We advise caution when considering "expert" advice found online regarding gender selection methods. The reality is that most of these methods are ineffective, and those that may work offer very low reliability. Currently, there are only two techniques that reliably influence gender: preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and an experimental sperm-sorting technique called Microsort™. However, Microsort was not approved by the FDA after clinical trials and is no longer available in the U.S. This leaves IVF with PGD as the only reliable method for gender selection.
Dr. Gleicher explains why the IVF+PGD used at CHR is the most accurate gender selection method.
In gender selection using IVF and PGD, embryos are created from the couple's eggs and sperm in a controlled environment. This allows embryologists to determine the gender of the embryos and select which ones will be used to establish a pregnancy. The process begins with fertilization outside the body, after which the embryos are carefully monitored as they develop.
On the third day after fertilization, when the embryos have reached 6 – 8 cells, one cell is removed for chromosomal analysis. This process does not significantly affect the embryo's ability to grow and develop. The chromosomal analysis reveals whether the embryo is male or female, and only embryos of the desired gender are transferred to the uterus to establish a pregnancy. PGD with IVF is the most reliable method for gender selection, offering nearly 100% accuracy, although technical errors can still occur.
Another method for gender selection was Microsort, developed by the Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax, VA. Unfortunately, this technique is no longer available for clinical use. Microsort works by sorting sperm into X-bearing (for female) and Y-bearing (for male) sperm, allowing only the sperm carrying the chromosome for the desired gender to fertilize the eggs.
During its initial clinical trial, Microsort improved the chances of selecting a female child to approximately 90%, while the chance for a male child was slightly lower at around 85%. However, after an extended review period, the FDA did not grant approval for Microsort to be used clinically. As of March 2012, Microsort is no longer available in the United States, making IVF combined with PGD the only reliable method for gender selection currently available.
CHR is a world-renowned fertility center in New York, NY. Although CHR performs a significant number of IVF+PGD gender selection cycles each year, unlike many "gender selection clinics" that only perform gender selection procedures, CHR's main focus is providing the most advanced fertility treatments to patients with complicated cases of infertility while pursuing important clinical research in this area. The same dedication to the most advanced care personalized to the medical needs of each patient applies to gender selection treatments performed at our center.
The Center for Human Reproduction has significant experience in gender selection using IVF and PGD, pioneering the practice after the Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) approved elective gender selection for nonmedical reasons in principle. Since then, we have performed numerous gender selection cycles over nearly two decades. The United States is one of the few countries that allows gender selection for both medical reasons and family balancing, attracting couples from around the world who seek to complete their families or avoid gender-specific genetic diseases. CHR has become a leading U.S. center for gender selection, with many international patients choosing our services. Our experience with both U.S. and international patients has enabled us to create personalized treatment protocols and work with local IVF centers when possible, minimizing the time patients need to spend in New York City while maintaining our high success rates.
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