Many couples today are exploring the possibility of selecting sex for their future child, whether to achieve family balance or to prevent sex-linked genetic disorders. Advances in fertility treatments, especially sex-selective IVF, now make it possible to know and choose the biological gender of a baby before pregnancy begins. In this article, we will explain how does sex selection work, what sex-selective IVF involves, and how families can confidently plan their next child. By the end, you’ll understand whether you can pick the sex of your baby with IVF and how this modern approach can help guide your family planning decisions.
What Is Gender Selection?
Gender selection—also called sex selection, selecting sex, or gender selection IVF—refers to the process of determining or choosing the biological sex of a baby before pregnancy begins. While the idea of influencing a baby’s gender has existed for centuries, modern reproductive medicine has made it scientifically possible through advanced genetic testing with IVF.
In natural conception, a baby’s sex is determined when a sperm fertilizes an egg. The egg always carries an X chromosome, while the sperm carries either X (female) or Y (male). If the sperm carrying an X chromosome fertilizes the egg, the result is a girl (XX); if it carries a Y chromosome, the result is a boy (XY).
In IVF-based gender selection, embryos created in the lab can be genetically screened before transfer. Using IVF gender selection with PGD—the same precise method used at VitaLife and other advanced fertility centers—specialists analyze a few cells from each embryo to identify whether it carries XX or XY chromosomes. Only embryos of the desired sex are then selected for transfer, offering a safe and scientifically accurate way to plan your family. This is how sex selection works in practice, giving parents control over gender choosing with IVF.
How Does Gender Selection Work in IVF?
Choosing your baby’s gender isn’t just a modern curiosity—it’s a scientific possibility made real by advances in reproductive genetics. Through IVF with PGD, intended parents can now identify the biological sex of embryos with remarkable precision before pregnancy begins.
Here’s how the process works step by step:
IVF and Embryo Creation
The process begins with IVF, where eggs are retrieved from the mother (or egg donor) and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. Over several days, these fertilized eggs develop into embryos.
Genetic Testing with PGD
Once the embryos reach a suitable stage of development, a few cells are gently removed from each one. These cells are analyzed through PGD, a highly accurate genetic testing method that examines the chromosomes of each embryo. This test reveals not only the genetic health of the embryo but also its sex chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male).
At VitaLife, this same PGD technology is routinely used to support couples seeking gender selection for family balancing or to avoid sex-linked genetic conditions. This process answers the common question: “can you pick the sex of your baby with IVF?
Selecting and Transferring the Embryo
After testing, the healthiest embryos of the desired sex are identified. A fertility specialist then selects the most viable one and transfers it into the uterus, where it can implant and grow naturally—just like any other pregnancy.
Accuracy and Success Rate
When performed by experienced embryologists, PGD offers up to 99% accuracy in determining an embryo’s sex. While overall pregnancy success depends on factors like maternal age and embryo quality, this level of genetic certainty allows parents to plan their family with confidence and peace of mind. Sex-selective IVF provides one of the highest accuracies in gender choosing available today.
Why Do People Choose Gender Selection?
One of the main reasons couples consider IVF gender selection is to prevent sex-linked genetic disorders. Some conditions, such as hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or congenital night blindness, primarily affect one sex. Parents who are carriers or have a family history of these disorders may choose the gender of their child to reduce the risk of passing on these conditions. By using IVF with PGD, families can accurately identify the sex of embryos before implantation, offering a proactive way to protect their child’s health.
Another common reason is family balancing. Many parents want to achieve a desired mix of boys and girls in their family or wish to have only daughters or sons. Gender selection provides certainty, allowing parents to plan their family composition without relying on chance.
Beyond medical reasons, some parents simply prefer to know the sex of their baby in advance. This knowledge can help with practical preparations, from decorating the nursery to organizing baby essentials, and can make the journey toward parenthood feel more organized and less stressful. This explains why gender choosing and selecting sex remain a popular option for many familie
How Accurate Is IVF Gender Selection?
Gender selection through IVF is an exceptionally accurate process, especially when using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). During IVF, embryos are created in a laboratory and allowed to develop for several days. A few cells are then carefully taken from each embryo and analyzed to determine the sex, ensuring that only embryos of the desired gender are selected for implantation. When people ask “how accurate is gender selection?” the answer is that PGD can achieve over 99% success, making IVF gender selection the most reliable method available.
PGD not only confirms the embryo’s sex but also screens for chromosomal abnormalities, giving prospective parents added assurance about the health of their future child. As a result, IVF with PGD for gender selection is considered both safe and highly effective, providing families confidence that their baby will be the sex they planned while maintaining the highest standards of genetic screening.
Countries Where Gender Selection IVF Is Legal
The legal status of gender selection varies depending on the country. While some countries allow gender selection for both medical reasons and family balancing, others restrict it strictly to medical purposes. For a detailed guide on which countries currently permit gender selection IVF, you can read our full article on Countries Where Gender Selection IVF Is Legal.
Conclusion
Gender selection through IVF with PGD provides a safe and scientifically proven way for parents to choose the biological sex of their child. This method allows for a high level of accuracy—over 99%—ensuring that families can achieve their goals, whether for medical reasons, such as preventing sex-linked genetic disorders, or for personal and family-balancing preferences.
With advanced genetic testing and careful embryo selection, prospective parents can approach gender selection with confidence, knowing that the process is both effective and ethically managed, helping them plan their family thoughtfully and securely.
FAQ
What is sex selective IVF?
Sex-selective IVF is a fertility procedure that allows parents to choose the biological sex of their baby using IVF combined with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).
How does sex selection work?
How does sex selection work? During IVF, embryos are created in the lab and tested with PGD to identify their sex chromosomes. Only embryos of the desired sex are selected for implantation.
Can you pick the sex of your baby with IVF?
Yes, using IVF with PGD, parents can reliably choose the sex of their baby, achieving success rates of over 99%.
Is gender choosing accurate with IVF?
Yes, IVF gender selection using PGD is highly accurate, far exceeding natural or old-fashioned methods, making it the preferred technique for families seeking selecting sex or family balancing.
Why do people choose gender selection?
Families may choose gender selection to prevent sex-linked genetic disorders, achieve family balance, or simply plan and prepare for their baby in advance.