When is Gender Determined? IVF-PGT Explains

2024-06-15 21:35:32，浏览量： 17次

 

For expectant mothers, one of the most concerning topics after conceiving is the gender of the baby, hoping that the baby’s gender matches their expectations. In fact, not only the expectant mothers and fathers are curious about the baby's gender, but also relatives and friends guess whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. Today, let's discuss some knowledge about the gender of the fetus.

 

The gender of the fetus is determined at the moment when the egg and sperm combine. This originates from the differences in male and female chromosomes. The egg from a woman contains only X chromosomes, whereas the sperm from a man contains both X and Y chromosomes. Thus, at fertilization, there are two possibilities: when the X chromosome from the male’s sperm combines with the X chromosome from the female’s egg, the result is XX, which is a girl; when the Y chromosome from the male’s sperm combines with the X chromosome from the female’s egg, the result is XY, which is a boy. Therefore, the gender of the fetus is determined by the male's Y chromosome.

 

After fertilization, the embryo will develop in the uterus. Typically, by 8-10 weeks of development, male fetuses develop testes and begin to secrete androgens, accompanied by the development of the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles, and the external genitalia will develop towards male characteristics. On the other hand, fetuses without testes will develop into female characteristics in the absence of androgens. Consequently, the chances of having a boy or a girl are equal, as the probability of the fetus receiving an X or Y chromosome from the father is the same. This natural balance ensures the equal development of the male and female population.

 

Generally speaking, women can learn the gender of the fetus around 4 months of pregnancy through ultrasound, but this method is not completely reliable. Sometimes, due to the fetus’s position, it might not be possible to see the gender. In our country, it is illegal to determine the gender of the fetus through ultrasound, and doctors will not disclose the results of the check to the expectant mothers. Besides ultrasound, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling can also determine the gender of the fetus. These methods are accurate but come with certain risks, so it is not recommended to undergo these procedures solely to find out the gender of the baby.

 

Instead of focusing on the gender of the fetus, expectant mothers should pay more attention to the health of the baby. With the fast pace of modern society, infertility and advanced maternal age are becoming more common, leading to issues with fertility quality. IVF-PGT technology is gradually entering families with fertility needs, bringing hope to many couples.

 

Dr. Nathan Zhang, a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and founder of IVF USA, explains that Dr. Grifo in the United States successfully completed the world’s first IVF-PGT case in 1992, pioneering the new IVF-PGT technology. This technology greatly reduces the chances of miscarriage and fetal arrest by performing genetic screening on embryos to eliminate the possibility of genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities. Currently, almost all reproductive centers in the United States perform frozen embryo culture and chromosomal screening, with a success rate of over 70% for embryo transfers after screening.

Every baby is a gift from heaven. Gender is not important; high-quality companionship is the key to happiness. IVF USA provides egg freezing, IVF, and third-party reproductive services for those in need. Our services have expanded beyond the United States to include IVF and egg freezing in Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, working closely with top IVF doctors globally. If you need more information about fertility, please consult our professional team, and we will be dedicated to providing assistance. We wish every woman desiring children to have a healthy baby!