There are tons of old wives tales out there that you have most likely dismissed as being just a tale, like how the day of conception can determine a baby’s gender.

If you want particular sex for your baby, the day of conception can help you to determine what sex your baby will be. 

What Determines Gender?

Your male partner’s sperm determines the gender of your baby. Each of his sperm has either male or female traits, and the one that reaches the egg first decides which sex the baby will become. In other words, if a sperm with male chromosomes reaches the egg first, a baby boy will be conceived. If the sperm with female chromosomes reaches the egg first, you will have a baby girl.

Gender Swaying - Shettles Method

If you are dead-set on trying for a particular sex, you can incorporate a few gender swaying techniques. First, you will need to establish the time of possible conception by charting when you are most likely to ovulate, and then determining which days would be most optimal to have sex to conceive the gender you want. This method is known as the Shettles Method. The principle behind this method is quite simple:

Although male-producing sperm, or Y-sperm, swim faster than female-producing sperm, or X-sperm, they do not live as long. Also, the acidic level of the vagina is more alkaline closer to ovulation – in which Y-sperm flourish.

Since boy sperm swims faster, they tend to get to the egg quicker than girl sperm does. If you are trying to have a boy, you will need to have sex on the day of ovulation or one day before. Do not have sex for several days leading up to ovulation, as this will decrease your chances for a boy. You will want to make sure that the egg is there to meet the sperm as boy sperm do not live as long as female sperm.

To conceive a daughter, you should have intercourse two to three days before ovulation. This timing of intercourse will allow for plenty of time for the boy-producing sperm to die off before you ovulate; therefore, it will only be female-producing sperm that will reach the egg.

Gender Swaying - Shelan Method

However, another popular method of gender swaying, known as the Shelan Method, actually encourages the opposite of the Shettles Method. This method states that having sex four to six days before ovulating will increase the likelihood of fertilization by male-producing sperm; while having sex two to three days before ovulating will produce a girl.

You need to predict when you will ovulate accurately to utilize these methods. Charting your basal body temperature for several months will provide detailed data about when you ovulate each month. Using ovulation tests is less accurate but can give you an idea of when you ovulate. A positive ovulation test only gives you a 24 - 36-hour window for when you will ovulate.

Choosing Your Baby's Gender - Other Considerations

Several scientific studies have looked into the ability to "choose" the gender of your baby. One study determined that men with low sperm count are more likely to conceive a girl. Low sperm motility also favors getting pregnant with a girl.

Another study looked at a woman's dietary choices. The study found that a maternal diet low in sodium and high in calcium, in combination with the timing of intercourse well before ovulation as a method to improve the chances of conceiving a girl.

Only 100% Accurate Gender Selection Method

According to Fertility Authority, many methods can help you to conceive either a boy or a girl. But the only legal, FDA approved a method for gender selection in the United States is pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS); when it is used along with in vitro fertilization (IVF) it almost 100 percent accurate.