Sex selection

Sex selection is when we want to choose the gender of the baby before it is born. Let's say a mom and dad really want a baby boy or a baby girl. There are ways to try and choose which gender they will have.

One way is through a method called Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). This involves fertilizing a woman's eggs with a man's sperm in a lab. Then, doctors check the embryos’ genes for male or female chromosomes. Only the embryos that have the desired gender are implanted into the mother’s uterus.

Another way is called sperm sorting. This method sorts out the male and female sperm by using a machine to separate them based on their size and weight. Then, only the sperm of the desired gender are used to fertilize the egg.

There are also natural methods such as timing intercourse based on ovulation, as sperm carrying the Y chromosome (which make male babies) tend to swim faster but have shorter lifespans, while sperm carrying the X chromosome (which make female babies) tend to live longer but swim more slowly.

It's important to note that not all places allow sex selection for non-medical reasons, and the decision to choose a baby's gender should only be made after careful consideration and discussion with a doctor or medical professional.