What are the reasons for using gender selection?
There is a rapidly increasing demand for gender (sex) selection in the U.S. In principle two reasons can be found for this development: As our understanding of genetic diseases increases, and with it our ability to diagnose couples at risk to have affected children, we more frequently use the tool of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to genetically assess embryos prior to their implantation into the uterus. Some genetic diseases are only expressed in males and parents, therefore, at times make a conscious choice to have only female offspring. Others do it simply because they already have multiple children of one gender and would like a child of the opposite gender.

How does the gender selection process work?
In this technique embryos are produced from eggs and sperm of the couple. On the third day, when the embryos have reached approximately 8-cell stage, we take one of the cells off the embryo (this can be done safely), and analyze its chromosomal make up. This then allows us to determine whether the embryo, from which the cell was taken, was female or male. Only embryos of the desired gender are then transferred into the uterus, making this a very reliable technique of sex selection.

How is gender determined?
The sex of a baby is determined at the moment of conception by the chromosomes present in the egg and sperm. Human beings have two "sex" chromosomes: The "X" and "Y" chromosomes. Female eggs contain only X chromosomes but male sperm contains either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome. An embryo is female if an X bearing sperm fertilizes the egg resulting in an "XX" embryo. A male will result if a Y bearing sperm fertilizes the egg resulting in an XY embryo.

How do I know if I qualify?
When gender selection is used to prevent a genetic disease its indication is considered medical. You qualify for gender selection if you are interested for medical reasons. In contrast, if the decision to choose a childs gender is done for family balancing purposes, then the process is considered elective. You qualify for elective gender selection only if you already have one or more children.

Are there any guarantees that it will work?
There are no absolute guarantees, but we do know that PDG maintains the highest success rate being 99% effective.

What options are available for gender selection?
You should know that there are only two techniques available to affect the gender of your children. They are In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with the use of PGD and Sperm sorting for X- (female) or Y- (male). Many charlatans claim to sperm sort but you should know that there is really only one sperm sorting technique that seems to work and that technique is still under investigation. It is called Microsort and is offered by the IVF and Genetics Institute in Fairfax, Virginia under an experimental FDA-study protocol. We are part of the consortium that works with the IVF and Genetics Institute and we, therefore, can offer you Microsort in cooperation with the Institute.

What exactly is MicroSort?
MicroSort is a new scientific method, currently in clinical trial, that increases the chance of a couple having a child of a particular gender. MicroSort is used before conception to separate sperm into those that either primarily produce girls or those that primarily produce boys. For most couples, the sorted sperm sample is then used with simple intrauterine insemination (IUI) to achieve pregnancy. For couples who need additional assistance achieving pregnancy, MicroSort can be used with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Couples using MicroSort for the prevention of X-linked disorders may also consider using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

What is exactly is PGD?
PGD, or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, involves the genetic investigation of early stage embryos, which have been produced through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). PGD allows us to determine the sex of any given embryo (female or male) and the chromosomal make-up (whether the embryo is chromosomally normal, or, for example, has Downs syndrome). In more complicated testing procedures, it is possible to find out if embryos are affected by such diseases as Tay-Sachs disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell disease, Huntingtons Chorea disease, Cooley Anemia, as well as many other genetically inherited diseases. PGD is also used in non-medically related gender selection. In contrast to other available gender selection techniques, which are largely based on sperm sorting (X- vs. Y-carrying sperm), PGD is virtually always accurate.

What exactly is IVF?
In IVF, or In-vitro Fertilization, eggs are obtained from the female, after her ovaries have been stimulated with infertility drugs through an egg retrieval. While the patient is sedated for five to ten minutes, under ultrasound control, a needle is inserted into the ovaries and eggs are aspirated. These eggs are then fertilized in the laboratory (in-vitro) with the partner's sperm and the ensuing embryos are watched for three to six days while they start dividing. On the third day, when the better embryos have reached eight-cell stage, most patients undergo an embryo transfer. With a tiny catheter, usually unperceivable to the patient, embryos are placed into the uterine cavity. A pregnancy test (hCg) is administered approximately ten days later to determine if our patient has become pregnant.

Eligibility for non-medical reasons?
Please note, that we follow the ethics opinion of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in offering Gender selection for non-medical reasons in only carefully selected cases. Gender selection for non-medical reasons is offered only for the purpose of family balancing, and is not offered for a first pregnancy.

Will freezing damage sperm?
Frozen sperm has been used successfully for insemination and pregnancy attainment for many years. Cryoprotectants are normally added to the semen sample to protect the cells during the freezing process; however, freezing and thawing does reduce the number of viable sperm cells available for insemination.

Do the Do-It-Yourself Sex Selection Kits really work?
There is no scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of home kits.

What if I live outside the United States?
No matter where in the world you reside, we can assist you with your gender selection needs.

When can I get started?
If you are currently pregnant, you will need to wait three months, preferably six months, after your delivery to begin our Family Balancing Treatment. The first step is easy and can be completed now; simply complete the Gender Selection E-Mail Consultation Form to determine if you qualify for Gender Selection.