Can you choose the gender of your baby? Natural vs. Technology-based methods to choose the baby's gender

The question of wanting to choose the gender of your baby is one that arises frequently. Some families desire a daughter, while others want a son. As the birth rate in Thailand declines, with many families opting to have only one child, the desire for a specific gender has increased. This creates expectations for the baby to be the preferred gender. Advice on this matter varies depending on the source of information. There are both natural methods for gender selection and, in today's world, advanced technologies available for gender selection. Which method is actually possible?

In addition to emotional desires, gender selection can be very important in cases where parents or ancestors have certain genetic disorders that can be passed on to a specific gender, such as Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia, G6PD blood disorder, certain types of Down syndrome, or certain skin disorders like Sex-linked Ichthyosis. If parents or family members (such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles) have a history of these conditions, there is a higher chance that a son could inherit the condition, while a daughter would not. This is a key reason why some families need to avoid having a son.

Therefore, gender selection is extremely important in these cases. The recommended approach involves medical intervention, using technologies like IVF/ICSI to assist in reproduction, along with screening embryos using NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) for chromosomal abnormalities before transferring the embryo into the uterus. It is crucial to prioritize the health and safety of the child over societal trends when considering gender selection.

Inside the cells of the human body, there are 23 pairs or 46 chromosomes. Among these, 22 pairs or 44 chromosomes are responsible for determining various physical traits such as facial features, height, hair color, skin color, etc. The remaining 1 pair or 2 chromosomes are sex chromosomes, which determine the sex of the baby.

The mother carries XX sex chromosomes, while the father carries XY sex chromosomes. This means that the father's sperm contains two types of sperm: one with an X chromosome that determines a female offspring, and one with a Y chromosome that determines a male offspring. The mother's egg cell contains only the X chromosome. During the process of reproduction, the number of chromosomes is halved, so each parent contributes half of the genetic material. When the sperm and egg meet during fertilization, the baby inherits one chromosome from each parent. Therefore, the chance of having a son or daughter in nature is approximately 50% each. If the sperm carrying the X chromosome fertilizes the egg, the baby will be a girl, but if the sperm carrying the Y chromosome fertilizes the egg, the baby will be a boy.

• If the egg from the mother (22 + X) combines with the sperm from the father that has an X chromosome (22 + X), the resulting child will be a daughter, with 44 chromosomes (or 22 pairs) + XX."

• If the egg from the mother (22 + X) combines with the sperm from the father that has a Y chromosome (22 + Y), the resulting child will be a son, with 44 chromosomes (or 22 pairs) + XY.

If you want to choose your baby's gender through various methods, whether it's based on beliefs such as having intercourse in different positions, performing rituals, or even using medical technology like IVF with embryo chromosomal screening before embryo transfer, there is still no method that guarantees a 100% success rate. However, scientific methods offer the highest probability of success, up to 98.99%.

Currently, in Thailand, it is still illegal to choose the gender of a baby as it violates the Medical Facility Act B.E. 2541 and the Medical Council's regulations regarding standards for assisted reproductive technology services. The regulations state that "genetic disease diagnosis of embryos before being transferred into the uterus can only be done for necessary medical reasons and must not be done for gender selection. The medical facility and the healthcare providers must receive certification from the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists before performing such procedures.

Although choosing a baby's gender is currently illegal in the country, there is still information about natural methods and medical technology methods for gender selection. Many people still wonder which methods can actually help choose the baby's gender. Let's discuss the two main methods of gender selection:

1. Natural methods of gender selection

2. Medical technology methods for gender selection.

Method 1: Food Selection
Want a Son: You should eat foods high in sodium and potassium, such as beans, fresh or undercooked meat, all types of fish, sausages, some vegetables that aren't refrigerated (except certain forbidden vegetables), potatoes, bananas, sweets, jams, dried fruits like prunes, raisins, dates, chestnuts, preserved fruits, olives, melons, and bread without milk, including tea and coffee.

Foods to avoid include those high in calcium, such as milk and dairy products (cheese, yogurt), milk-based bread, cocoa, chocolate, mustard, fresh cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, and water spinach.

Want a Daughter: Eat foods low in potassium, such as carbohydrates, milk, eggs, green vegetables, fresh fruits (except pineapples), and non-salty butter.

Foods to avoid include salty foods, tea, coffee, salted butter, and wine.

Method 2: Timing of Intercourse
Want a Son: Have intercourse on the day of ovulation, as the vaginal environment becomes more alkaline, making the Y sperm move faster and fertilize the egg.

Want a Daughter: Have intercourse 2-3 days before ovulation, as the X sperm can survive better in the more alkaline environment once ovulation occurs.

Method 3: Frequency of Intercourse
Want a Son: You should avoid having intercourse too frequently. The less often you have sex, the higher the sperm count of Y sperm will be. If possible, refrain from ejaculation for at least 5 days before intercourse to increase the chances of having a son.

Want a Daughter: Frequent intercourse will reduce the number of Y sperm, making it easier for X sperm to fertilize the egg and increasing the chances of having a daughter.

However, these are just tips and predictions, not guaranteed methods for ensuring the desired gender of the baby.

Method 4: Orgasm
There are cultural beliefs related to achieving the desired gender based on reaching orgasm.

Want a Son: If you want a son, the belief is that both the male and female should reach orgasm simultaneously.

Want a Daughter: If you want a daughter, the belief is that the male should reach orgasm before the female.

Again, these are merely guidelines and predictions, and there's no guarantee that following them will result in the desired gender.

Selecting a baby's gender through reproductive technology has become a popular method nowadays. The medical methods for gender selection include:

1. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
In the case of gender determination through IUI treatment, it is not possible to test the sperm's chromosomes. The process only allows for the screening of sperm before injecting it into the uterus, such as checking for good shape, motility rate, and survival rate. Since IUI is similar to natural intercourse, the gender outcome is still random, with a 50/50 chance of having a boy or a girl. Some believe that sperm with a larger head might lead to a male baby, but this is purely a personal belief. The cost is approximately 20,000 Baht.

2. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
IVF/ICSI involves fertilizing the egg and sperm outside the body to form an embryo. During this process, the placenta cells are extracted and tested for chromosomes to check for genetic conditions, especially when there are indicators such as a family history of genetic diseases. This helps reduce the risk of embryo implantation failure, miscarriage in the first trimester, or chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancy, which can lead to birth defects. The Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) test can analyze all 23 chromosomes at once with high accuracy and a low false-positive rate compared to other methods. Additionally, NGS can also determine the gender of the embryo. The cost of this procedure is around 300,000 - 400,000 Baht.

All of these are just incidental results that allow you to know the baby's gender. However, if you want to specifically choose the gender without any genetic issues, it is still not possible because it is against the law in Thailand.

As mentioned above, choosing the sex of a child through natural methods is still just a belief and a form of assistance, and there is no guarantee that it will result in the desired sex 100%. Only in-vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with chromosomal screening of embryos can offer up to 98.5% accuracy in determining the sex of the child. However, this practice is still illegal in Thailand. In some families, if parents are concerned or have a family history of genetic diseases that require choosing the sex of the child, they can consult a doctor to explore suitable treatment options for their situation.