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DIY methods of determining the sex of the baby
We want to round off this topic by touching upon the promoted methods of baby sex determination that the woman can do herself.
Perhaps the most famous and enduring method is that promoted by Dr Shettles, popularly known as ‘Shettles Method’. In a book first published in 1984, Dr Shettles explained what he claimed to be scientifically researched strategies to maximize the possibilities of getting a baby of the gender you desire.
In summary, those strategies go like this:
Trying for a boy:
- Have sex as close to ovulation as possible. The underlying logic being that the male spermatozoa are smaller and faster but die off more quickly. These will therefore (in theory) tend to swim more quickly and have a better chance of reaching the egg first. However, if ovulation does not occur for a few days (three or more), these will have died off.
- Use mildly alkaline douches before having sex to counter the acidity of the vagina. Acidity tends to favour ‘female’ spermatozoa.
- Endeavour to have an orgasm which promotes release of alkaline chemicals in the genital tract which favour the ‘male’ spermatozoa.
- Abstain from sex for a few days before starting to try since a high sperm count will tend to favour a boy (apparently)
- Ensure as deep a penetration as possible during ejaculation to bypass the ‘hostile’ acidic vaginal canal. Some positions may favour this and Shettles suggested a man behind position for this.
- Man should ideally have a cup of coffee (not decaffeinated) before sex. How this is supposed to help is not made clear.
- Man should have a warm birth just before sex to boost the perkiness of the ‘male’ spermatozoa.
Trying for a girl:
This will involve doing the opposite of the above (obviously). In summary:
- Confine your sex to around 3 days before your projected ovulation date and abstain after that. The longevity of the ‘female’ spermatozoa is supposed to ensure they will be the only ones still around when the egg is eventually released.
- Use acidic douches such as dilute vinegar before sex to increase vaginal acidity which is supposed to favour ‘female’ spermatozoa.
- Woman should suppress orgasm which will favour the ‘male’ spermatozoa.
- Have regular sex and do not abstain for more than a couple of days in the lead up to the period when you will be trying for a baby.
- Shallow penetration at ejaculation will do just fine for a girl as the sperm is maximally exposed to the vaginal acidity thereby favouring the ‘female’ spermatozoa.
Dr Shettles claimed a success rate of around 75%. What do other fertility experts have to say about the Shettles Method? The bottom line is that the claimed results have never been replicated by anybody else and therefore can only be declared as unproven.
There is certainly nothing particularly controversial about the strategies promoted in Shettles Method and certainly nothing that can be said to be potentially harmful. It may also be fun in trying them out, depending on how strongly the parents feel about getting the gender they want. However, solid evidence as to its effectiveness is simply not there.