Sex selection

The practice of attempting to control the sex of offspring to achieve a desired sex.

Global birth sex ratio map, 2012

Sex selection refers to the practice of attempting to control the sex of the offspring to achieve a desired sex. This can occur before conception by means of sperm sorting or preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or after conception through prenatal sex discernment followed by sex-selective abortion.

Methods of Sex Selection

Preconception Methods

• Sperm Sorting: This technique involves separating sperm cells based on the sex chromosome they carry. The most common method is flow cytometry, which can sort sperm into X-bearing (female) and Y-bearing (male) populations.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

• PGD is used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to select embryos of a desired sex before implantation. This involves genetic testing of embryos to determine their sex.

Prenatal Methods

• Ultrasound and Amniocentesis: These are used to determine the sex of a fetus during pregnancy. In some regions, this information is used to make decisions about sex-selective abortion.

Ethical and Social Implications

Sex selection raises significant ethical concerns, particularly when it leads to gender imbalance in populations. In some countries, a cultural preference for male children has resulted in skewed sex ratios, as depicted in the

Global birth sex ratio map, 2012

.

Cultural Preferences

In certain cultures, male children are preferred due to economic, social, and cultural reasons. This preference can lead to practices such as female infanticide and sex-selective abortion.

Legal and Policy Responses

Many countries have implemented laws to prevent sex-selective practices. For example, India has banned prenatal sex determination through the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act.

Technological Advances

Advancements in reproductive technologies have made sex selection more accessible. However, these technologies also raise questions about designer babies and the potential for eugenics.

Also see

• Gender imbalance
• Prenatal sex discernment
• Reproductive rights
• Bioethics

External links

• World Health Organization: Sex Selection
• UNFPA: Gender-biased Sex Selection

A bulletin board in China promoting the value of daughters

An 8-cell embryo, which can be tested for sex through PGD