Some cultures have favored boys, which has put pressure on would-be mothers to act to ensure a boy. Folktales about how to have a boy are based in cultural superstitions, anecdotal evidence and religious beliefs. Today, there is scientific knowledge and evidence that some of our actions do have an effect upon the gender of our children.
Chromosomes and Gender Science
A baby is formed when the man's sperm finds and fertilizes the woman's egg. Think of the egg as half a human, and the sperm as the other half.
There are 24 chromosomes in an egg, and 24 chromosomes in a sperm; therefore, normal human cells have 48 chromosomes. The X and Y chromosomes determine gender. All normal eggs have one X chromosome. All normal sperm have either one X or one Y chromosome.
When an X sperm fertilizes the egg, the combination XX is made and the baby will be a girl. When a Y sperm fertilizes the egg, the combination XY is made and the baby will be a boy.
Motility, Weakness and Boxer Shorts
Sperm motility refers to how sperm swim. Sperm that swim in a straight line after being released have a chance at fertilizing an egg.
Doctors agree that Y sperm are weaker than the X sperm. Y sperm are smaller and although they seem to swim faster than X sperm, they seem to die off faster, especially in non-optimal conditions.
To be healthy, sperm need to be cooler than normal body temperature; that is why the scrotum hangs below the man's body. The scrotum holds the testicles, and the testicles produce the sperm. Infertility in males is sometimes linked to wearing clothes that keep the testicles too warm.
One method to increase chances of a boy is for the man to wear lightweight boxer shorts, which keep everything cool, instead of cotton underpants.
Shettles Method and Things That May Work
Modern theories regarding how to control the gender of children include:
- Shettles Method suggests making love just before ovulation to try for a boy. Y sperm die off faster than X sperm so they cannot wait as long to find the egg.
- Using the rear-entry method gives the sperm a straight shot to the cervix. Y sperm swim faster than X sperm and race ahead better in this position.
- The Whelan Method recommends taking the woman's temperature every day and charting it. When her basal body temperature goes up it indicates ovulation. According to Whelan, however, the couple can choose to try for a boy four to six days before her temperature rises, or try for a girl just before ovulation. Please note that this is in contradiction to Shettles method.
Superstitions and Gender Selection
- Horoscope aficionados advise would-be parents of boys to make love during the night when there is a quarter moon in the sky.
- The Chinese have an ancient conception chart to determine when a couple should try to ensure a boy.
- Statistically, it seems that more boys are conceived on odd days of the month. This may be complete coincidence, but perhaps would-be parents of boys should try on the odd days of the month.
Doctor Aided Methods
In-Vitro Fertilization is when a doctor removes a woman's eggs, fertilizes them with the man's sperm, then implants the embryos in her uterus. Before implanting the embryos, they can be tested for gender in an attempt to ensure a boy.
The Ericsson method is available in some states. Faster swimming Y sperm are separated from slower swimming X sperm in a thick liquid. For a boy, only the fast swimmers are put in the woman's uterus during artificial insemination.
Microsort is similar to Ericsson, but the Y and X sperm are separated with a dye method.
No method is guaranteed, and would-be patients should discuss their options at length with their physicians.
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