February 12, 2026

Can You Really Choose Your Baby’s Gender With IVF?

3 Minute Read:

IVF (in vitro fertilization) has changed how many families are started, and today, couples and individuals who have been unsuccessful when trying to become pregnant can turn to IVF. With modern techniques, it is often possible to choose an embryo of a specific sex before transfer by using genetic testing during the IVF process, although this is done within medical, legal, and ethical guidelines and is not appropriate for every patient. In the sections below, we explain how IVF gender selection works, why some parents consider it, and what to expect if you decide to explore this option.

Baby boy and girl swaddled in pink and blue.

IVF and Gender Selection

Some potential parents have no preference when it comes to the sex of their child; others would choose the gender if they could. This is an option with IVF. 

Intended parents consider gender selection for many reasons, the most prominent being that gender selection can help prevent genetic diseases. Since many disorders are sex-linked, choosing the gender can sometimes allow for a better chance of healthy embryos.

While the health of the embryos is most parents’ top priority, the additional benefits of gender selection include:

  • Choosing the gender of your first born
  • Family balancing
  • Time to prepare for your new baby

How Does Gender Selection Work?

There are seven steps in the IVF process, and the sex of the baby can be determined in this process.

Baby boy in a white and blue hat.

7 Steps to Parenthood Through IVF

  1. Cycle day 1: Between day one and three of your menstrual cycle, you will come into our office or an ultrasound and blood work. If everything looks good, you will be given your medications and detailed instructions. 
  2. Cycle days 5-6: You will return for an ultrasound and blood work to ensure everything is on schedule.
  3. Cycle days 8-9: You will return for another ultrasound and blood work.
  4. Cycle days 9-12: You will undergo an ultrasound and lab work and be given instructions for your trigger shot, which is medication that will allow Dr. Saadat to time your egg retrieval. This is usually the last appointment before your retrieval.
  5. Egg retrieval: This tends to happen between days 12 and 14 and is performed in an outpatient surgery center under IV sedation. Sperm is also collected (or thawed from a previous collection) to be used in the fertilization process. New medications may begin.
  6. Fresh embryo transfer: If you are undergoing a fresh transfer, this will usually happen three to five days after your retrieval. 
  7. Frozen embryo transfer: If you are undergoing PGT, your embryos will be cryopreserved usually five days after your retrieval. The cycle can be completed with your next menstrual cycle. 

What Is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)?

Baby girl in a pink bathrobe.

Parents consider the health of their children to be paramount. PGD is a wonderful tool for spotting genetic problems.

For couples and individuals undergoing IVF, a preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can detect certain chromosomal abnormalities in their embryos. 

PGD can also reveal the sex of the embryos and is often used for gender selection, so those using IVF can choose an embryo of their preferred sex without these genetic abnormalities.

Is it Safe For The Baby and Mother?

When IVF is combined with gender selection, the safety of both the mother and baby remains the top priority. IVF is a well‑established treatment, and the additional step of testing embryos to learn their sex is performed under strict medical protocols in experienced fertility centers. Most patients tolerate the process well, though standard IVF medications can cause side effects such as bloating, discomfort, mood changes, and in rare cases ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and egg retrieval carries small risks related to anesthesia, bleeding, or infection.

For the baby, gender selection typically uses preimplantation genetic testing, where a few cells are carefully removed from each embryo in the lab before pregnancy begins. Current evidence suggests that this biopsy step, when done with modern techniques, does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects and is considered safe for embryos in most cases, though no procedure can guarantee pregnancy or a completely complication‑free outcome. Your fertility specialist will review your medical history, explain the potential benefits and risks in your specific situation, and help you decide whether IVF with gender selection is an appropriate and safe option for you.

Contact Us Today

Under the leadership of medical director and double board-certified fertility specialist, Dr. Peyman Saadat, Reproductive Fertility is a state-of-the-art fertility clinic with facilities in the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills areas of Los Angeles as well as Riverside and Glendora. 

If you have been experiencing problems starting your family, let Dr. Saadat and Reproductive Fertility help. Our team offers many advanced techniques to help make your dream family a reality.

Call us today at (310) 881-8846 to get started on your legacy.