This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
For centuries, people have been trying to determine the sex of their future babies, with various theories and methods being proposed. However, the question remains: can couples really choose the sex of their baby at conception?
According to the LA Times, in 1959, scientists discovered that men control the sex of a baby since the Y chromosome controls sexual development: XX embryos are female, XY are male.
Today, some couples are turning to natural methods to determine the sex of their baby, such as studying fertility signs and timing intercourse accordingly. Family life nurse Ruth Chepkonga and natural family trainer Grace Njoroge offer trainings that instruct couples on how to identify fertility signs and increase their chances of conceiving a boy or girl.
However, not everyone is convinced that these methods are effective. Health systems executive Junior F. Mukudi says that there are several myths surrounding the choosing of the sex of a baby, and none have proven successful. Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and fertility Specialist Dr. Kireki Omanwa also has doubts about the natural ways, saying that the most viable method is IVF.
IVF involves a biopsy to determine the sex of the embryo, which can be done three to five days after the creation of embryos. The biopsy costs between Sh300,000 and Sh450,000, and the implantation of the frozen embryo costs between Sh200,000 and Sh250,000. The cost of freezing the embryos on a yearly basis varies from Sh60,000 to Sh100,000.
While IVF is a proven method for determining the sex of a baby, it is not without its challenges. Dr. Kireki says that it is not guaranteed that once the transfer is done there will be an implantation, and there can be complications like miscarriage or the embryo might fail to implant.
