Gender Selection Pros and Cons

The topic of gender selection always seems to raise ethical questions, and the pros and cons of a gender selection pregnancy are not always easy to distinguish. For many, the baby gender selection controversy is divided by natural fertility vs medical conception selection techniques, but there are some overall gender selection pros and cons that can be applied to both methods. 

Gender selection pros

Control of family size. Gender selection allows couples to have the number of boys and girls they want in their family without having to "try again." Statistically, most couples want two children - one boy and one girl. 

Getting the gender you desire, in the order you want. Many couples have a preference related not only to how many children of each gender they want, but also for the order of boys and girls. Family balancing is a major reason many people choose gender selection.

Extra time to prepare for the baby's arrival. If the gender of the baby is known well in advance there is more time to get everything ready. 

Economical planning so that items needed can be shared. If a couple wants to have children close together, they may prefer having same gender children in this manner. This allows for many more shared items including hand me down clothes and toys.

The power of being able to choose. Many couples that have had gender selection pregnancies enjoy the fact that they can choose the sex of their baby. This can be for a variety of reasons including avoidance of passing on a gender specific disease, feeling that they are better suited to raise a certain gender, or just mere preference. 

A special decision that is made by you and your spouse. Many couples find strength in making major life decisions together - What car to purchase, where to live, what house to buy. And the decision to have children, which can be taken a step further with gender selection.   

Gender selection cons

Takes part of the natural process of having children away. This is an ethical issue that is commonly raised by gender selection. Choosing the sex of your child interferes with nature and the natural selection process. 

High cost. While the natural gender selection methods are mostly free, the medical techniques are very expensive and can cost as much as $20,000. 

No guarantees. Taking the high cost into consideration, couples may not even get the gender they hoped for because no procedure has a 100% accuracy rate. If this happens, it can lead to great feelings of disappointment.

Other family and friends may disapprove. This is related to the ethics of gender selection.

The element of surprise is gone. When a baby's gender is not chosen, there is a special feeling of excitement that a couple gets when they find out. 

The decision may cause regret in the future. Years after a couple has their child of chosen gender, certain instances may make them question if they should have chosen differently.  If there is no choice made and the child is conceived naturally, there cannot be any regrets. 

These gender selection pros and cons can be applied to selecting the sex of your baby through any of the methods. However, when it comes to specific gender selection methods, there are also very individualized pros and cons. This includes gender selection via PGD, microsort, Shettles method, and natural ovulation. 

PGD gender selection pros and cons
Microsort pros and cons
Shettles method pros and cons
Natural ovulation pros and cons
Family balancing pros and cons