Choosing the gender of your baby is a major decision for many parents. There are a few different options available for gender selection, ranging from less expensive at-home methods to pricey medical procedures. So how much does it really cost to pick the gender of your baby?
At-Home Gender Selection Methods
Some of the most affordable options for trying to choose your baby’s gender involve timing intercourse and modifying your diet. These methods can cost little to nothing, but have not been scientifically proven to dramatically increase the chances of conceiving a boy or girl.
Timing Intercourse
One popular at-home method is timing intercourse around ovulation for the best chances of conceiving a boy or girl. The theory is that Y sperm (boy) swim faster but die sooner, while X sperm (girl) swim slower but live longer. So if you want a boy, you should have sex as close to ovulation as possible. For a girl, you should have sex 2-4 days before ovulation.
Trying to time intercourse costs nothing. But it can be difficult to accurately predict and detect ovulation, making the success rates lower for this method.
Diet Modification
Making changes to your diet and nutrient intake is another at-home method for gender selection. The theory is that a healthier diet with certain supplements can favor one gender over the other. For example, getting more calcium and magnesium may increase your chances of having a girl, while eating more potassium and sodium could help for having a boy.
Tweaking your diet is relatively inexpensive. It mainly involves adjusting the foods you already eat and taking over-the-counter supplements. Costs can range from $50-100 per month.
Medical Gender Selection Methods
More reliable but pricier options for gender selection utilize medical techniques and procedures. These include sperm sorting, IVF with PGT, and MicroSort.
Sperm Sorting
Sperm sorting or selection is the most common medically-assisted method for choosing gender. It involves taking a sperm sample and using a dye to separate X and Y sperm. The desired sperm are then used for artificial insemination or IVF.
Each sperm sorting cycle ranges from $2,000-$4,000 plus additional costs for the artificial insemination or IVF procedure. Most couples need 2-3 cycles for success, so total costs for sperm sorting can be $6,000-$12,000 on average.
IVF with PGT
In vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is over 90% accurate for selecting gender. After egg retrieval, the embryos undergo genetic screening. Only embryos of the desired gender are transferred back to the uterus.
A single cycle of IVF with PGT costs $15,000-$25,000 on average. Most couples need 2-3 cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy, putting total costs between $30,000-$75,000.
MicroSort
MicroSort involves staining sperm samples and then using a laser to sort by X and Y chromosomes. The sorted sperm is used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) to conceive the chosen gender.
MicroSort has a lower success rate than other medical options. Each cycle costs around $3,000-$4,000, with 2-3 cycles usually needed. So total costs end up being $6,000-$12,000.
How Success Rates Compare
In addition to varying costs, the different gender selection methods also have different success rates. The at-home options have not been scientifically proven, so their success claims should be taken lightly. For the medical options, IVF with PGT has the highest success rate, followed by sperm sorting and MicroSort.
| Method | Reported Success Rate |
|---|---|
| Timing Intercourse | 50-60% for boy or girl |
| Diet Modification | 60-70% for boy or girl |
| Sperm Sorting | 75-85% for chosen gender |
| IVF with PGT | 90-95% for chosen gender |
| MicroSort | 70-75% for chosen gender |
Ethical Concerns
It’s important to note that gender selection for non-medical reasons remains controversial. Some of the concerns include:
- Gender discrimination or selecting against girls
- Potential psychological impact on “selected” child
- Disrupting natural gender ratios
- Reinforcing gender stereotypes
- Ethical issues with discarding healthy embryos of undesired gender
The medical ethics are still debated, so couples should carefully consider these concerns before choosing gender selection.
Insurance Coverage
Most insurance plans do not cover elective gender selection procedures. They may cover sex selection in cases of serious genetic disorders linked to one gender. But for family balancing or other non-medical reasons, couples need to pay 100% out-of-pocket.
That’s why gender selection can be very expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars. There are organizations like the Genetics & IVF Institute that work with couples on financing options for sex selection procedures.
The Bottom Line
Selecting your baby’s gender costs anywhere from $0 for at-home methods to over $75,000 for IVF with PGT. Success rates range from 50% to over 90% depending on the technique used.
While an intriguing option for family planning, there are many ethical issues surrounding elective gender selection that couples should consider.
The costs are also prohibitively expensive for many families without insurance coverage. But for couples with their hearts set on a boy or girl, the price may be worth it.
Conclusion
Choosing your baby’s gender is a complex and highly personal decision. While medical procedures like MicroSort and IVF with PGT are effective, they carry a hefty price tag. Low cost at-home methods may seem tempting, but lack scientific proof. At the end of the day, couples need to weigh up the financial and ethical considerations and decide what’s right for their family.