Many expectant parents are excited to find out whether they are having a baby boy or a baby girl. While some enjoy the surprise of finding out their baby’s sex at birth, others are anxious to find out their baby’s gender as early as possible. There are many old wives’ tales that are quick to offer a prediction of your baby’s sex, but with today’s scientific advancements there are many accurate ways to determine your baby’s sex as early as the 10th week of pregnancy.
Amniocentesis
An amniocentesis is a test to look for genetic disorders in an unborn baby. This test is not done on everyone, but it can be helpful for women over 35 or anyone with a family history of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, spina bifida and cystic fibrosis. An amniocentesis is generally performed after the 15th week of pregnancy and is performed by removing a small amount of amniotic fluid by inserting a needle through the abdomen and into the uterus. An amniocentesis is done primarily to detect any medical conditions that the unborn baby may have, but since genetic material is collected during the text, it can be used to determine the sex of the baby. An amniocentesis is extremely accurate but carries a small risk of miscarriage.
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Chorionic villus sampling, or CVS, is another test to look for any genetic disorders in the unborn baby. This test can be done earlier than an amniocentesis, between 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, but it cannot look for neural tube defects. A CVS is performed by removing a small sample of the placenta. The sample can be obtained through the cervix or by inserting a needle through the abdomen. Like an amniocentesis, a CVS is very accurate but does come with a small risk of miscarriage and a slight risk of causing defects in the unborn baby’s fingers or toes.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is the most common way of determining gender during pregnancy. Gender cannot be accurately determined until between 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound is 95 to 100 percent accurate. Most OBGYNs routinely perform a 20-week ultrasound to look for signs of fetal health. 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds are available through private businesses as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy, and many guarantee accurate gender determination or they offer you a second ultrasound later in your pregnancy.
Pink or Blue Early Gender Test
As medical science improves, there are more and more companies offering accurate gender prediction in noninvasive tests you can do at home. The Pink or Blue Early Gender Test by Consumer Genetics offers a 95 percent accuracy rate as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. This test can be done in the privacy of your own home and sent away to the Consumer Genetics lab for results in as few as 3 to 5 days. A small amount of blood is taken through a finger prick. Just as adults lose dead skin cells every day, Consumer Genetics has determined that unborn babies lose dead skin cells that are flushed out through the mother’s blood stream. Their all-female lab uses the blood sample to look for male fetal DNA to determine whether you are expecting a baby boy or a baby girl. The price of the test is $194, including lab fee, but the company offers a full money-back guarantee if the test does not accurately determine the sex of your baby.
Intelligender
Intelligender is another home-based sex-determination test. Intelligender is a urine-based test that can determine whether an expectant mother is having a baby boy or a baby girl. The company claims an 82 percent accuracy rate and can be performed as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. This test in not invasive and is affordable at only $34.95
