The question of planning the sex of the unborn child is shrouded in myths and superstitions. What determines the sex of the embryo and is there an effective way to conceive a baby of the desired sex?

• New life is formed in the process of fusion of gametes - human sex cells containing a single set of chromosomes. Female reproductive cells are called oocytes or oocytes, and male reproductive cells are called sperm or sperm.
• The sex of a person is encoded by special chromosomes: X and Y. The sperm cell can contain any of the sex chromosomes, while the egg cell carries only the X chromosome. This means that the sex of the child depends on the man.
• The result of fertilization of an egg with a sperm with an X chromosome will be a female embryo, but if a sperm with a Y chromosome succeeded in breaking through the oocyte membrane, the couple will have a boy.

• As a result of mutations associated with the SRY gene, it is possible to develop genetic boys that look like girls and genetic girls with a male phenotype.

What else determines the gender of the child

All kinds of tables and formulas promising to calculate the sex of the child by the date of birth or the renewal of the mother's blood are a legacy of the times when it was believed that the sex of the child depends on the woman. Of course, possible coincidences with such fortune-telling are accidental. With the exception of modern reproductive technologies, there are no methods that allow planning the sex of the child with 100% certainty. However, you can increase the likelihood of conceiving an heir of the desired gender. The menstrual cycle and the position for intercourse are what determines the sex of the child at conception.

• Sperm with a Y chromosome are "cavalry". They are smaller, more nimble, therefore, get to the goal faster. But they are also less viable, their lifespan does not exceed 24 hours.
• X-carriers are slower, but their viability is much higher: up to 72 hours.
  The vagina in the non-fertile period has an acidic environment that has a detrimental effect on spermatozoa, especially on Y-carriers. During ovulation, the pH in the vagina rises and becomes alkaline.
• The life span of the egg is approximately equal to days.
• For the conception of a boy, intercourse must occur at ovulation, plus or minus one day. In this case, the path of sperm to the egg should be shortened as much as possible by deep penetration during ejaculation.
• For the conception of a girl, coitus should occur 3 days before ovulation, and the path for sperm should be maximized. Then, by the time of ovulation, the "live" with the Y-chromosome will have died, and the X-carriers will have time to reach the goal.
• With poor quality semen and / or calculating ovulation solely using the calendar, the chances of the method working are low. It will be more reliable to track ovulation using ultrasound, special tests or using the symptothermal method, which consists in measuring the basal temperature, assessing the vaginal discharge and the structure of the cervix.

What determines the sex of the unborn child - myths

Ovaries and gender of the baby

There is a point of view among the broad masses that the sex of the child depends on the ovary from which the egg came out. They say that the right ovary "attracts" girls, while the eggs from the left ovary are more likely to become boys after fertilization. Of course, in practice, there is no connection between a specific ovary and the biological sex of a child.

Douching and baby gender

Sometimes women planning to become mothers are advised to douche with a weakly alkaline solution to conceive a boy or a weakly alkaline solution to conceive a girl. In an alkaline environment, sperm of both types feel much more comfortable, which increases the chances of conception in principle. But alkalization or acidification of the female genital tract is fraught with the development of bacterial vaginosis or thrush, which is completely useless for women planning a pregnancy.

Does the gender of the child depend from the food of the parents?

Doctors are skeptical about the statement that by adhering to a certain diet, you can plan the sex of the future baby. The sensational hypothesis that for the conception of a boy you need to eat food rich in sodium and potassium, and for the birth of a girl, future parents must lean on foods containing calcium and magnesium has not been confirmed.



There are also recommendations according to which, to conceive a boy, you need to eat food with a high level of alkalinity, and to conceive a girl, on the contrary, highly acidic food should prevail in the diet. Yes, nutrition affects the hormones and acidity of the female genital tract: too acidic environment can prevent conception. But it will not be possible to accurately plan the sex of the child using such methods.

Does the shape of the abdomen depend on the sex of the child?

In the agonizing expectation of an uzist's verdict about what gender the child develops in the womb, expectant mothers often resort to folk methods, trying to determine the sex of the fetus by the shape of the rounded tummy. However, there is no relationship between them. The shape of the abdomen of a pregnant woman depends on her complexion, body weight and the location of the fetus.

Output

Modern science says that the sex of a child depends on the father. There is no exact method for planning a child of a specific gender, except for modern reproductive technologies, which are allowed only in exceptional cases. The method of tracking ovulation shows the greatest accuracy when planning a child of a certain gender, but it can also give errors.

Planning the gender of a child is an important activity for parents-to-be. It turns out that it is possible to determine in advance the birth of a boy or girl using the right methods, past time and many married couples.

The gender of a newborn baby was laid down at the cellular level. From school biology lessons, each person remembers that a cell consists of cytoplasm and a nucleus. It is the nucleus that contains a set of certain chromosomes. A healthy cell has 46 chromosomes - i.e. 23 pairs.

All 22 pairs for men and women are exactly the same. The differences are found only in the last 23 pair.
In the female body these are two "X" chromosomes, in the male - "X" and "Y".

If at the moment of conception the egg cell (female cell) meets "X" sperm (male cell), then after 9 months a girl will be born, and if with "Y" sperm - a boy will be born.

Back in the 60s of last year, scientists concluded that it is possible to predetermine the future sex! It all depends on the degree of cell activity.

The fact is that male cells with chromosomes "X" differ in their vitality, but not in activity. Being in the uterine cavity, they can safely wait for ovulation for 48 hours. On the other hand, cells with "Y" chromosomes are more active, but are prone to rapid death. They can quickly reach the egg and fertilize it if conception occurs on the day of ovulation.

How to influence the gender of the child?

This desire has arisen in humanity from time immemorial and is still relevant. It is interesting that it originated in ancient China and was traced in many European countries. You may or may not believe it, but the Easterners are sure that girls are most often born to smoking parents. It is tobacco that is able to influence the number of "X" chromosomes in the male material. The Japanese even emphasize that a man must smoke one pack of cigarettes a day.

Other researchers, on the other side of the world - Italians, have determined that the sex of the unborn child is affected by the season. So, they are absolutely sure that in the fall there is the greatest opportunity to conceive a boy, because this season affects the concentration of Y chromosomes in male sperm.

The oldest scientists also believed that the moon could influence this decision. Sexual relationships for couples need to be planned not only depending on its phases, but also take into account the weather conditions. For example, the Egyptians knew for sure that the full moon favored the appearance of a son. They knew that a girl would be born if the woman was fertilized immediately after her period. Well, Aristotle himself insisted that if a couple wants a boy, she needs to conceive a child at a time when the north wind blows, and a girl when the south wind.

Blood renewal theory

Modern man hardly pays attention to the weather and the phase of the moon during fertilization. However, there are several basic methods to accurately predict the sex of the unborn child. Increasingly, couples are planning the sex of the baby according to the fashionable European theory of blood renewal.

Planning the gender of the child for blood renewal

It is believed that the Rh factor affects the sex of the child first of all, and only then the age of the parents.

Chinese baby gender planning calendar

According to the results of special studies, male blood is able to renew itself every four years. Female blood does this more often - once every three years.

The formula for calculating the sex of the child

To determine, you need to multiply the father's age in months by four and divide by 16. Then you should multiply the mother's age in months by three and divide by 12. Compare the numbers obtained, if the male number is greater, there will be a boy, if the female number is a girl.

Formula for determining the sex of a child before conception:
For a man: Y \u003d 4 x (whole number of lived months: 16)
For woman: X \u003d 3 x (whole number of months lived: 9).
If the male number Y is greater than the female number X, then these parents will have a boy. If the female number X is greater than the male number Y, then these parents will have a girl.

Child gender calculation table

How to use the table? This is a Japanese calendar that has two tables. According to the first table, we determine the number from 1 to 12 and look for this figure in another table, and plan the sex of the unborn child.

Medical planning techniques

Such planning is possible, but highly undesirable. Medical planning allows you to determine the sex of the unborn baby with 100% accuracy using chromosome staining. This planning is legal for couples undergoing artificial insemination and is prohibited in many countries, such as China. It is believed that this method is not natural and can lead to imbalances on the planet.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis

It is used mainly for genetic diseases in parents in order to exclude the transmission of this disease to the child.

In addition, preimplantation genetic diagnosis is performed in couples with an increased risk of congenital anomalies in children, which is not associated with the carriage of diagnosed mutations. Such cases include couples where the mother is over 35 years old; where the father's age is over 39; if the father has severe spermatogenesis disorders; in married couples with recurrent miscarriage; in couples with repeated failed IVF attempts.
(Wikipedia)

Independent planning of the baby's gender

The more people - the more opinions.

There is also a theory among the people that asserts that the less often there is sex in a couple's life, the more likely it is to conceive a girl. And vice versa: more often - to the boy.

Therefore, some couples practice the method of abstinence and then proceed to fertilization, and therefore, often have sex if they wish to conceive a son. This theory is valid, since sperm cells tend to mature quickly.

Nutrition for conceiving the desired child

French scientists have concluded that adherence to a strict diet will allow to predetermine the sex of the baby. Moreover, it is believed that a certain diet should be followed during menstruation. Before conceiving, mom should follow a strict two-month diet. For example, if a woman wants a boy, she should give preference to:

• potatoes
• mushrooms
• bananas
• oranges
• dates

Season food with plenty of salt.

If a woman wants to conceive a girl, she needs to eat:

• eggplant
• milk products
• cucumbers
• pumpkin
• beets
• peas
• pepper

Statistics show that this method has an efficiency in excess of 80%. It should also be borne in mind that dieting can have both positive and negative effects. Lack of trace elements leads to vitamin deficiency.

Folk omens for planning the sex of the child

There are many different folk remedies, both effective and stupid, that favor the birth of a certain gender of a baby. For example, our great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers were sure that if an ax is put under the pillow during conception, a boy will be born, and if the threads are a girl.

It is also known that if mothers eat sweets, this contributes to the birth of a girl, and salty - a boy. Among all the recommendations and methods, it is important to highlight the most effective ones, in which there is some truth.

It will be useful to take into account the dad's place of work, because men working in hazardous industries rarely have the opportunity to conceive a boy.

This is because carriers of the gene in male sperm are very susceptible to negative influences.

A huge role in planning can be given to the heredity of parents, for example, if there are many children in families. This feature is important for both mom and dad.

Surprisingly, it is the female inheritance that is unique. Pay attention to how many children are in the mother's family and what gender they are. The prevailing gender can influence your child.

The female body has a predisposition to conceiving boys or girls. Therefore, a fertilized egg can be rejected by the body at any time if it does not meet its requirements.

It is also believed that gender depends on the physique and appearance of a woman.

It is noticed that not tall and plump ladies reproduce boys, but slender and tall ones - girls.

And do not ignore the character of the couple, because it often happens that strict "iron" people are predisposed to sons, and soft, docile and gentle men most often raise daughters.

How to conceive a child by ovulation?

In planning the sex of a child by ovulation, the decisive role is played by what will be the sperm that fertilized the egg. How to find out?

It is no secret that the sex of the unborn child depends on the father, more precisely, on the set of chromosomes of the sperm, which will fertilize the mother's egg.

At first glance, this is a simple and efficient method that does not require complex calculations. For more information on this method of planning the sex of the child and other methods, see this article Gender of the child before conception on our website.

If you want to give birth to a girl, try these recommendations:

• do not salt food, try to eat bland food
• include a large amount of dairy and fermented milk products in the diet
• eat a lot of sweets
• eat meat, poultry, fish
• forget about smoked meats
• avoid pickles
• don't drink coffee

If you dream of a son, try:

• salt food abundantly
• eat sausage, smoked meat, pickles
• eat bananas often
• include potatoes in every menu
• do not get carried away with eggs and milk

Which of the "correct" methods is more effective for you to decide. The main thing is not to overdo it with efforts and do not harm your body with diets or foods that can bring you allergies.

Video: Planning the gender of the baby

When planning a pregnancy, many parents ask themselves: what does the sex of the child depend on? Some married couples would like to be able to choose whether to be a girl or a boy. Because of this desire, myths appear that certain factors, such as the age of the spouses, diet or zodiac sign, affect the sex of the unborn child.

But is it really so? To understand, you need to understand how the fertilization process takes place and whether there is a possibility to intervene in it. Modern medical technologies come to the aid of young parents. It is possible that soon the sex of the child can be "ordered" in the laboratory.

To understand what the sex of the child depends on, you need to remember the basics of genetics from the school biology course. So, every cell of the body has a nucleus - a structure that contains DNA (genetic information).

All human features: hair color, eyes, gender, physique, etc., are determined by a set of genes and chromosomes. It is different for women and men. In one cell there are 23 pairs of chromosomes, 22 of them are the same (XX), and the structure of the latter depends on gender. In the female body, it looks like XX, and in the male body, like XY.

All cells in the body, except for sex cells, contain a paired set of chromosomes. And the eggs and sperm are single. In the process of formation of germ cells, the separation of paired sets occurs.

Thus, all oocytes contain 23 single chromosomes, the last one being X. And all spermatozoa also contain 23 chromosomes, but the latter can be X or Y - both equally.

Depending on which set is in the sperm that fertilized the egg, a boy (Y) or a girl (X) will be born.

If all sperm had the same properties, then the probability of conceiving a child of a certain sex would be 50%. But male reproductive cells behave differently. Y-sperm move faster but are less resilient. X-spermatozoa are not as active, but they better withstand the influence of factors of the internal environment of the female reproductive system.

Factors affecting the sex of the unborn child

There are certain factors, the influence of which on the sex of the unborn child, is explained from a scientific point of view:

1. Time of conception. The most studied and reliable factor. As already noted, male spermatozoa differ in the degree of activity and vitality: Y - they move faster and die more easily, X - are slow, but more hardy. It has been established that sperm in a woman's body can remain active for up to 5-7 days. If intercourse occurs during ovulation, then the fastest Y-sperm will fertilize the egg, but if it occurs a few days earlier, then the chances are higher for viable X-spermatozoa. Therefore, planning the sex of the child comes down to determining the day of ovulation.
2. Pose during intercourse. This factor is also associated with different activities of X- and Y-spermatozoa. With the act of deep penetration of the penis, the distance to the egg is reduced. Under these conditions, fast Y sperm are more likely to fuse. Since the path to be overcome is not long, they do not have time to perish. If the penetration is shallow, then the spermatozoa need to "go" a greater distance and not the fastest survive on the way, but the strongest, that is, X-spermatozoa.
3. Parents' sexual activity. With frequent intercourse (daily or every other day), the likelihood that Y-sperm will fertilize an egg is higher - there are high chances that intercourse will occur on the day of ovulation. If the sexual activity of the spouses is low, then the X-sperm cells will be able to survive until ovulation, since they retain their activity for up to 7 days.

The most common myths

In addition to the factors, the influence of which on the sex of the unborn child is scientifically confirmed, there are myths - ideas claiming that you can conceive a son or daughter by following ancient tables, focusing on the zodiac signs of the parents, adhering to special nutrition, etc.

The most widespread are the following versions about what determines the sex of the child:

1. "Installation" of a woman's body. According to this myth, once every 3 years, the female body "switches" from the birth of a boy to the birth of a girl. It turns out that only the sex of the first child cannot be planned, and after his birth it all comes down to simple arithmetic calculations. In fact, sex is determined by the sperm, that is, the material of the father.
2. "Fresh" parental blood. This myth is based on the assumption that a person's blood is renewed after a certain number of years. And the gender of the child will be the same as that of the parent with more "fresh" blood. This theory has nothing to do with the physiology of the human body, the properties of blood do not affect the process of conception.
3. "Strong" reproductive cell. Proponents of this theory believe that at certain periods of life, eggs in women and sperm in men become "stronger" or "weaker". And depending on this, a girl or a boy is born. In fact, it may matter which of the spermatozoa turns out to be more viable and active, but the "strength" of the egg does not affect the fertilization process.
4. Diet. This assumption is based on the fact that the diet of the spouses in the months before conception can affect the sex of the child. In fact, the consumption of certain foods does not affect the conception process.
5. Oriental, Chinese and Japanese ancient tables. All of them involve complex calculations, which, however, are not related to the woman's monthly cycle or the characteristics of the reproductive systems of the spouses.
6. Zodiac signs. There are male and female zodiac signs. The theory states that if the future mom and dad have a masculine sign, then a girl will be born. If both spouses have a feminine sign, then a boy will appear. Such assumptions are not scientifically substantiated.

Is it possible to plan the sex of the unborn child?

According to statistics, on average, 105 boys are born for every 100 girls worldwide. Perhaps this is due to the different survival rates of the two sexes, although modern medicine makes this difference insignificant.

Over the past decades, technologies of artificial fertilization of eggs and embryo cultivation have been rapidly developing. Since the process of fusion of germ cells can be carried out of the female body, it becomes possible to influence it.

Today, there are several technologies that allow you to plan the sex of the unborn child:

1. Robert Erickson's method. Its essence is that spermatozoa are separated into fractions with Y- and X-chromosomes. First, the day of ovulation in a woman is determined. The man collects genetic material (sperm), which is treated with an albumin drug. It has been noticed that cells with Y chromosomes cross the protein barrier faster and are the first to find themselves at the bottom of the test tube. Then the specialist separates the desired fractions and performs artificial insemination.
2. Flow laser sorting of sperm. The division of male germ cells is performed using a laser beam. Sperm with Y chromosomes contain 3% less genetic material than those with X chromosomes. The latter can be eliminated by laser exposure. When planning a girl, this method is 90% effective, and if a boy is needed - 70%. The required part of the sperm (eliminated or remaining) is introduced into the uterus or fertilization is performed in vitro (in a test tube).
3. Pre-implantation diagnostics. Such a study is carried out at a certain stage of embryo cultivation. In other words, sperm and eggs are collected first. Then, in artificial conditions, the fertilization process takes place. After a few days, you can examine the cells of the embryo for the presence of genetic pathologies and to determine the sex. Material is transplanted into the uterus carrying the required combination of sex chromosomes: XX or XY. It should be noted that preimplantation diagnostics is associated with risks, therefore, in order to determine the sex of the unborn child, it is not carried out in Russia.

The development of methods for planning the sex of a child is complicated not only by the level of technology development, but also by ethical considerations. After all, the balance established by nature - 100 girls for 105 boys - does not exist in vain.

Attempts to plan the sex of the unborn baby have been around for a very long time. Theories about the birth of a child of the desired sex arose in ancient times, but more and more continue to appear. For example, some researchers believe that determined, confident women are more likely to have boys.

There are many ways on the Internet for planning the gender of a child, but they are just entertainment, since they do not have any evidence. These are various tables, calculation for blood renewal, blood type, and so on.

There is also a hypothesis that the sex of the child to a certain extent depends on the mother's diet a few months before conception. A diet rich in calcium and magnesium contributes to the conception of a girl. These are products such as: milk, beans, beans, hard cheese, nuts. For the boy, you need to eat foods rich in potassium and sodium (meat, fish, potatoes, dried fruits).

There is no reliable way to plan the gender of a child today. The only one hundred percent way to conceive a girl or a boy is by artificial insemination with the choice of an embryo of a certain sex. For this, a special study of the embryo is carried out.

But the legislation of Ukraine is allowed only in cases where the family has a genetic disease associated with gender (for example, hemophilia). Although some clinics do offer gender selection at parental discretion for a fee, it is illegal.

And how is the sex of a child determined during natural conception and what does it depend on? The gender of the child depends on the man. Sperm and egg contain half the set of chromosomes. Female germ cells contain only the X chromosome, while male sex cells contain the X or Y chromosome. If the egg cell is fertilized with sperm X, then a girl will be born, if Y - then a boy.

It is believed that Y's sperm are faster, so on the day of ovulation they will be the first and more likely to have a boy. But the sperm X live longer in the genital tract of a woman, so if intercourse occurred two, three, four days before the release of the egg, then the chances of having a girl are great.

Love positions can also indirectly affect the conception of a child of a certain gender. In the classic pose, when the man is on top, the sperm quickly enter the cervix, and here usually the faster Y (boys) are the first. When a woman is on top, the sperm path will be longer and the chances of fertilizing an egg are increased for sperm X (female).

Do not place high hopes on planning the gender of the child, all methods are more assumptions than truth. Enjoy your baby and love him regardless of gender.

The birth of a long-awaited heir or a little princess is possible! Modern medicine allows you to find out the sex of the unborn child at the initial stage of embryo formation. In Vitro Fertilization has long gone beyond the scope of standard protocols, so couples can count on not only a successful conception, but also the birth of an absolutely healthy baby. So, there are several auxiliary procedures that allow you to identify the gender and health level of the future baby (this is IVF PIXY, ICSI, pre-implantation diagnostics, etc.).

What determines the gender of a new person?

The lunar or eastern calendar, Tarot cards, compatibility charts are unlikely to be able to predict with one hundred percent probability who will be born to a particular couple. And the fact that a special diet affects the sex of a baby is also an unsubstantiated myth. To understand the principle of the formation of a set of chromosomes, it is worth returning to the school genetics course.

So, each cell has a nucleus that stores a unique genetic code. He is responsible for hair color, skin tone and eyes, body proportions, etc. Moreover, the gene set in both sexes is different.

Gamete contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, 22 of them are similar (designated XX). But the structure of the latter is formed depending on gender: for men it is XY, for women - XX. Only one type of cells in the human body has an unpaired set of chromosomes: we are talking about germ cells. When combined, they form full-fledged genetic chains, thanks to which unique and inimitable creatures - new people - are born. By the way, the female egg always carries a set of chromosomes XX, but the male sperm contains the same 23 chromosomes, but what the last one will be is never known. Therefore, if an egg cell is fertilized by a sperm with a set of XX, then a girl will be born. But the male reproductive cell containing the Y chromosome will give a chance for the birth of a boy.

Sperm with different genetic codes have significant differences in behavior. So, a cell with a set of XX is distinguished by its endurance: it is able to live in a woman's body for quite a long time. However, at the same time, the speed characteristics suffer: the XX-spermatozoon gets to the place of meeting with the egg for a long time. In the case of typing XY, the opposite is true. Such a cell has a high movement speed, but low survivability. This is the secret of choosing the sex of the future baby.

How to plan in vivo?

There are three factors that can affect the birth of a child of the gender that future parents dream of. Including:

• Time of conception. This method will require auxiliary procedures. So, a woman needs to track the growth and maturation of follicles using ultrasound in order to know the exact time of the onset of ovulation. Sperm in a woman's body can live for about 5-7 days. If intercourse occurs on the eve of ovulation or exactly on this day, there is a high probability of conceiving a boy (XY sperm will reach the egg faster than XX). If a couple dreams of a little princess, then intercourse should take place 4-6 days before ovulation. Then the most tenacious cells with a set of XX chromosomes will remain in the body.
• Pose during intercourse. The shorter the distance that sperm needs to travel, the more likely it is to conceive a boy. In this case, deep penetration positions are preferred, since the XY cells will quickly and easily reach the target.
• Sexual activity of partners. The more often sexual intercourse is performed, the more chances of conceiving a boy, since there is a high probability of "getting" exactly on the day of ovulation.

However, it is impossible to accurately predict the outcome of events. If a couple dreams of a child of a certain gender, only pre-implantation diagnostics can give an absolute guarantee. It is carried out in the IVF protocol at the stage of growing the embryo. The specialist removes a part of the embryo, then examines it for the presence of hereditary diseases, identifies the genetic set. As a result, the embryo is transferred to the uterus, which is suitable for future parents in all respects. The price of IVF PIXY, as well as the cost of the protocol with pre-implantation diagnosis in our clinic, is available for most patients.