JUST AN FYI FOR YOU ALL

 

Diet. The idea that changing a woman's diet for several weeks before she conceives (to influence whether she has a boy or girl), originated from German studies in the 1940's looking at the environment that influenced the reproduction of worms. In 1980 a research study was published aimed at testing this theory on determining the sex of babies in humans. It was thought that through diet, the mineral (or 'ionic') imbalance in the woman's body could facilitate sex selection. The ionic balance was thought to affect the chemical make-up of her egg and/or her vaginal secretions.

The study recruited 281 couples, allocating them into either the 'boy' group, which was a daily diet high in salt (Na+) and potassium (K+) or the 'girl' group, which was a daily diet high in calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). The women were asked to stay on their allocated diets for at least 4 to 6 weeks before they conceived, for a maximum of 6 months (or until they conceived, whichever came first). The men were also asked to go on the diet, primarily to support the woman, rather than for the purpose of sex selection.

During the study 21 women pulled out, mainly because they could not tolerate their diet or because they conceived before the 4 to 6 weeks had elapsed. Of the 260 women who remained in the study, 80% conceived the child of their choice (Stolkowski and Lorrain, 1980). Proponents of this method often recommend being on the diet for about 3 months before trying to conceive. Some couples will combine this method with the Shettles method.

The advantages of this method are that it:

	Does not cost any money.
	Does not require intervention from a fertility clinic and can be done in the privacy of your own home.
	Does not require the woman to track and record her menstrual cycle on a fertility chart using her physical signs (temperature, mucous and cervix changes) to estimate the time of ovulation. (Unless she combines her diet with the Shettles method.)
	The baby is conceived naturally, increasing the chances of achieving a pregnancy.

The disadvantages are:

	The diet may not be tolerable for many women to stay on, especially for months at a time.
	The diets themselves may be harmful to your health (for example a diet high in salt). The diet may not be balanced enough to provide much needed vitamins and minerals for a healthy conception and pregnancy. As a general rule, you should not stay on these diets for more than 6 months and as soon as you find out you are pregnant you should return to a more balanced diet.
	It does not guarantee a baby of the sex you desire.

The boy diet can include - bacon, ham, sausages (and other salty meats), meat, fish (especially if dried and salted), salted chips and nuts, rice, pasta, potatoes, most fresh vegetables, bananas, apricots and most fresh fruits, white bread, pastries, fruit loaf, honey, jam, soups and carbonated drinks.

The girl diet can include - dairy products, yoghurt, ice cream, eggs, mineral waters, fresh fruit juice, rice, pasta, salt-free bread and butter, no salt in foods and only small amounts of fish, meats and fresh vegetables and fruits.

Douching. Douching is the use of a liquid to gently 'wash out' the inside of the vagina. The liquid is usually put into a special plastic bag with a tube attached and the end of the tube placed shallowly, just inside the vagina. Gravity is then used to let the fluid slowly flow into the vagina, and slowly flow out again.

The idea of using a douche in relation to conception was first introduced in the 1930's by a German doctor who advised some women with infertility to use a baking soda solution (2 tablespoons in about 1 litre of luke-warm water). This resulted in many of them becoming pregnant, as well as the coincidence that most of their children were boys. His theory became the basis of the theory that 'boy' sperm prefer a more alkaline environment, but these study results have not been supported since.

While douching is a relatively easy method that can be used at home, there is no proof that it works for sex selection. The Shettles method used to include recommendations to douche with a baking soda and water solution for a boy and a weak solution of vinegar or lemon juice and water for a girl, about 15 to 20 minutes before intercourse. However, he no longer recommends this unless directed by your doctor.

The disadvantages of this method are:

	It is messy and may disturb the normal pH balance of the vagina, leading to infections such as thrush and gardnerella.
	If the douche is administered with pressure or force (through a bulb or syringe), this may exert too much pressure inside the uterus and could possibly lead to an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
	There is no guarantee that it works.