Khaberni - A new trend on social media claims the ability to determine the fetus's gender before pregnancy, but experts warn it is just a myth.
Under the hashtag "#GenderSwaying," it is promoted that couples can choose the fetus's gender before conception. The proposed methods include timing sexual intercourse according to ovulation, modifying diet, placing pink clothes under the bed, using a wooden spoon, or holding a coin in the mouth during intercourse.
One of the most famous methods is the Shettles method, developed by American gynecologist Landrum Shettles in the 1960s, which assumes that Y-chromosome-bearing sperm (boy) are faster swimmers but have a shorter lifespan, while X-chromosome-bearing sperm (girl) are slower but survive longer.
Consequently, the method suggests that couples wanting to conceive a girl should have intercourse two days before ovulation, while those wanting a boy should wait for the day of ovulation itself.
There are some modern methods inspired by Shettles, like the "Baby Dust Method" created by microbiologist Katherine Taylor, which has forums with tens of thousands of followers and claims success rates up to 87%, despite no proven clinical trials. Even fertility apps like "Fertility & Period Tracker" have started using the same theory to determine the "best days" to conceive a boy or a girl, with thousands of comments from mothers claiming its success.
A real-life example of this is Nicole Chamlin, a mother of three, who told her followers on TikTok: "I gave birth to a girl after following the method's advice, coinciding with two days before ovulation. I also took supplements like cranberry, magnesium, and calcium during the fertility period to reduce the survival chances of Y-chromosome-bearing sperm."
However, experts warn against relying on these methods. Dr. Basil Watara, an associate professor of reproductive medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, said, "The Shettles method is old and not new, and there is no scientific evidence of its effectiveness. Studies have shown that the gender of a child can only be controlled by whether the sperm fertilizing the egg carries an X or Y chromosome. Differences in sperm speed under a microscope do not make a practical difference."
He added: "Regarding dietary regimes and changes in vaginal acidity, changing the acidity of the vagina does not determine the gender of the fetus, and any impact on sperm may only make pregnancy more difficult, not more likely to conceive a boy or a girl."
Conversely, some countries like the United States, Mexico, Thailand, and Cyprus offer medical techniques to determine gender, such as embryo screening after artificial insemination or separating X and Y sperm before fertilization, but they are only available in limited centers and at a high cost.
Dr. Watara advised couples not to rely on home trends, saying: "The most effective method to increase the chances of pregnancy is to have regular sexual intercourse, at least three times a week, rather than trying to control the gender of the child through unproven methods."
Nevertheless, social media continues to spread success stories, with some parents sharing their experiences of conceiving the child they dreamed of using these methods, despite the medical community's warnings. This reflects the clear difference between mythical trends on the Internet and proven scientific facts.
