At What Stage Can You Tell the Sex of the Baby?

Many expectant parents wish to know their unborn baby's sex.

Many parents wish to determine their baby's sex before birth. The most common way to tell the baby's sex is by ultrasound examination. This test is non-invasive with very few risks or complications.

Earliest Date

Doctors can sometimes tell the sex of a baby at 16 weeks gestation with ultrasound. However, the baby's genitals are not always visible at this age.

Optimal Age

By 22 to 23 weeks gestation, a doctor can tell a baby's sex with about 99% accuracy. Few false predictions occur at this stage.

Details

Determining the gender of the baby by ultrasound examination involves visualizing the genitalia, whether the baby is a boy or girl.

Other Tests

Other tests are sometimes done during pregnancy. Amniocentesis, for example, is a procedure involving inserting a needle into the amniotic sac to withdraw amniotic fluid. When this test is done, it is to search for birth defects if there is a reason to suspect them. The baby's sex can also be determined from the amniocentesis.

Risks

Determining the baby's sex is not a primary reason to have an amniocentesis performed. The test presents risks for both the mother and baby including miscarriage, infection in the baby or mother, and early labor.

References

• Baby Zone: Determining the Baby's Sex
• WebMD