Several gender prediction and gender selection methods are practiced worldwide for the purpose of identifying the gender of the child to be born or selecting them on the very basis of their gender. Although, in several regions it’s just an archetypal belief to have a male offspring because a male is considered to be the rightful inheritor of property or to carry on the family name, a major medical concern too is one of the reasons for people to opt for the gender selection process.
Couples might be interested to determine the sex of their unborn child because a specific genetic mutation known to be present in one of them is more probable or might as well manifest itself as a disorder or a disease in a particular gender of their offspring. Thus, to avoid a child with a disorder, the couples may utilize gender selection techniques to pre-determine the gender of the unborn child and take the necessary steps based on the result.
For example, an intended mother with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a genetic disorder resulting from a genetic mutation in the X chromosome, which is a sex chromosome) has even chances of her male offspring being affected by the same while her female offspring has no likelihood to be affected at all! Likewise, if an intended father turns out to be a carrier of a Y-chromosome linked mutation, for example, azoospermia, his female offspring may be unaffected (as a female does not have Y chromosomes) and his male offspring may be infertile.
The techniques used in gender selection
Pre-implementation method
Sperm sorting:
This involves the separation of the X chromosome sperm from the Y chromosome sperm. It is followed by artificial insemination or IVF procedures.
Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis/PGD:
Embryos resulting from IVF procedures are checked for X or Y-chromosomes and the embryos of the desired sex are implanted accordingly.
Post-implantation method
Prenatal diagnosis:
Amniocentesis or ultrasound techniques are used in the determination of the gender of the unborn child and on the discovery of an undesired sex an abortion is conducted.
Post-birth methods like sex-selective infanticide and sex selective child abandonment although in practice, are illegal in many states. Sex-selective adoption however, is one of the better alternatives to the previously mentioned post-birth gender selection methods.
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