For as long as we've been making babies, people have been exchanging ideas about how to increase their chances of having either a boy or a girl. You might have hear, for example, that
You're more likely to conceive a boy if...
• You have sex / self-inseminate donors sperm on the day of ovulation, as male sperm are thought to swim faster and reach the egg first
• you reach orgasm before your partner, as this releases an alkaline fluid, thought to be more male-sperm friendly than the v****a's natural acidity
• you have deep penetration during sex, such as from behind (doggie-style)
• your partner or sperm donor has a high sperm count. This is because male sperm are not as strong as female sperm, and so the higher the count, the more chance there is of a male sperm reaching the egg first
• you avoid sex for a week before ovulation and then only have sex once on ovulation day, to keep the sperm count high
• your partner suggested the love-making
• you make love at night
• you make love on odd days of the month
• your partner or sperm donor keeps his genitals cool by wearing boxer shorts and loose-fitting trousers
• you eat salty food, plenty of meat, fish, white flour, pasta, fresh fruit, certain vegetables, but avoid milk and dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheese, nuts, chocolate, shellfish and wholemeal bread.
You're more likely to conceive a girl if...
• You have sex / self-inseminate donor sperm earlier on in your cycle, a few days before your day of ovulation. This is because female sperm are thought to be stronger and therefore last longer than male sperm, who will die off before reaching the egg
• your partner reaches orgasm before you
• you have sex frequently to lower your partner's sperm count, and so increase the chances of the female sperm reaching the egg first
• you keep penetration shallow
• you stop having unprotected sex four to five days before ovulation, to minimise the chances of the male sperm reaching the egg first
• your partner or sperm donor keeps his genitals warm by wearing close-fitting underwear and tight trousers (although this isn't likely to do his general fertility any good!)
• you suggested the love-making
• you make love in the afternoon
• you make love on even days of the month
• you put a wooden spoon under your bed and a pink ribbon under your pillow
• you drink plenty of milk and eat dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, unsalted foods, rice, pasta, certain vegetables, mineral water, limited amounts of meat and potatoes, but avoid salt and any salty foods, wine and beer, fresh fruit, spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms, chocolate, coffee and tea.
Some of these kind of sound like old wives tales to me!
So how about we look at more scientifically based findings, based on research and factual evidence relating to choosing the sex of your baby? This was the best information I could find...
Choosing your baby's sex: what the scientists say
Can we choose the sex of our child?
Yes, choosing the sex of your child is technically possible thanks to advances in fertility treatments that allow doctors to create or identify embryos of a certain sex. But today's sex-selection options aren't equally effective, affordable, or available. In addition, some techniques are unregulated in the UK.
The most accurate sex-selection methods are only allowed in the UK for medical reasons. They involve invasive infertility treatments and fertility drugs with side effects. They can also be very expensive. To use one of these techniques, you'll have to meet strict eligibility requirements. Other techniques are less accurate and only currently available in the UK in clinics which are unregulated.
Alternatively, there are some at-home techniques. These low-tech methods are noninvasive and affordable, and can be done in the privacy of your own home. However, their effectiveness is questionable at best.
Keep in mind that Mother Nature has already tipped the odds a bit in favour of boys in the sex-selection game. According to data released in 2006 from the Office for National Statistics, approximately 1,052 boys are born for every 1,000 girls.
