An ultrasound uses a technology called sonography. High-frequency sound waves are sent into the body to produce an imagine of an unborn child, which the radiologist can use to interpret gender. The procedure is non-invasive and there are no known harmful side effects. Therefore, having an ultrasound during pregnancy is is a low-risk, highly effective way to determine the gender of an unborn child. While there are other methods that may be necessary to determine gender in families with certain conditions, such as X-linked disorder, ultrasound is the standard method.
Step 1
Allow the pregnancy to develop. Ultrasounds are 80 percent accurate at 12 to 14 weeks, according to a study published in the journal "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology." Accuracy rises to between 95 and 100 percent at 20 weeks.
Step 2
Schedule an ultrasound through your physician. Follow his instructions on how to prepare, which can differ case by case. While you may not be required to do anything but show up, you could be asked to fast before the exam, or to drink water and avoid urination.
Step 3
Wear loose-fitting clothing on the day of the ultrasound to make it easier for the radiologist to access the ultrasound site. You may also be asked to change into a hospital gown, and loose clothes will speed up the process.
Step 4
Follow the instructions of the radiologist during the ultrasound procedure. This is the person who will diagnose the baby's gender.
References
- "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology"; "First trimester diagnosis of gender"; Whitlow, et al; 1999
- OB Ultrasound: Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Gender
- Radiology Info: Ultrasound - General
- Mayo Clinic: Ultrasound - MayoClinic.com
