How to Influence the Gender of a Baby?

Introduction

The simple answer is: you can't. For an average couple, it is very difficult to influence the gender of their baby. Although a 2008 study suggested that women who ate cereal for breakfast every day during conception were more likely to have boys, some scientists questioned the study's analysis and results.

Common Myths

Some people believe that the sexual position during conception can influence the baby's gender, but this theory has not been proven. Other studies suggest that the timing of intercourse affects the baby's gender—for example, having sex a few days before ovulation increases the likelihood of having a boy, while having sex close to ovulation increases the likelihood of having a girl. In reality, this is also unreliable.

Special Circumstances

In very specific cases, such as when a couple knows they may pass on certain genetic diseases to a specific gender (usually boys), they may use high-tech methods to increase the chances of having a girl. These methods include:

• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD): This technique is usually combined with in vitro fertilization (IVF). It involves determining the sex and testing for genetic diseases of embryos before implantation, then selecting healthy embryos of the desired gender for implantation.
• Sperm Sorting and Selection: Sperm can be separated using various techniques, and then suitable sperm can be used for artificial insemination or IVF, reducing the risk of genetic diseases and selecting the baby's gender.

Although these techniques are feasible, few couples choose the baby's gender solely for personal preference.