Many families who already have a child of one gender often wish to have another child of the opposite gender and seek a natural way to choose baby’s gender. Some want a son, others want a daughter. While medical technology can help, it can be costly. Therefore, many turn to natural tips for choosing their baby’s gender. Curious about what methods exist?
What determines a baby’s gender?
As you may know, whether the baby is a boy or girl depends on the chromosomes in the father’s sperm and the mother’s egg.
- The father’s sperm carries two types of sex chromosomes: X and Y.
- The mother’s egg carries only one type: X.
When fertilization happens, chromosomes pair up in two possible ways:
- XX = girl (X sperm + X egg)
- XY = boy (Y sperm + X egg)
Naturally, the father produces almost equal amounts of X and Y sperm. However, these two types of sperm have different characteristics:
- X sperm (female-determining): larger head, heavier body, swims slower, very resilient, and better able to survive acidic environments.
- Y sperm (male-determining): smaller head, lighter body, swims faster, very resilient, and better able to survive alkaline environments.
These differences form the basis of natural gender selection methods, which use timing and vaginal environment to increase the chances of the desired sperm fertilizing the egg successfully.
Natural Methods to Choose Your Baby’s Gender
1. Choosing Gender Through Timing of Intercourse (Shettles Method)
The Shettles Method is based on timing intercourse around the woman’s menstrual cycle, considering factors such as timing, depth of penetration, and female orgasm to increase the chances of conceiving a boy or girl.
The theory explains that Y-chromosome sperm (for boys) swim faster but have shorter lifespans, while X-chromosome sperm (for girls) swim slower but survive longer. Therefore:
- If you want a boy, have intercourse as close as possible to ovulation.
- If you want a girl, have intercourse 2-3 days before ovulation.
Although there is no solid scientific proof guaranteeing success, couples interested can try this method as it poses no harm.
How to Increase Chances of Having a Girl? Natural Way to Choose Baby’s Gender
- Have intercourse 2-3 days before ovulation (ovulation occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, including 5 days before and the day of ovulation). There is no need to avoid intercourse at other times.
- About 1 hour before intercourse, rinse the vagina with mildly acidic water made by mixing 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 liter of clean water.
- The woman should avoid climaxing before the man, or may climax after the man ejaculates, to prevent alkaline mucus formation in the vagina.
- The man should ejaculate with shallow penetration so the sperm swims in the acidic vaginal environment toward the cervix.
- Avoid abstaining from intercourse except during the 2-3 days before ovulation.
How to Increase Chances of Having a Boy
- Have intercourse as close to ovulation as possible. About 1 hour before intercourse, rinse the vagina with a bicarbonate soda solution (available at pharmacies) by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 liter of clean water.
- The woman should try to climax before or simultaneously with the man to stimulate the release of alkaline mucus during orgasm.
- The man should penetrate as deeply as possible to deposit sperm directly near the cervix.
- Avoid intercourse until ovulation day.
Here’s the English translation for the natural gender selection method through diet:
2. Choosing Baby’s Gender Through Diet
This method is based on Dr. Stoloski’s theory that certain foods can influence the vaginal environment’s acidity or alkalinity, which may increase the chances of conceiving a boy or a girl. Here are the recommendations:
Foods to Eat for Having a Girl
If you want a daughter, eat foods low in potassium such as:
- Starches
- Milk
- Eggs
- Leafy green vegetables
- Frozen vegetables
- Fresh fruits (except pineapple)
- Dried fruits
- Unsalted butter
Avoid salty foods, tea, coffee, salted butter, fresh fruit juices, and grape wine.
For best results, follow this diet for at least two and a half months before trying to conceive. Use contraception during this period.
Foods to Eat for Having a Boy
For a son, eat foods high in potassium and salty foods such as:
- Nuts
- Red meat
- Sausages
- All types of fish
- Fresh (not frozen) vegetables
- Bananas
- Potatoes
- Dried fruits like raisins, prunes, chestnuts, dates, and jams
- Olive fruits and preserves
- Melons
- Bread without milk
- Tea, coffee, and alcoholic sodas
Avoid foods high in calcium such as milk and dairy products (cheese, yogurt), milk-based bread, cocoa, chocolate, mustard, and calcium-rich vegetables such as lettuce, fresh cabbage or cauliflower, and morning glory.
Best Sex Positions for Having a Boy or Girl
Want a girl? Try the missionary position — is it true?
The missionary position is one of the most classic and popular sex positions. It is believed to increase the chances of pregnancy because the sperm is released close to the cervix, and gravity helps sperm swim toward the egg more easily.
Want a boy? Try standing position — is it true?
The theory behind the standing position increasing the chance of having a boy comes from the idea that gravity will help the faster, smaller Y-chromosome sperm reach the egg more quickly.
But in reality, there is no scientific evidence that sex positions can increase the chances of having a boy or girl.
The main factor determining a baby’s gender is the chromosome in the sperm that fertilizes the egg, as explained earlier. Sexual positions have very little effect on natural gender selection.
While natural tips for gender selection may slightly increase chances, none guarantee 100% success. The most important thing is family planning — preparing your body and mind, taking care of your health, so you’re ready for pregnancy and having a healthy baby in the future.
Originally published from theAsianparent Thailand
