Gender Bender- How to get a boy or a girl?
Chances are most couples trying to conceive a baby have heard at least one old wives' tale of how to manipulate the sex of their child. We take a fun look at some of the theories being floated in books and on websites (some more dubious than others!) as well as the scientific methods being used today.
High-tech sex selection
Scientists have developed machines and techniques to "sort" sperm. In one method, called the Percoll density gradient centrifugation procedure, sperm are whizzed around at a high speed. It is said that X-bearing sperm will gather at the bottom while the Y-chromosome sperm will be closer to the surface.
In another procedure called MicroSort, sperm cells are stained with fluorescent dye that enables scientists to distinguish between Y-chromosome sperm and X-chromosome sperm, which have about 2.8% more genetic material.
These procedures are often used to
help prevent hereditary sex-linked
diseases for couples who may have
a history of such disorders. In the
UK, some authorities oppose their
use for frivolous reasons. like
carrying on the family name or
simply because they don't want a
girl. However. in other countries like
US, which is less regulated in such
areas. these procedures are
commercially available and even the
stricter UK has private clinics offering
sperm sorting. However, none of
these methods are foolproof and high
proportions of sperm are lost during
the procedures - about half for
spinning, and more for MicroSort.
Sooner or later?
According to the Shettles method, to have a boy, a couple should have sex just once about 12 hours before ovulation. If you have intercourse too early (like three or more days before ovulation), more Y-chromosome- bearing sperm (for boys) will die off, increasing the chance of getting a girl.
This is because the sperm carrying the Y-chromosome (for a boy) is lighter and faster but dies sooner, while the female chromosome carrying sperm, is larger, hardier and can survive in vaginal fluid longer.
To get a girl, a couple should have sex not later than two days before ovulation. This is to ensure that more Y-chromosome sperm die.
Dr Landrum Shettles and David
Rorvik, who wrote the book How to
Choose the Sex of Your Baby, claim
a 75 percent effectiveness rate if their
methods are followed scrupulously
Other rules include abstaining from
sex for four days before the crucial
ejaculation, if you want a boy, to
ensure that sperm count is higher.
Moonstruck
According to the Lunar Phase or Lunar Cycle of Fertility idea, a woman is most fertile when the moon is in the phase it was in when she was born. It supposedly affects the bio-chemical environment of the endometrium.
A Czech psychiatrist, Dr.
Eugen Jonas streamlined
this method so that it can
be used to identify those
days in a woman's cycle
on which only a girl will be
conceived, and those days
on which only a boy will be
begotten.
Interested to find out more?
The representative office of
the Dr. Eugen Jonas
Method (r) for Singapore,
Malaysia and China, has a
website:
www.usmev.com.au/cji.htm Biochemistry and pH
In her book Boy or Girl?, Elizabeth Whelan suggested an opposite theory to the Shettles Method. She said that biochemical changes may favour male sperm early in a wornan's cycle, so to have a boy, have sex four to six days before ovulation. For a girl, have intercourse two to three days before ovulation.
Another related angle is
that a more alkaline
vaginal fluid is helpful to
Y-chromosome sperm.
Some women douche
with baking soda and
water to increase
alkalinity, while some
experts suggest a
deeper penetration so
that sperm are
deposited closest to
the cervix, which is
more alkaline.
By the light of the silvery moon...
If you believe that lunar forces determine the tide might be true that the moon dominates sperm movement as well. So one theory: For a boy, make in the sky. For a girl, have sex when full. Environment
Some scientists think that envi ctors play a part. One study found that couples who smoke around the time of conception have a greater chance of conceiving a girl. Head north
Electromagnetic forces are the woman should be aligned in the North-South direction with her head towards north. (There, finally a use for your multiple- function watch-with-cornpass!)
Calendar Girl
By another theory, more boys are conceived on odd days of the month, while even days tend to favour girls.
More lunar tunes...
An astrological theory says that couples should check which zodiac sign the moon is in. The moon passes through all 12 zodiac signs in its 28 day cycle, and the signs alternate between male and female signs. For example, Aries is considered Male and Taurus Female. The sex of the child depends on whether the moon is in a male or female sign at the time of conception. Sugar and spice and all things nice...
"Sugar and spice and all things nice... that's what little girls are made of." And what this old wives' tale seems to that for a girl, mums should nibble on sweets or chocolates or cat fish and veggies, but for a man-child, tuck heartily in to meat (red, preferably) and salty food. One belief in Portugal is that round fruit and vegetables (such as apples and grapes) produce girls while long vegetables (such as carrots and cucumbers) produce boys. Boy or girl? It depends on whether the ovum is Left or Right
According to one website, Ayurvedic studies says that an ovum from the left ovary attracts sperm for girls, and a right-side ovum attracts Y-chromosome side of the ovary is determined by the positions of stars and planets. Get deeper
Position of intercourse and depth of penetration have been identified as important considerations. A deeper penetration places the sperm closer to the cervix and the egg, enabling the sperm to swim directly into the reproductive tract, without too much of a journey through the hostile vagina. The missionary position
