Gender Selection (Sex Selection) at WVFC
Gender selection also known as "Sex Selection" and “Family Balancing” has become a popular request from couples who want to choose the sex of their children. Plenty of information about gender selection methods can be found on the Internet and it is advised to be cautious. Unfortunately, not all the information is accurate and some of the methods described have not been validated or proven effective. At WVFC we use proven techniques like pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) and Microsort® sperm preparation for sex selection.
Gender Selection with PGS requires In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to be performed for the creation of embryos. When the created embryos are three days old one cell is removed from each embryo (biopsy). These cells undergo testing to determine each embryo’s gender (sex). One or two embryos of the desired sex are then transferred to the uterus (womb). PGS is virtually 100% effective in identifying the sex of embryos.
Microsort® sperm preparation is a complex laboratory procedure in which sperm is sorted (separated) into male and female sperm. The sorted sperm of the requested sex is then used for intrauterine insemination or In Vitro Fertilization. Currently, MicroSort® sperm sorting technology improves the chance of a female pregnancy to 92 %, and for a male pregnancy to 81 %. Additional information about this sperm sorting technology can be found at its official website: http://www.microsort.net.
Occasionally, In Vitro Fertilization is performed using sperm sorted with the MicroSort® procedure. The Microsort® sorted sperm is used to increase the number of embryos of the preferred sex that are made. When PGS is performed, more embryos of the preferred sex will be identified. This results in a larger pool of embryos of the preferred sex to choose from for the embryo transfer.
For further information about Gender Selection at our fertility center, please contact us.
Last updated:
August 13, 2009
Reviewed by Dr. Vladimir Troche and his medical staff