IVF Sex Selection: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When you think about IVF sex selection, the process of choosing a baby’s gender during in vitro fertilisation using genetic testing. Also known as gender selection IVF, it’s not about choosing between boy or girl for fun—it’s often used to avoid serious genetic disorders or for family balancing. But it’s also one of the most debated topics in modern fertility care. This isn’t magic. It’s science—specifically, a technique called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), a lab procedure that examines embryos for chromosomal traits before implantation. During IVF, eggs are fertilized outside the body, grown into embryos, and then tested. Only embryos with the desired sex chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male) are selected for transfer. This step happens before pregnancy even begins.

It’s not as simple as picking a color. The success of IVF sex selection, the process of choosing a baby’s gender during in vitro fertilisation using genetic testing depends heavily on the overall IVF success rate, the likelihood of achieving a live birth after embryo transfer. If you’re 35 or younger, your chances of having a viable embryo are higher. But if you’re over 40, fewer embryos make it to testing, and even fewer are healthy enough to transfer. That’s why many people who want sex selection also need multiple IVF cycles. And while the accuracy of gender selection is nearly 99% when PGT is done right, the real challenge is getting to that point. Hormone treatments, egg retrieval, embryo development—all of it adds stress, cost, and physical strain. Side effects like bloating, mood swings, and the rare but serious condition OHSS, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, a reaction to fertility drugs that can cause fluid buildup and pain are common. You’re not just choosing a gender—you’re signing up for a full medical journey.

Some people use IVF sex selection to prevent inherited diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which mostly affects boys. Others want to balance their family after having multiple children of one gender. But in many places, including India, it’s legally restricted unless there’s a medical reason. Even then, clinics must follow strict guidelines. The emotional weight of this choice is huge. You’re not just asking, "Will this work?" You’re asking, "Is this right?" And the answers aren’t always clear.

Below, you’ll find real stories and facts about what happens before, during, and after IVF sex selection. From the exact costs involved to how often it leads to a live birth, from the side effects patients actually face to the emotional toll of waiting—this collection gives you the unfiltered details you won’t find on brochures. Whether you’re considering it, just curious, or trying to understand someone else’s journey, you’ll find something here that cuts through the noise.