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Gender Selection

Separating Fact From Fiction

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Office Andrology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

The mechanisms and possibilities of controlling or predetermining the sex of offspring are likely to have been pondered by humans throughout history. Different cultures, social classes, and races may exhibit different preferences for a child of a given sex. Chromosomal sex is determined at fertilization by the heterogametic parent. For humans, the male is the heterogametic parent, producing both X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm. The mechanisms of meiosis in the production of gametes by the heterogametic parent should, in theory, yield an equal number of male and female offspring. Because the human sex ratio is almost 50:50, it appears that the sex ratio of babies born primarily reflects the ratio of X- and Y-bearing sperm in semen and is probably not significantly impacted by other factors, such as the female reproductive tract environment or differential fetal survival to birth.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics and IVF Institute, Fairfax, VA

    David S. Karabinus PhD, HCLD

  2. Reproductive Care Center, Salt Lake City, UT

    Keith L. Blauer MD

Authors
  1. David S. Karabinus PhD, HCLD
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  2. Keith L. Blauer MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, University Fertility Consultants, Portland, OR

    Phillip E. Patton MD  & David E. Battaglia PhD  & 

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Karabinus, D.S., Blauer, K.L. (2005). Gender Selection. In: Patton, P.E., Battaglia, D.E. (eds) Office Andrology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-876-2_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-876-2_19

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-318-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-876-2

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