Can You Choose Your Baby’s Gender with IVF?

The possibility of choosing your baby’s sex draws a great deal of interest and curiosity. Through in vitro fertilization combined with genetic testing, it is a real option today. At Ingenes, our Eligender program offers a safe, medically supervised path for families considering it.

Here is how the process works, when it is indicated, and what the ethical framework around it looks like.

How sex selection with IVF works, stage by stage

The process has four phases.

1. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval. Hormone medication for 8 to 14 days so that several follicles develop. The eggs are then retrieved through a minimally invasive aspiration under sedation.

2. Fertilization with ICSI. In the laboratory, the eggs are fertilized with the partner’s or a donor’s semen. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection ensures each egg receives a single sperm cell.

3. Genetic analysis (PGT-A). On days 5 to 6, at the blastocyst stage, a small number of cells are biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing. This identifies the sex chromosomes (XX or XY) and screens for chromosomal abnormalities.

4. Embryo transfer. One or two healthy embryos are transferred to the uterus with a fine catheter. The procedure is painless and takes only a few minutes.

What the technique adds beyond sex selection

• Early detection of abnormalities. PGT-A identifies sex-linked conditions such as hemophilia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is the strongest medical reason to use it.
• Chromosomally healthy embryos. Transferring embryos screened for chromosomal abnormalities improves implantation prospects, although results always depend on age and diagnosis.
• Comprehensive support. Personalized care, along with psychological and nutritional support throughout the process.

Who can consider it

Medical reasons. A known risk of transmitting a sex-linked genetic condition. This is the indication with the clearest clinical grounding.

Family balancing. The wish to balance the number of children by sex in families that already have children.

Personal planning. The couple’s preference, within the applicable ethical and legal framework.

A necessary note: never self-medicate, and always consult an assisted reproduction specialist before starting any treatment.

The ethical framework

Sex selection is not permitted everywhere, nor for every reason. At Ingenes we follow bioethical guidelines: selection for medical reasons or family balancing, with review by a multidisciplinary committee. Where regulations differ by country, the case is assessed under the framework that applies.

Costs and financing

The price varies according to the genetic testing involved, the number of cycles, and medication doses. It covers ovarian stimulation, ICSI, PGT-A, and the transfer. We offer financing plans and personalized financial counseling.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is PGT-A?

Above 98% with next-generation sequencing, which analyzes thousands of DNA fragments in a single run. As with any test, the result is interpreted alongside the rest of your clinical picture.

Is the biopsy safe for the embryo?

The biopsy takes a small number of cells at the blastocyst stage, when the embryo has already differentiated. Studies show implantation and live birth rates comparable to non-biopsied embryos.

How long does the treatment take?

A full cycle takes four to six weeks: stimulation (10 to 14 days), culture to blastocyst (5 to 6 days), genetic analysis (7 to 10 days), and transfer.

Does it guarantee a pregnancy?

No. Sex selection determines which embryo is transferred, not whether it will implant. No fertility treatment can guarantee a pregnancy, and any clinic telling you otherwise is claiming something medicine cannot support.

Where to start

If you are considering this option, the first step is understanding whether it applies to your case and under what framework. A First Consultation gives you a complete diagnosis and a clear answer.