Boy or girl - can you choose?

Can you really influence whether you have a boy or a girl by the position you have sex in? Is it easier to get pregnant second time around and will tight pants really lower your man’s sperm count? We sort the myths from the facts. 
 
Q: Does eating certain foods help to conceive a boy or a girl?

MAYBE

Studies have shown that eating a diet high in potassium and sodium – foods like bananas, spicy and salty foods and red meat – may increase your chances of conceiving a boy.

On the other hand, eating calcium and magnesium-rich foods like milk, cheese, fish, rice and nuts can result in the birth of a girl. This diet method is controversial though and it’s not clear why, or if, it works.

Experts agree that it’s better to have a balanced diet with a wide range of nutrients when trying for a baby.

Q: Is it easier to get pregnant the second time around?

YES

Amazing really, considering all those sleepless nights with a toddler sandwiched in between you! But it’s true, couples who already have children are usually pregnant again within six months of trying, whereas it might take up to a year first time around.

The reasons for this are unclear, and it’s not always true, but they could include the fact that you know your body, and your ovulation cycle, better, and you and your partner know what worked last time.

Q: Does having sex in the missionary position, or with the woman on top, improve the chance of conceiving a girl?

NO

There’s no scientific evidence to suggest that this is true at all. It’s also not true that boys are more likely if you have sex standing up. And while we’re on the subject, there’s no evidence that lying with a pillow under your bum after sex with improve your chance of conceiving either… you’ll just look daft!

Q: If you have an orgasm are you more likely to conceive a boy?

NO

Boy sperm are in fact lighter than girl sperm, so they might swim or surf a little bit faster towards the egg if you have an orgasm, which makes the womb muscles contract in waves. But, there’s no scientific evidence to prove that they are any more likely to fertilise the egg first. If you’re desperate for a boy though, this is one myth there’s no harm in giving a go anyway!

Q: Can sperm quality be affected by wearing tight pants?

YES

Testicles hang outside a man’s body for a reason – because sperm production is best when they are kept below normal body temperature. That’s why men who work in a hot environment, such as welders and fireman, tend to have lower sperm counts. Tight pants hold the testicles so close to the body that sperm production can be lowered. So, if you’re trying for a baby and not getting anywhere, maybe it’s time to get your man to invest in some loose boxer shorts!

Q: Are you more likely to have a boy if your partner has brothers?

NO

It’s true the father does determine the sex of the baby – all women’s eggs contain the X (female) chromosome, but a man’s sperm contains either an X chromosome (which makes a girl) or a Y chromosome (which makes a boy). Whichever one reaches the egg first will determine the sex of your baby.

But sex selection is a completely random process; there’s no evidence that if you or your partner comes from a family with lots of boys it will have any impact on the sex of your baby.

Q: Are boys more often conceived on odd days of the month?

NO

Some people claim that the calendar can help you to conceive a boy or girl. It’s said that boys are best conceived at night on odd calendar days and at the time of quarter moon. Girls, meanwhile, are apparently guaranteed by having sex in the afternoon at the time of a full moon on even calendar days. It may be romantic, but sadly it all mumbo jumbo.

Q: If you have two boy or two girls, are you more likely to have another on in the next pregnancy?

YES

Statistics suggest that you are 75% more likely to conceive another boy or girl if you already have two of the same sex with your partner. Although sex selection is random, it’s possible that some men simply produce better quality X (female) or Y (male) sperm. So, if you’re on your way to creating your own football team, we’re afraid there might not be much you can do about it!

Q: Can douching the vagina in vinegar after sex help you to conceive a girl?

NO

The theory behind this myth is that vinegar makes the vagina more acidic, which is said to favour female sperm. In practise, all it will do is remove any sperm that are still lurking in the vagina, put you at risk of a vaginal infection and make you smell like a bag of chips!

Q: What about dipping your man’s erect penis in a pint of freezing water before having sex to improve the chance of conception?

NO

Are you mad? Even if you can actually persuade your man to let you try this, it will simply make keeping the erection totally impossible! Yes, sperm like to be kept slightly below body temperature, but chilling them at this stage of the proceedings won’t be of any benefit – they might even stop swimming altogether!

Boy or Girl – can you choose?

Basically, the sex of your baby is like tossing a coin – heads for a boy, tails for a girl. Having said that. you do have a slightly higher chance of having a boy – 51 per cent of babies born in the UK are male.

Your partner’s sperm will decide the gender of your baby: your eggs contain just a female, (X) chromosome, but a man’s sperm contains either an X or a Y chromosome. Whichever one reaches the egg first and fertilises it will determine the sex of your unborn baby.

Girl sperm are larger, live longer and swim slowly. Boy sperm swim faster, so have a better chance of reaching your egg first if it’s waiting to be fertilised. If the sperm has to wait for an egg to be released, the boy sperm dies off before the girl sperm so there’s likely to be more girl sperm waiting to fertilise the egg.

So can you choose? Not really! But you could try having sex as close a possible to ovulation (when the egg is released) to conceive a boy, or just before ovulation to conceive a girl.