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.

Comparison Of Methods

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	Waiting for FDA approval. Waiting list closed.
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%	$1,600 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.

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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 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. Quick Comparison of Gender Selection Methods: (chart)

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