IVF procedure with determination of the child's gender
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
— the artificial insemination program is a solution for infertile couples who, despite all attempts, have not managed to conceive their own baby. The chance to have your own child, rather than become a foster parent, is often by joining an IVF program.
Also, the IVF procedure is the only reliable way that allows parents to plan the gender of their unborn child.
In a significant number of cases, an infertile couple does not care what gender the child is born to them. However, there are exceptions to the rules. Sometimes a woman wants to get pregnant with a boy or a girl specifically, for which she calculates favorable days, eats according to a certain plan, and takes other actions to increase the likelihood of the desired outcome. The desired pregnancy result cannot be achieved with any of these methods.
With IVF, there are very high chances of making a boy or girl “to order.” After all, the fertilization process takes place in vitro, and the doctor can choose an egg with the necessary genetic material. This procedure is called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (IVF with PGD) or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (IVF with PGT).
Modern biology has long proven that the gender of a baby depends on the father, and not on the mother. Everything is very simple. In the male body, as is known, chromosomes X and Y are present, and in the female body only X is present in two copies. Consequently, it is the sperm that carries information about the sex of the unborn baby, and not the egg. If fertilization occurs with the help of a carrier of the X chromosome, then a girl will be born, and if with the help of a Y chromosome, then the couple should expect a boy. It seems that everything is simple, but at the body level the processes are much more complex.
Every human embryo in the early stages of its formation is female. Only over time, when both chromosomes are included in the processes of formation of organs and tissues, does division into the female or male type occur with corresponding changes.
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Family balancing
The reasons why future parents want a baby of one gender or another are different. For example, a family already has one or more children. Then, in order to balance the ratio, the couple wishes to give birth to a child of the opposite sex. In some cultures and states, the desire to have children of the same or opposite sexes is determined by social, economic, religious, and other factors. Thus, in some countries, only a male person is considered an heir, so the family strives to “get” the boy. In other countries, on the contrary, families with children of opposite sexes receive financial benefits. Also, no one has canceled the human desire of mom and dad to have a boy and a girl.
Planning your pregnancy
Gynecologists and obstetricians strongly recommend that future parents plan for the birth of a child and undergo appropriate preparation. The main problem that needs to be given maximum attention is to check the health status of both partners. If such an examination reveals diseases, they should be treated and waited for about 3 months, otherwise the diseases or medications taken may become an obstacle to conceiving children. This is especially true for sexually transmitted diseases. An examination by specialists should be carried out in advance, and not after unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant, this will save time and save you from stress.
Genetic diseases
An important factor associated with sex selection is the presence of genetic pathologies. Parents may know that one or both of them have a defective gene that is responsible for the development of severe genetic syndromes. This gene can be inherited by a carrier or a sick parent. Thus, the carrier of the gene responsible for such a dangerous disease as hemophilia is a woman. But she herself is not sick, but passes the disease on by inheritance. Only males suffer from hemophilia. So, if such a woman gives birth to a girl, she may simply be a carrier, but if it is a boy, then he will be sick. Families with similar medical problems prefer to add a girl to their family.
What to do if you can't get pregnant?
According to observations, about 13% of couples who do not have serious health problems dream of children, but the woman is unable to get pregnant. A couple can be considered infertile if they have been sexually active for one or more years without using contraception, but the woman does not become pregnant. If you cannot get pregnant for a long time, future parents should undergo examination. It is important that the man also visit the doctor and get tested, since problems in the reproductive system can occur not only in the expectant mother, but also in the future father. The purpose of the examination is to identify the cause of infertility. And after that, of course, do everything possible to ensure pregnancy occurs.
- Disturbances in the male reproductive system can be different - from varicocele or infectious diseases to deterioration in sperm quality for an unknown reason. A man does not always require surgical treatment or hormones. For example, in the case of inflammatory processes, the doctor will prescribe antibacterial drugs. And in the case of an insufficient number of sperm capable of fertilization, you may need to take Speroton, a drug that has proven effective in this situation.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the female reproductive system are also of a different nature: from hormonal problems to stress. Conceiving a child can be prevented by high levels of prolactin, or lack of ovulation, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, thin endometrium, various inflammatory processes, etc. A woman's treatment for infertility is selected depending on the cause. In particular, women with reduced fertility due to insufficient endometrial thickness, irregular cycles or high prolactin levels can be prescribed a Pregnoton complex with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and vitex extract.
- Male and female factors of infertility are simultaneously detected in approximately 20% of infertile couples. Moreover, the reason may be precisely in the partnership - for example, immunological incompatibility or a mismatch in the combination of genes of the future parents. Or it may be that fertility is reduced in each of the parents, which ultimately reduces the likelihood of conception to almost zero. It is important to note that often the cause of non-pregnancy is sexually transmitted diseases, which are asymptomatic in both partners. In this case, it is enough for the future parents to undergo a course of treatment.
- Idiopathic infertility is a situation when examinations show no abnormalities in either a man or a woman, and conception does not occur.
The main thing is to remember that today medicine can solve many problems that cause infertility. And specialists will certainly select the most effective one for your case. Modern reproductive specialists have a variety of remedies in their arsenal - from proven vitamin and mineral complexes to assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISING. THE MATERIAL WAS PREPARED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF EXPERTS.
What can be done?
Many people use folk signs to conceive a specific boy or girl. Now there are various online tools such as calendars and other tips. But a 100% method for calculating gender has not yet been invented.
Some scientific methods determine gender with 50% accuracy. Spermatozoa carrying the Y chromosome better tolerate the alkaline reaction of the vaginal environment. Therefore, it is recommended to choose the moment to conceive a boy immediately after ovulation. During the postovulatory period, the female reproductive tract, through which sperm will reach the egg, is rich in alkaline secretions. This is a favorable environment for sperm with a Y chromosome. When the secretions in the female organs become oxidized, the conditions are created to conceive a girl.
What is the process of conception?
Before a child is conceived in the mother’s body, a full-fledged egg must mature in the woman’s ovaries. This process takes about two weeks and ends with ovulation. After the follicle ruptures, the mature female reproductive cell, which has a round shape and resembles the yolk of an egg in appearance, is captured by the fallopian tube.
The egg itself cannot move; the villi of the fallopian tube help it move. At the same time, sperm move towards them, the path of which runs from the woman’s genital tract through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. If the “meeting” occurs under favorable circumstances, a child is conceived. This becomes possible when the following factors coincide:
- By the time the sperm enters the fallopian tube, the egg remains viable. The lifespan of a female reproductive cell is 12–24 hours (it is for this reason that the most favorable days for conceiving a child are the period of ovulation).
- The sperm must “get” to the egg. Given their tiny size, they have to cover a huge distance in a very short time. And among the sperm, not all of them move in the correct way (forward), have a sufficient life expectancy and are able to penetrate the egg (conceive a child).
- The sperm, having reached the egg, binds to its shell using special receptors. After this, a special bubble in the head of the sperm (acrosome) bursts, which dissolves the shell of the egg and penetrates inside. However, many sperm do not recognize the egg, and this reaction does not occur. And in some sperm, on the contrary, this reaction occurs spontaneously, before meeting the egg.
- After the fusion of sperm and egg, a zygote is formed and the first cell division occurs, which takes from 6 to 12 hours. Further division leads to the growth of the zygote and its increase in size.
- The fetus slowly moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus and, in the absence of obstacles, reaches its target and is implanted into the loosened and prepared wall of the uterus.
However, even when conception occurs, pregnancy does not always occur. In the case of adhesions, an ectopic pregnancy may occur (the zygote will not be able to reach the uterus); in the case of late ovulation, the future fetus will not be able to attach to the mucous membrane, which has already undergone changes and prepared for menstruation, or due to disturbed hormonal balance, the endometrium is not adapted to the attachment of the egg . As you can see, not only successful fertilization is important for conceiving a child and achieving pregnancy.
Expert opinion of a doctor
Maklygina Yulia Yurievna
Geneticist
Gametes with the Y chromosome are very mobile, but less persistent; they die in an acidic environment without ever reaching their target. And sperm carrying the X chromosome are slower, but more resistant to aggressive environments and more viable. Due to this, they remain in the fallopian tubes longer. It turns out that if intimate contact occurred during ovulation, then the chances are higher that a “male” sperm will reach the egg and a boy will be born. When ovulation is expected a day or two after sexual intercourse, there is a greater likelihood of fertilization of the female gamete by sperm with the X chromosome, and the birth of a girl.
Ovulation can be tracked by basal (lowest) temperature, measuring it in the rectum every morning after sleep, without getting out of bed. During the release of the egg from the Graafian vesicle, an increase in temperature of 0.1-0.2 degrees is noted. Some women feel ovulation by swelling and heaviness of the breasts, slight soreness in the abdomen, and changes in appetite and sense of smell.
How to choose the best day to conceive a child?
Many young couples believe that pregnancy should occur in the first month with unprotected regular sex. In fact, even if the future parents are completely healthy, pregnancy can occur after 3-4 months and even after six months or a year, this is not a deviation from the norm. You can speed up the appearance of children in a family by determining the appropriate day of the menstrual cycle (by calculating ovulation for conceiving a child).
This period is called the “fertility window” and lasts on average 6 days. At this time, ovulation occurs, and a full-fledged egg is ready to merge with a sperm. You can calculate your ovulation schedule using an ovulation calculator or by measuring your basal temperature.
It is the period of ovulation that is the best time to plan a child. With unprotected sex, there is a high probability of fertilization and pregnancy.
Is there a guaranteed method?
It is impossible to look into the future and guess who will be born using the natural method of conception. It's always a lottery - 50:50. It should be noted that it is legally prohibited to specifically select the sex of an unborn child using reproductive technologies. An exception is if the parents or one of them has a hereditary disease that is transmitted through the mother or father. In such situations, PGD is performed, allowing the couple to choose the sex of their future offspring.
Indications for PGD:
- a woman entering IVF is over 34-35 years old, a man – over 39-40 years old;
- history of two or more unsuccessful IVF protocols;
- two or more miscarriages in history;
- the future father or mother (or both) have a genetic disorder (chromosomal rearrangements, translocations, etc.);
- three or more ineffective transfers of high-quality embryos to women under 35 years of age (see here).
When receiving the results of preimplantation genetic diagnostics, the chromosome set of each embryo is visible: XY - boy, XX - girl.
Myth #3 - Leadership Theory.
The so-called leadership theory, according to which the gender of the child is influenced by the relationship between spouses in the family, seems very far from modern science. According to this approach, in families where the leadership position belongs to a man, daughters are born more often, and vice versa. This is explained by the fact that when the feminine principle is suppressed, then nature “orders” to restore balance and, accordingly, a girl is born. If a woman is the leader in the family, then, according to this theory, boys will be born to strengthen the weak male influence.
Leadership theory explains cases when a child of one sex and then another is born in a family by the fact that over time and under certain life circumstances, partners can change roles. Thus, an independent and independent woman, having gone on maternity leave and given birth to a son, becomes more dependent on her husband and loses her leadership position, therefore, as a result, her second child may be a girl.
At the same time, there is an opposite theory of leadership. According to it, a child will be born in the family of the same sex as the dominant partner.
What determines the sex of the unborn child: medical signs, folk signs, oriental calendar
During sexual intercourse, 300-500 million sperm enter a woman's vagina. In its acidic environment, most of them die; only the most persistent ones end up in the cervical mucus, which has a slightly alkaline reaction, which facilitates movement. Before reaching the egg, sperm must cross the uterus and enter the fallopian tube. They make this journey in 2-2.5 hours. According to the latest data, their fertilizing ability lasts for 2 days.
So, an egg that enters the fallopian tube is quickly surrounded by an army of sperm. The egg is always the carrier of the sex X chromosome, while sperm are of two types: carriers of the X and Y chromosomes. If the sperm that carries the X chromosome fuses with it, a female embryo (XX) appears, and if the carrier of the Y chromosome succeeds before it, a male embryo (XY) appears. This means that the sperm is literally responsible for the sex of the unborn child. Or rather, its owner is the father of the unborn child.
What else affects the gender of the child?
There are several other circumstances besides those listed above that can also affect the gender of the unborn child. For example, there are families where from generation to generation only boys or only girls are born. Why does this happen? Apparently, there is some kind of genetic predisposition to having children of the same sex. Or perhaps it’s all about the characteristics of sperm, which affect the number of sperm of group X or Y.
In addition, as it became known, sperm with the X and Y chromosomes are different: those carrying the X chromosome are somewhat larger and move more slowly than those carrying the Y chromosome. However, although the latter are faster, they are not resilient and die faster. Consequently, those sperm that carry information “to the boy” will reach the meeting place faster, but if this meeting does not take place within 48 hours (ovulation has not yet occurred, and they have not yet been expected), they die. And the sperm carrying information “to the girl” will reach the goal more slowly, but if ovulation has already occurred and the egg is waiting (and, as we know, it can wait no more than 24 hours), the meeting will take place.
So, if sexual intercourse happened before ovulation (with a normal cycle on the 12-13th day), future parents have a much greater chance of getting a girl, since fast Y will arrive ahead of time and will not wait for the ovulation meeting, and slow X will be in place just in time, and the germ cell XX is formed.
If sexual intercourse occurs at the time of ovulation or the first day after it (14-15th day of a normal cycle), then fast Y will overtake the egg first, and the result will be a boy (XY).
Determine the gender of the unborn child
Usually, specialists can determine the sex of the unborn child from the end of the 1st trimester of pregnancy. There are two methods that allow you to determine the sex of the unborn child before its birth: ultrasound examination (from 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, the accuracy of the forecast is about 85%) and analysis of amniotic fluid (from 14-16 weeks, but only according to indications, for example, to exclude genetic diseases).
Such an important problem for parents as the gender of the unborn child, of course, has acquired many signs, most of them funny. There are, however, two signs that parents can fully rely on.
Signs on the gender of the child
- Usually, mothers of girls change in appearance during pregnancy. The little coquette already in the womb lays claim to her mother’s female hormones. Boys, as a rule, are not interested in such trifles, and the expectant mother is doing better every day.
- It has been noticed that mothers of girls feel less sick at the beginning of pregnancy than those women who are expecting a boy. Perhaps this phenomenon is explained by the fact that it is easier for a woman’s body to adapt to pregnancy with a girl.
Is it worth interfering in the development of events, trying to influence the gender of the unborn child? It seems to us that this is not worth doing, because in this way we can disrupt the natural ratio of men and women necessary for the continuation of life on Earth.
Methods for determining the sex of an unborn child
Determining the sex of the child. Why is this necessary?
DETERMINING THE GENDER OF A CHILD interests every pregnant woman. It is difficult for women who have never had the happiness of carrying a child under their hearts to understand such ardent zeal of expectant mothers in determining the sex of their unborn child. It would seem that it makes no difference who is born - a boy or a girl... The main thing is that he is healthy. But that was not the case... This is not enough. Firstly, determining the sex of a child is a very interesting process. This especially applies to all kinds of complex calculations. Modern mothers prefer similar methods. Some even agree to pay considerable sums to those who have techniques for determining the sex of the unborn child in order to know exactly who they will have. Often their forecasts are accurate. But official science has not yet recognized any of these methods for determining the sex of a child as 100% accurate. If you think logically, then the hit percentage is 50/50. Getting into the “right” 50%, as you understand, is not so difficult.
Other parents refuse to determine the sex of their unborn child not only on their own, but also through an ultrasound examination. Those parents who do not want to know in advance who will be born to them should immediately notify the doctor who will conduct the ultrasound about their decision, so that the specialist does not accidentally reveal the “secret”. And, of course, don’t look at the monitor yourself.
Determining the sex of the child in advance is also interesting due to the fact that many parents prefer to buy a dowry for the baby in advance. And they do it right. But there’s just a strong desire among the Russian people to dress boys and girls only in certain colors. And just try to imagine such a situation. The method for determining the sex of the unborn child gave the result that you will have a girl. You bought pink vests, an envelope, a blanket, a stroller. And a boy is born... Many parents prefer in such cases to try to sell everything they have purchased and buy a new one, the “right” color. So maybe you shouldn’t have bothered to determine the child’s gender in advance and buy things in neutral colors? Or are there still sufficiently reliable methods?
Determining the sex of a child: a medical method.
There is only one 100% way to determine the sex of a child before conception. This is the MicroSort system. Its meaning lies in the division of sperm into “female” and “male”. This method is not easy and quite expensive. It is not practical for ordinary people to use it to determine the sex of a child. Rather, it is used to sort out “sick” embryos. This technique is successfully used by future parents who are carriers of some hereditary diseases, especially those that are transmitted only through the male or female line. For example, hemophilia. This is a blood disease that occurs only in males. In such cases, it is necessary to determine the sex of the child for medical reasons.
Not only is the determination of the sex of the sperm (so to speak) and, accordingly, of the unborn child, not a cheap procedure, but you will also have to get pregnant with the help of IVF. And pregnancy with this method usually does not occur on the first try.
Determining the sex of a child by the date of conception (date of sexual intercourse).
It is known that a woman can become pregnant only on certain days of the menstrual cycle. Namely, during the period of ovulation - the release of a mature egg from the ovary. The acquired knowledge of female physiology helps women not only achieve rapid pregnancy, but also determine the sex of the child even before conception using simple calculations. How is the sex of the unborn child determined using this method?
Sperm can survive in the female genital organs for up to 96 hours. Fertilization occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle. The exact date of ovulation (it is needed to determine the sex of the unborn child) can be found out using ultrasound, daily measurement of basal temperature, and the use of special tests.
Now the most important thing. Spermatozoa carrying the Y chromosome (male) “live” less than those carrying only the X chromosome (female). Therefore, the likelihood of conceiving a boy increases sharply on the days of ovulation. This observation is not useful for those who are trying to determine the sex of a child before conception, but rather for already pregnant women. If they know the exact date of conception and ovulation, then they can safely determine the sex of the child. But this is also not a 100% method.
Diet helps in determining the sex of the unborn child.
According to some experts, diet can help in predicting and determining the sex of a child. This diet must be followed for 2 months before the planned conception. Moreover, this diet must be followed by both future parents. This method is approximately 80% reliable.
So, if you want to have a boy, then you need to eat more meat, potatoes, mushrooms, and tropical fruits. But if possible, reduce the amount of dairy products in your diet.
Those who dream of a daughter need to eat more vegetables and give up exotic fruits and meat products. Milk and sweet foods are encouraged.
If you are already pregnant and want to determine the gender of your child, then try to analyze your and your husband’s diet. If there is a predominance of certain products, then determining the sex of the unborn child should not be difficult for you.
Determining the sex of a child by blood renewal.
It is quite interesting to try to determine the sex of the child by blood renewal. In men, blood is renewed once every 4 years, and in women - once every 3 years. If a woman has a negative Rh factor, then vice versa. Whose blood is “younger”, the child will be born of that gender. Let's try to determine the sex of the child using this simple method.
So, determining the sex of a child for a woman who is 25 years old and a man who is 33 years old.
25:3=8.3
33:4=8.2
Thus, a man has younger blood - a boy will be born.
Determining the sex of a child based on the blood type of the parents.
This method is rejected by many because, to put it mildly, it is absurd. The signs clearly indicate that if the father has such and such a blood type, and the mother has such and such, then a boy (or girl) will be born. But many parents give birth to children of different sexes... How then can one trust such a method of determining the sex of the unborn child?
If you want to determine the gender of the child by blood type, here are some values:
Mother I - Father I - girl
Mother I - Father II - boy
Mother I - Father III - girl
Mother I - Father IV - boy
Starting from the second blood group, the mother’s plate is repeated, but in reverse, that is, the calculation order begins with the boy and alternates. The third blood group of the mother in the tablet begins with a girl. The fourth is from a boy.
To determine the sex of the unborn child, the Rh factor of his parents is also important. A “positive” and “negative” mother and father will have a girl. Those with different rhesus breeds are more likely to give birth to boys. But one can argue with this statement...
Determining the gender of a child according to the Japanese calendar.
Find the number at the intersection of your and your partner’s birth months. Now find this number at the top of the second table. Now in the column below it, find the month of conception. And look at the probability of conceiving a boy and a girl this month:
The difficulty with these methods of determining the sex of the unborn child is that most women do not know in what month they ovulated. They can, for example, only assume that June 31-1. But the difference in determining the sex of a child using this method is significant. Or even better, when you don’t know exactly at what age conception occurred. This can happen if fertilization (ovulation) occurs around the woman’s birthday.
Determining the sex of a child (after conception) using traditional methods.
They try to determine the sex of a child almost from the very moment of conception. “Knowledgeable” people will immediately ask the expectant mother: does she have toxicosis? And if the answer is yes, then they immediately begin to claim that it’s worth waiting for a girl. There is an opinion among people that during the period of bearing a girl, a woman “gets worse.” “A daughter takes beauty from her mother.” Toxicosis, the appearance of acne on the face and body, hair loss, oily skin - all this is associated with the fact that a woman is carrying a daughter.
They also say that if the expectant mother constantly wants to eat meat, pickles and sausage, then she should expect a boy, and if she is drawn to sweets, then by definition, the child’s gender will be female.
A little later, even more visible signs appear that can be used to determine the sex of the unborn child - the shape of the abdomen. This is especially noticeable after 30 weeks of pregnancy. They say that if the shape of the abdomen is “sharp”, and from behind it is impossible to notice that the woman is in position (that is, the waist is visible), then a boy will be born. If the belly is round and seems to spread out to the sides, then the baby will be a girl.
Some “experts” can even determine the sex of a child by the child’s intrauterine behavior. They say that if a child moves often and does not let his mother sleep, then he is definitely a bully - a boy. And if she behaves calmly, then this is a daughter.
If you look at such methods for determining the sex of a child from a medical point of view, they are completely unfounded and contradictory. For example, the shape of the abdomen has nothing to do with the gender of the child, that is, its definition. This depends only on the position of the baby in the uterus, the anatomical features of the woman and the presence/absence of excess weight. And the frequency of movements must be counted not to determine the gender of the unborn child, but in order to promptly notice problems in the condition of your baby. Too frequent or infrequent movements may indicate that the fetus lacks oxygen. Usually, to normalize this condition, it is enough to ventilate the room you are in or go for a walk in clean air.
Another result of popular “research” is this method of determining the sex of a child. The older a man (future father) is and a woman (future mother), the more likely they are to have a boy. If the wife is older, then most likely a girl will be born.
Determining the sex of a child using various fortune telling.
We tend to think that these methods for determining the sex of a child will rather become entertainment for expectant mothers, but they are undoubtedly interesting. The origins of some of them go back to antiquity.
Moisten barley and wheat grains with the urine of a pregnant woman. If barley germinates faster, then expect a boy; if wheat, a girl will be born.
If the expectant mother prefers to start eating bread from the top, then she will have a son. And if she takes it from the middle, it’s her daughter.
Ask the pregnant woman to take the key from the table. If she takes the round part of the key, a boy will be born. If the basis is a girl.
How to determine exactly?
The most common and safest way to determine the sex of your baby is through an ultrasound, which is generally 90% accurate when performed after the 16th week of pregnancy. This method is simple, safe and fast, although it is not without errors, as it depends on the capabilities of the device and the experience of the doctor.
All other methods for accurately determining sex are already invasive, that is, they require the collection of tests, fetal tissue or amniotic fluid. They are carried out only for strict medical reasons, when doctors suspect that the fetus has diseases that may be gender-linked (that is, only children of a certain gender get sick, and the problems themselves are inherited). Examples include color blindness, hemophilia and some other diseases.
Recently, scientific publications reported that a test for determining the sex of a child using a blood test from the mother has been developed and put into practice. It can be performed as early as 11 weeks of pregnancy. The analysis looks at the DNA of the fetus and determines the sex of the child with an accuracy of 95 to 99%. Disadvantage: the test is quite expensive ($250-350).
