Gender Selection
There are two main approaches to
gender selection. Before fertilization ,
and after. In the first method we sort
and separate the sperm before the
fertilization occurs. The second
method, we separate the embryos
after fertilization has occurred. The
second method ( PGD) is the method
of choice which gives you a much
higher success rate, but would need
to be done in conjunction with in-vitro
fertilization or with an egg donor
recipient cycle.
Sperm separation is accomplished with
a “saline gradient wash”. In this
technique, sperm swim upstream
through a saltwater solution. The
separation is not just for gender
selection, it is also routinely used to
eliminate damaged sperm. Naturally,
you have a 50/50 chance, female
versus male sperm. This method of
sperm separation increases the odds
about 10 to 15%, slightly higher for
female sperm wash versus a male
sperm wash.