Gender Selection? Does it work?

[J1379]

Okay...so my 2nd post here today.  I have to confess that one of the major reasons that I am starting to chart for the first time when TTC #3 is that I have two boys and would really like to try for a girl.  Not that I wouldn't be in love with another boy - but a girl would certainly round out the family nicely since this will likely be our last child.  For those who did chart and attempt the gender selection/Shettles method - was it successful?  Thoughts on this?

TIA!

[Jaimee]

We attempted for a girl using the Shettles method for a few months and never conceived.  We gave up and just DTD every day for a couple weeks prior to and well past suspected O (my chart was a bit ambiguous that cycle) and ended up with a girl anyway.  I've heard that the O+1 method has a slightly better success rate for girls, but that's giving you even less chances at conception.  There are also foods that supposedly help with gender selection.  But in the end, you might have to balance how soon you'd like to conceive with how badly you'd like to attempt gender selection, especially considering that the odds appear to only increase by about 2% at best.  Check out http://www.in-gender.com/

[dogmom327]

It worked for us but not because we were trying to do it that way.  With DS, I ovulated early and we only were able to DTD on the O day and the next day.  With DD, we weren't trying and I know for a fact she was conceived DTD 4 days prior to ovulation.

[J1379]

Thanks ladies.  Wow - 2% success rate...that's it?  So, basically its exactly what I thought...we'll give it a go, but not really expect anything.  Jaimee you are very right...it is a matter of balancing conceiving with trying for gender and let's face it - what is most important to me is conceiving a new and beautiful life.  Gender is just an aside and once that baby is conceived and living within me I couldn't care less whether its a boy or a girl!

[LionessMom]

they say it is diet that can affect gender. check out ingender.com

[dejagerw]

We didn't intentionally use the Shettles method... but looking at my chart, I should have conceived a girl. I did not. Overall I'd say any method you try to conceive a particular sex will work about 50% of the time ;)

[Mulvah]

I third the recommendation of checking out in-gender.com; there are some things you can do in an attempt to increase your odds (diet, timing, etc.).  Just so you're aware, you can still attempt it, but the Shettles method has long been debunked.  I haven't attempted natural (or high tech) gender selection, so I can't speak to my own personal experience.

[Stav75]

Hi to all, i desperately wanted a girl after having 2 boys, after a lot of research i concluded to timing!!  No diets, no temp checking...just timing!!   Just charted my cycles for a few months and then worked out my SAFE girl days...!!!\

Stav :)

[Holly555]

Has anyone used any of the gender selection products out there? My husband an i have two gorgeous boys and we would love to add a daughter to our family. Of course we know having a healthy baby is what matters most and we honestly would not be disappointed if we had another little boy it's juts we thought we might give some of these products a go to see if we can influence nature a bit. Anyways we came across a pretty good site www.conceiveagirl.net, and some really crappy ones, and i was going to purchase one of the recommended products but i thought I'd see if i can find any non-biased reviews from people who may have tried them? Has anyone used these products? if so, have you had any success??

[aHikaru]

I know a more acidic environment is less suitable for male sperm, so I do think those that try for boys and get girls may just have acidic CF and

those that try for boys and always get girls, I assume that the Partner's sperm just has less boys.

So, at the end of the day, a "method" won't really work because there are tons of other factors that aren't addressed because they can not be altered.