Sex Selection

Sex selection is a process that allows couples or individuals to choose the genetic sex of their child. This is done by testing the embryo(s) with PGT-A that are created through IVF before one is implanted in the uterus. It is important to note that sex selection can only be done using IVF embryos. It is recommended to use the term "sex selection" instead of "gender selection," as gender is now known to be a person's self-identification. A child's sex, on the other hand, is determined by their inherited genetic makeup, specifically by the presence of male XY chromosomes or female XX chromosomes.

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There are several reasons to consider this option which can be classified into 3 categories:

• Medical 

  • ​Some parents who carry certain sex-linked genetic diseases, such as haemophilia, muscular dystrophy, and fragile-X syndrome, may opt for sex selection methods to prevent the birth of children affected by these disorders. Sex selection enables couples to choose female or unaffected male embryos, thus reducing the risk of these genetic disorders in their offspring.

• Family Balancing

  • Some prospective parents may be interested in choosing the sex of their child in order to balance the number of boys and girls in their family or to have a child of the specific sex they desire. Sex selection can be helpful in ensuring a family has children of both sexes or if they only wish to have one child to ensure will be the sex they want.

• Personal

  • ​Some patients may choose to select the gender of their baby based on personal preferences. For instance, a mother may desire a baby girl or a father may want a baby boy. It is important to note that all reasons for selecting the sex of the baby, even non-medical ones, are valid to the parents who choose to do so to build their families.

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Ethical Considerations

If you are considering this option for medical reasons, there are no ethical considerations that need to be discussed before treatment. However, if you are selecting this option for family balancing or personal reasons, there are some ethical concerns that must be addressed before proceeding with the treatment, one example is what to do with unused embryos of the opposite sex. For instance, if a couple wanted a boy but only had female embryos, or if a couple has several embryos of both sexes but only wants a girl. That is why patients can only proceed to this fertility option after addressing all ethical considerations and receiving a counselling session.

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This option is available in Cancun only meaning everybody considering sex selection will need to travel to Mexico to do the treatment (IVF plus PGT-A).