it be a girl or a boy?

Choosing your babies sex
Dr. Landrum Shettles - Pioneer in in vitro fertilization techniques who conducted some of the first experiments in fertilizing a human egg in a laboratory, who developed the GIFT technique for transplantation of a fertilized egg into the fallopian tube, and who spent many years studying ways for couples to choose the sex of their baby including writing the controversial book 'How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby'. This is an extract from his book.

X's and Y's
Basically, men produce two types of sperms, the X (female) and Y (male). According to Dr. Shettles' studies the y-sperms are smaller, weaker, but faster than their sibling x-sperms, which are bigger, stronger, but slower.

Based on this fact, there are several things you can do to 'favor' the conception of boys or girls:

Timing of intercourse

The most important aspect of all is timing of intercourse during the monthly cycle. The closer to ovulation you have sex, the better the chances to have a boy, because the y-sperms are faster and tend to get to the egg first. If you have sex 3 days or more before ovulation, the better your chances to conceive a girl, because the weaker y-sperms tend to die sooner and the x-sperms will be available in greater quantity whenever the egg is released. On the other hand, having sex from 2 days before ovulation, through a few days after ovulation, is better for conceiving a boy. Around the 2-day point -- 48 hours before ovulation -- seems to be the 50/50 mark.

(For those with a precise turn of mind, Shettles clarifies even further [p. 187]: from zero to 24 hours before ovulation, intercourse is more likey to result in a boy; from 24 to 96 hours before, a girl is more likely; and the further away from that 24- hour dividing line in either direction, the better the odds.)

Women's orgasms
Women's orgasms can also be important. This also has to do with pH. When a woman has an orgasm, the body releases a substance that makes the environment more alkaline, favoring boys. Shettles recommends no female orgasms when trying for girls!

Position of intercourse
Position of intercourse and depth of penetration are important, partly because of acidity/alkalinity of the woman's reproductive tract (see sec. (6) below). The closer to the entrance to the vagina, the more acidic the pH of women's tract. Also, deep penetration places the sperm closer to the egg, and gives those aggressive boy sperms a head start :-). So, a shallow penetration will favor girls and a deeper will favor boys. Shettles recommends missionary-position for a girl, and rear-entry (dog- style) for a boy.

The sperm count
The sperm count is another factor. Obviously, a low sperm count to begin with doesn't favor either sex. But a high sperm count favors boys. Shettles recommends three things:

When trying for a boy, the man should not have an ejaculation for 3 days before reaching the target date a day or two before ovulation. (Intercourse earlier than 3 days before ovulation should be with a condom only.) For girls, have sex every day from the first day after your period ends, and stop 3 days before ovulation. (No intercourse even with a condom during that time.)
Shettles recommends that for boys, the man wear loose underwear only -- that is, men who usually wear briefs or other tight underwear should switch to boxers. The idea is the same as wearing boxers to increase overall fertility -- the testicles need cooler temperatures for sperms to survive, and the Y- sperms, since they are weaker, will be helped more than the X-sperms by this method. However, Shettles does NOT recommend the opposite, that men wear briefs for a girl -- this will just decrease overall fertility.
Also, for a girl, the man is supposed to take a hot bath immediately before intercourse. 'Room temperature' is fine for a boy. The idea is the same as the briefs versus boxers -- give the X- sperms an advantage.

Coffee
In trying for a boy, Shettles recommends a nice cup of caffeinated coffee for the man, right before intercourse -- he isn't clear on how or why this works, but apparently it gives the Y-sperms a jolt!

Douching
Concerning douching and the pH of the women's reproductive tract: A more acidic environment favors girls, since it will kill the weaker y-sperms first, leaving a greater quantity of x-sperms available to fertilize the egg. On the other hand, a more alkaline environment favors boys. (Note: Some women are naturally very acidic and have a hard time conceiving boys.)

Shettles *formerly* recommended two douching-methods (involving vinegar or baking soda) to help alter vaginal pH. However, in the most recent update (c. 1989) of his book, he no longer recommends douching at all. His comment (pp. 179-180) is that one can get equally-good results with or without the douches recommended earlier.

Book
Well, these are the big ones. Read the book for other details. If you can determine the time of ovulation and follow the rules presented in his book, Dr. Shettles claims a success rate of 70-75% for girls and 75-80% for boys (better than the 'normal' 50%). As you see, it's not 100%!!!

Also, Shettles recommends a 'practice' period of 3-6 months, to make sure the couple has all the techniques down properly.

A note about overall fertilty
Many of Shettles' methods are also valid (and scientifically accepted) methods for increasing or decreasing overall fertility. It's beyond the scope of this FAQ to cover all aspects of fertility, but paying attention to the following elements is certainly relevant:

• A key to increasing fertility overall is charting time of ovulation during every monthly cycle. The three most common methods for determining ovulation are:
(1) charting basal body temperature (BBT);
(2) charting changes in cervical mucus; and/or
(3) using an ovulation test-kit.

•Regarding sex selection in particular, it is beyond question that having sex very close to the time of ovulation is an important way to increase the overall odds for conception. Other methods that are known to increase odds for conception include: deep penetration at the time of ejaculation; for women, having an orgasm together with or following the man's orgasm; for men, wearing boxers instead of briefs; and for men, avoiding hot baths or hot tubs.

•As you'll note, all of these also correspond with methods that favor boys, according to Shettles. In fact, he cautions that conceiving a girl may take considerably longer than conceiving a boy, *and* may take longer than conceiving using no techniques at all.

The Point: If you have trouble conceiving in general, or think you might have such trouble, the techniques for choosing a girl baby might not be for you -- unless you're willing to be patient!

Comments: Choosing Babies Sex

Comments 1 to 24 of about 40.
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weezuz - 341 days ago.
Well I am proof this method doesn't work. I tried this for each pregnancy and I now have 4 girls. I dont belive u can truely pick which sperm is gonna get there first it will always be a 50/50 chance imo. I would love a boy and md and hubby are ttc again but i will not be using this method again. If I get a boy so be it if not aslong as its healthy I don't care

allynne7 (Jaime) - 364 days ago.
Hmmm, I'm curious to see if these methods work! I have both a girl and (soon-to-be-born) boy. Both were concieved the same way -me on bottom! But for my DD I hadn't gotten a period in 7 months when we found out we were 14 weeks pregnant. As for this little guy, we were using the pull and pray method, condoms, and not having sex the week of Ov. Somehow that didn't work out and this lil guy is due in 2 months! Okay, now I have to look up these methods! Lol!

Lissie-McNamara;Mummyof1TTC - 439 days ago.
how do i concieve a girl? x

amelory - 501 days ago.
in this site, http://babygender.net16.net, i found one method that works fine for me and my friends

amelory - 501 days ago.
in this site, http://babygender.net16.net, i found one method that works fine for me and my friends

Monika80 - 562 days ago.
MUmmies!This How To Get Pregnant With A Girl Book Explains The Exact Steps You Should Follow To Ensure That You Conceive A Baby Girl Of Your Dreams. A Step-by-step Plan To Have A Girl. Guaranteed. Click Here!

Monika80 - 565 days ago.
I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy thanks to: Click Here! Worked for me - I am so happy!!

lisad11784 - 746 days ago.
Im trying for a girl this time around... I have 1 9 yr old girl and a 5 and 2 yr old boys so another girl would be awsome! I dont O for 4 more days and we been BD for 3 days now I will stop in 2 days. We are not in a real big rush for baby, but just want to TTC a little girl. If anyone would like you can add my page to see our journey as we go along and if it does happen for us this month we will then see what we should have! Good luck everyone!

semi-sweet - 837 days ago.
Hi Ladies, I would lilt to sway in an attempt to conceive a GIRL! I have 2 boys both of which were conceived while I was ovulating. Can those of you have that have been successful in your sway for a GIRL, please give me insight on the methods you used? Thanks

Wends123 - 864 days ago.
My question with this theory is this: if I O on CD15 and bd on CD9, 11, 13 and 12 hours before O - does that mean my chances are 50/50? Or because I had sex so close to O does it mean a boy or because i had so much sex leading up to O would it mean a girl...? It's all so confusing - I really don't mind what I have as long as it's healthy, just want to get that BFP, but thought I would ask for fun.. ;-)

mommie-of-2 - 914 days ago.
We tried this methood for a boy and are expecting our 2nd girl!

phinanj - 916 days ago.
christine-have tried the method of having a girl and it worked...my DH was to travel three days before my ovlation to return four days after my ovulation,,,wen i checked the sex at six month of my PG she was a girl....so give it a trial it works too.

lonely-mummy - 937 days ago.
how do u test the ph level of ur vagina?? sounds stupid i no but ive never took much notice of how to favour gilrs or boys

LadyJade - 963 days ago.
mmm according to this it's likely we conceived a boy...

Chriscadia - 964 days ago.
We've done the method for having a boy and got our wish :) Next step is trying for a girl, let's hope it won't take long as they've mentioned here

amy79 - 972 days ago.
based on everything up there it sounds like i'm having a girl

monicagarcialv - 972 days ago.
Hi girls. Well I have 3 girls and I want a boy Sososo bad. If we have a girl it's ok I'll be as happy but it will be my last time trying. : /

sarah6485 - 990 days ago.
well if im pregnant this month seems il be having another boy :-)

dresmomma09 - 1016 days ago.
hey girl that whole boy thing is true because me and my dh were away for a week and when we seen each-other we had sex and we were trying and sure enough it was a boy and about the position thing lol well i was on top and when i was reading this i though it was kinda funny

poofy - 1040 days ago.
Trying for a girl here but not following all the rules.

dreamgirl - 1045 days ago.
I think it's kind of a 50/50 shot no matter what. I really hope this method works and that I have followed it correctly. We will see I guess. My poor daughter is surrounded by boys. Boys run in our family. All her cousins are boys, she has 2 brothers and all my friends have boys. When we have sleepovers, obviously we separate the girls and the boys and she can't figure out why she always has to sleep alone. Seriously, my daughter was the last girl born into our family/circle of friends 6 yrs and 10 boys ago. It is time for another girl.

Babykhan - 1046 days ago.
Hello ladies, my DH and i are trying for boy, i am gonna try boy method!

Carolinagirls - 1193 days ago.
Very interesting...who knows what we'll end up with...we're all over the charts here!! LOL

bsweet2selina - 1206 days ago.
Yesterday I took out my IUD I have two sons ages 14 and 10 everyone thinks i am crazy fro wanting a little girl and starting over. i have read so many articles i am going to track my ovulation for the next couple of months and getting to it wish me luck. i will let you all know if it worked

gigijey - 1206 days ago.
we are trying for a boy but I just read about how to do it to favor a boy. Well, I will be getting some ovulation tests and then we will try one day before ovulation. Let's hope it will work. A girl would be just as great. we have a girl and just want a little sibling for her. she is 5 months now.