It is possible to determine the gender of a baby though ultrasound technology, and this is the most frequently used method by medical professionals because it is the least invasive. Though the baby's sex can be evident early in the second trimester, many doctors prefer to wait several extra weeks to make sure the information they share with the parents is accurate.
Determining Sex
Doctors generally determine sex in an unborn child by looking for a penis and scrotum or a clitoris. Usually, if a penis isn't visible, most medical professionals feel good about pronouncing the child a female. Doctors must wait until the sexual organs develop sufficiently to attempt to determine the child's sex.
Best Timeframe
According to the book "Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice," the baby's gender can be determined as early as 16 weeks. However, most doctors wait until the 18- to 20-week mark to attempt it. The determination is most reliable if the health professional looks for sexual organs after 22 weeks, because they will then be sufficiently pronounced.
Scheduling Ultrasounds
Because many parents want to learn the gender of their child before the baby is born, most doctors will schedule a routine ultrasound around the time it's most likely that they will first be able to see the child's organs. It's common for most patients to have a 20-week ultrasound, during which the baby can be checked for congenital malformations and other abnormalities as well as gender.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance companies generally won't cover an ultrasound specifically to determine the baby's gender, which is why most doctors schedule a routine ultrasound for after the baby's sex organs have begun to form. However, if you want to find out the child's sex and your doctor does not perform these scheduled ultrasounds, you may have to go to a private business to get one performed. Though they are not usually covered by insurance policies, ultrasound centers have dynamic 3-D or 4-D technology that can show graphic details of the child's face and body. These ultrasounds are generally more accurate than the mainstream ultrasounds at most doctors offices.
Misconceptions
Many people think that ultrasounds are 100 percent accurate when it comes to sex determination. However, that isn't the case. For example, a doctor can think a boy appears to be a girl if the child's penis is tucked between his legs during the ultrasound. The baby's position during the ultrasound also plays a big role in the accuracy of the results. The bottom line is that, although technology is constantly improving, the only way you'll know the gender of your baby for certain is to wait for the birth.
References
- "Women-Centered Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth"; ara G. Shields and Lucy M. Candib; 2010
- "Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice"; Robert K. Creasy, Robert Reznik and Jay Iams; 2003
- American Pregnancy Association: Ultrasound
- Parents.com: How Soon Can You Find Out Baby's Sex?
