Methods of Gender Selection

While there is an overwhelming amount of information on
the Internet about gender selection options, please be careful as much of this information
is filled with scams, old wives tales and unproven techniques. There are only
2 proven techniques that may affect the gender of your children. They are sperm-sorting
(including the procedure Microsort) and IVF with the use of PGD.
Our office uses a proprietary method of sperm sorting with insemination.
Comparison Of Methods(We only offer Gender Select sperm sorting method.)
Method
|
Success Rate
|
Price*
|
Availability
|
Girl
|
Boy
|
Sperm Sorting
|
73% - 75%
|
78% - 85%
|
$1,300 - $2,500 each attempt
|
Widely practiced.
|
Microsort
|
88% - 92%
|
73% - 81%
|
$3,400 each attempt
|
This method failed to obtain it's FDA approval process in 2008.
|
IVF w/PGD
|
97% - 99%
|
97% - 99%
|
$14,000 - $25,000 each attempt
|
Not available to general publice seeking a certain gender, only to those with proven
genetic abnormalities.
|
Gender Select, LLC
|
73% - 75%
|
78% - 85%
|
$1,750 each attempt
|
Available now.
|
* for one attempt each month varies by state
Sperm Sorting
This technique has been used in many formats for over 30 years. These methods work
on the premise that they separate the X and Y-sperm by use of centrifugation. During
centrifugation, controlled spinning causes particles in a sample to become sorted
into layers according to density of those particles. Sorting separates the more
dense X-sperm from the lighter Y-sperm. One half of the sperm normally produced
by a healthy male will carry the Y-chromosome producing a male child, and the other
half of the sperm will be the X-chromosome producing a female child. By altering
the number of one chromosome or the other by separating the layers, one is increasing
the chances of producing a child of a specific gender. During sperm sorting, the
sperm cells are separated from the seminal fluid, the sperm are concentrated into
healthy and motile sperm, abnormal sperm is filtered out, and finally the separation
of the X and Y-sperm concentrates the sample to the desired gender. The remaining
sample is more likely to result in a successful pregnancy and will increase the
odds of the desired gender group. This technique is widely used and is a standard
process in IVF and IUI procedures. After the sperm is sorted, the sample will be
inseminated into the woman which is an in office technique. The most well-known
method of sperm sorting is the Ericsson Method.
Success rates for this type of procedure can range from 78-85% in a couple
seeking a boy, and 73-75% in a couple seeking a girl.
Prices for this technique range from $1300-$2500 per cycle.
Availability: Widely used procedure since the 1970’s.
Microsort is a form of this technique being utilized in Virginia and California.
It is a technique based on sperm sorting theories. Microsort sperm separation clinical
research trial has been placed on hold currently and is now under FDA review. Therefore,
the waiting list is very long, currently over a year, and the expense is significant.
You also must meet strict guidelines to be accepted into this study and be prepared
to travel, both mother and father, for a week of each month until you are successful.
Success rates for this type of procedure can range from 73-81% in couples seeking
a boy, and 88-92% in couples seeking a girl. Prices for this technique are $3,400
per cycle plus travel, food and hotel expenses for one week each month to Virginia
or California. Availability: This procedure is in trial status and is currently
stating a waiting time of over 1 year. Must meet strict guidelines including marital
status, health status, must have at least one child and must be opting for child
of opposite sex.
IVF with PGD (In Vitro Fertilization with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
The technique PGD is the only method which can virtually guarantee the gender of
your choice because embryos are tested for gender before they are implanted in the
womb. These tested embryos are created for the purpose of IVF. The eggs are harvested
from the mother (or donor) and the sperm sample is taken from the father (or donor)
and the embryos are created in the lab for later implantation. These embryos are
subject to a biopsy procedure on the third day of growth that allows a single cell
to be analyzed for male or female chromosomes. While this is the most accurate technique,
it is by far the most involved and most costly. PGD is commonly used for couples
with a family history of a genetic disorder and older mothers are more likely to
have a baby with genetic birth defects. PGD is not 100% reliable and only tests
for specific defects, parents should use other prenatal genetic tests, such as amniocentesis
or chorionic villus sampling. PGD is expensive and still considered an experimental
procedure. Clinics will not allow couples to partake in PGD even if they are willing
to pay for the services if the couple simply wants to influence the gender of their
child. Screening processes are extremely stringent and in most cases a couple will
only be accepted if they have a genetic abnormality they are attempting to avoid.
Success rates for this type of procedure are 97-99.9% accurate in couples
seeking either a boy or girl.
Prices for this technique range from $14,000-$25,000 per cycle.
Availability: Not widely available to couples simply seeking one gender or the other.
Highly involved procedure due to the requirement of drug treatments, egg-harvesting
and IVF for this procedure to be completed. Please see the quick Comparison of Gender Selection
Methods chart on our home page.
General Disclaimer: All clinical material published by the
chooseagender.com and/or members/directors of Gender Select, LLC on it's
website is for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the
information contained herein with other sources. Clients and consumers should review
the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information
is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians.
chooseagender.com and/or members/directors of Gender Select, LLC will not
be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other
damages arising therefrom.