When Can a Baby's Gender Be Detected?
When a women finds out she is pregnant, one of her first thoughts is about the gender of her baby. The only truly scientific means for determining gender before birth are through ultrasound or amniocentesis. Ultrasounds are performed routinely throughout pregnancy, while amniocentesis is reserved for only those who have legitimate medical concerns about the health of the baby.
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Gender at Conception
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Gender is decided at conception. The mother's egg has an X chromosome, but sperm may have an X or a Y chromosome. The following combinations may occur: X + X = girl or X + Y = boy.
Formation of Genitalia
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The genitals begin forming sometime between the sixth and eighth week of pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, the genitalia will appear as male or female at about the eleventh or twelfth week.
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Ultrasound
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Ultrasound is a reliable way to determine a baby's gender. According to Dr. Spock, ultrasound can predict gender at about 16 to 18 weeks.
Amniocentesis
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Amniocentesis can also determine gender by detecting which chromosomes are present in the amniotic fluid at any point in the pregnancy. However, an amniocentesis is only performed when a medical concern arises.
Newborn Examination
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Sometimes the baby's position prevents gender determination via ultrasound; thus, the only way to determine gender is to examine the newborn.
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