Genetics and Gender
Peeing in a cup of Drano, wedding rings on strings, carrying high versus carrying low — there are a veritable cornucopia of non-scientific ways to predict the sex of a baby. Though many swear by them, none has been proven to be more than fifty percent accurate. Of course, you could just look at the ultrasound, though this is more accurate with boys than with girls. Amniocentesis is the only other scientific method to determine the sex of a fetus, but like ultrasounds, doctors won't do them unless they are necessary for medical reasons. For those who aren't content with merely knowing if they're having a boy or a girl, there are a few ways to try stacking the odds.
Shettle's method is based on theories about differences in speed in female and male sperm; MicroSort is a more scientific process in which sperm are dyed according to gender. The only foolproof method appears to be selecting embryos according to gender during IVF. However, IVF is costly and risky and not done for the sole sake of gender selection. Many, like Columbia University's Dr. Mark Sauer, also consider gender selection unethical. Whatever you chose to put your faith in, knock yourself out (but be careful with the Drano).
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