There are no guarantees on the sex of your baby when they are conceived. History and research has proven there is a 50% chance of having either a boy or girl.

Stating the obvious aside, a baby’s gender is determined by the father, but the idea of natural gender selection is gaining ground as couples become eager to have a certain gender.

The dad’s sperm is what determines if a boy or girl is conceived. He is the only one who can produce XY chromosomes, and depending on which type of sperm meets the egg first, will determined the gender of the baby.

Despite what medical science has found, there are theories that couples can increase their chance of conceiving a particular gender through body chemistry and time of sex.

The theories are unproven, but some couples have manipulated their body chemistry with diet and exercise to ensure they get a certain gender for their baby.

While we may be quick to judge these couples, the motivating factors can include wanting to have one child of each sex in the family or avoiding the conception of one gender to prevent genetic conditions to be passed down the line.

The motivations can be numerous and as humans, we can be complex in our desires. What’s most important is no matter what the gender outcome is, the child is wanted and accepted and loved, no matter what sex they are.

With those human motivations aside, here are just some of the methods couples are using to increase the gender selection.

Method one: By Manipulating Body Chemistry (acid/alkaline levels)

The bodily cycle of a woman changes the pH levels in her reproductive tract between acidic and alkaline. These pH levels are thought to affect the baby’s gender. Experts believe to conceive a boy, the reproductive tract must be alkaline as the follicular fluid will favour Y sperm. To conceive a girl, the acidic follicular fluid will preference to X sperm.

Conception for a Girl

To change the pH levels to conceive a girl, your diet needs to include higher amounts of magnesium, calcium and acidic foods like corn, meat, beans, fish, plums, coffee, eggs, liver and yoghurt.

You need to avoid alkaline foods like bananas, oranges, potatoes and watermelon.

Taking supplements including calcium, folic acid, magnesium and vitamin C will make cervical mucus acidic and will kill the Y sperm.

Conception for a Boy

In essences it’s the opposite of above. Avoid eating dairy and lower magnesium and calcium supplements.

Increase the diet with vegetables and fresh fruits and eat bananas as they contain potassium which causes and alkaline effect.

Foods that have akalinising effects include figs, cherries, fresh lemons, spelt bread, lentils, avocado, royal jelly, pine nuts, almonds, carrots, red radish, fresh red beets, alfalfa grass, barley grass, sprouted seeds, and wheatgrass.

Dads need to avoid excessive heat around the genitals as this can destroy male sperm faster than female. To do this dads’ should avoid tight fitting undies, saunas and hot tubs.

Method two: Time of Intercourse

Dr Shettles developed a well-known theory (called The Shettles Theory) that Y chromosome sperm (boy sperm) travel faster and have a shorter life than sperm with an X chromosome (girl sperm).

Having sex two to three days prior to ovulation means that by the time a woman ovulates, the boy sperms will have died and the girl sperms will be left to fertilise the egg.

The closer to ovulation sex occurs, will decrease your probability of having a girl and increases the probability of conceiving a boy.

Method Three: It’s all in the position

Sexual position can also affect gender conception. The theory around this method is the distance to the egg and the pH level where the sperm first enter can give an advantage to the different sperm types.

Shallow penetration is needed for a girl as that is where the vagina is more acidic. Girl sperm also have a longer life which means they will carry the distance.

To conceive a boy, deep penetration is needed where the sperm is deposited closer to the cervix opening. ‘Doggy style’ position is said to ensure the sperm is dispersed closer to the cervix (as it’s less acidic and more alkaline), the boy sperm will survive longer, giving it a greater chance of fertilizing the egg.

All the theories are unproven. Some couples claim success to certain methods to get the gender they want. Medical research has found a decrease in boys in western countries over the last few decades, but the odds will always remain the same.

Just enjoy the practice and be grateful that conception is a possibility.

Disclosure: The theories in this post a just theories. Always seek medical advice if you have questions about conception and gender selection.