How to Conceive a Girl: 7 Tips & Tricks

Here are some more high-tech – and low-tech – ways of achieving a baby girl:

Gender selection
Couples who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) may have the option to choose the gender of their child prior to implantation, through a technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. The upside to the technique, which happens in a laboratory, is that it is about 95% accurate in terms of resulting in a baby with the gender you selected. The downside is significant cost, upward of $15,000, and that it is only an option for those undergoing IVF.

Sperm sorting
Another science-heavy approach to getting a boy is sperm sorting (also known as MicroSort). In this process, the father-to-be provides sperm, which then gets separated into X and Y chromosomes. Once separated, the sperm with the desired chromosomes is used for either an IVF or IUI procedure. Some data suggests this procedure is up to 75% accurate for female selection, but it may be difficult to find clinics in the United States that offer this option.

Diet
If expensive fertility treatments aren’t in your budget, try the grocery store instead! Although there isn't hard scientific evidence that proves eating certain foods can increase the chances of conceiving a girl, some data shows that a diet high in magnesium and calcium can increase your odds, as well as consuming foods such as dark leafy greens, beans and seafood, especially sardines and canned salmon. (These are healthy foods to include in your diet, whether you're hoping for a girl or a boy!)

In her quest for a girl, Carla Wiking shared some eating advice she got from an unlikely source. "The elderly gentleman who owns our neighborhood bagel shop assures me that the reason I have boys is because my husband eats too much meat," Wiking previously told Mom.com. "He swears two weeks on a vegetarian diet will gives us the girl we’re after."

As you may have guessed it, the best time to conceive a girl may be a bit tricky.

According to those who follow the Shettles method, you can up your chances for a girl by aiming to have sex two to four days before ovulation. The theory is that “girl sperm” are stronger and swim slower than “boy sperm,” so they are more likely to survive the wait for the egg to arrive.

And, as with any method that claims to help with conceiving a specific gender, take the Shettles method with a grain of salt. The research is inconclusive, but the popular method lives on.

Sexual position
There are those, including fans of the Shettles method, that say sexual position can sway your odds of having a girl. To take the advice of those methods, avoid positions with deep penetration and aim for a shallow missionary style instead.

Orgasm no-go?
There is also a theory that avoiding having an orgasm can help you have a girl, as the female orgasm causes a secretion that helps boy sperm survive longer in the reproductive tract. But science has yet to prove that, so let your body do its thing!

Stress and Sperm
It has been said that the sperm that makes sons is more fragile, and so stress in the father-to-be can leave more room for “stronger” girl sperm. Still before your man embraces his stress, know that increased stress levels can prevent conception. Instead, try jumping in a hot tub for some foreplay because who wants to be stressed out during a night of nooky.

The bottom line

Ultimately, your goal should be to have a healthy baby regardless of the gender, so consult a health professional before trying any method. "While most methods are harmless, not all of them are risk-free," fertility advocate Rachel Gurevich RN, told Very Well Family.
"If you plan to pursue any of these options, talk to your doctor for guidance."

Employing methods that happen in a laboratory will probably be your best bet, as there isn’t a lot of evidence to support the low-tech ways of conceiving a girl — but even then, with a 50/50 chance, may the odds be in your favor!