Dr. Landrum Shettles first published his theories on pre-conceptual sex selection in 1970. They are based on the assumed differences between the
X (girl) and Y (boy) sperm explained in
choosing the sex of your baby. As a brief summary, 'boy' sperm are supposed to be faster but more fragile than 'girl' sperm, which are thought to be more resilient and have more 'staying power'. His theory also takes into consideration the woman's body as playing a vital role in sex determination, believing that 'boy' sperm favour a more alkaline environment, with 'girl' sperm being more able to survive in a slightly more acidic environment.
Bearing all this in mind, the Shettles method believes that the timing of sexual intercourse during the woman's fertile phase is the most crucial element for conceiving a baby of the desired sex. For boys, the method advocates timing sex to be as close to ovulation (or the woman's egg release) as possible, but abstaining from sex for several days before this point in time and using condoms for a few days afterwards. For girls, the method recommends having sex daily up until days 2 to 4 before ovulation, then abstaining from sex until a few days after ovulation. The Shettles method claims an 80% success rate for boys and a 75% success rate for girls. However, the few, small studies done so far have been unable to support these claims.
NOTE:The following is a brief overview of the Shettles method to let you know what may be involved. It is not meant to be used as a 'how to' guide. Predicting ovulation and timing intercourse in relation to when it is likely to occur can be difficult and complex for many women. We suggest that couples who seriously want to try this technique should read up more thoroughly on the subject, and remember - there is no guarantee it will work.
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