Pregnant woman holding boy and girl notes over stomach

Gender Selection

Are you dreaming of having a baby boy or girl? Gender selection makes it possible to choose the sex of your child.

Dr. Sonja Kristiansen offers solutions to help parents with family balancing and prevent passing on sex-linked genetic diseases.

So, why should you consider our state-of-the-art fertility clinic in Houston, TX, for sex selection?

Choose the Sex of Your Child with Gender Selection

Here at Houston Fertility Center, we offer gender selection to allow hopeful parents the opportunity to increase the likelihood of conceiving with the desired gender and achieve family balancing. Dr. Kristiansen can perform gender selection through genetic testing with IVF or INVOcell so that only the embryos with the favored gender are transferred into the uterus. Our Houston, TX, practice utilizes the most advanced methods and has been providing leading fertility services for over 10 years to patients throughout Houston and beyond.

Common Reasons to Consider Gender Selection

Because every family is unique, each will have their own reasons for pursuing gender selection. The two primary motivations for choosing this treatment are:

Family Balancing

Some parents who already have a child of one gender may wish to have a child of the opposite gender. Sex selection can help those parents achieve the family dynamic they desire. In some cases, patients may have certain social, economic, or personal reasons for wanting to have a child of a specific gender.

Genetic Disease

Some couples have genetic diseases that they do not want to pass on to their children. For example, hemophilia and muscular dystrophy are sex-linked disorders that mostly affect male offspring. Therefore, any couples with these medical concerns may choose to have a female baby.

Sex Selection Can Reduce the Risk of Passing on These Gender-Linked Diseases

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a medical condition that reduces the body's ability to properly form blood clots. Because people with hemophilia have trouble forming blood clots, even a slight injury can cause severe bleeding. Most types of hemophilia are inherited, and most cases occur among males. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hemophilia occurs in approximately one out of every 5,000 male births

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. Muscular dystrophy diseases are passed on genetically, mostly affect boys, and have no cure.

Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is another genetic condition that affects males more severely than it affects females. Fragile X causes a range of developmental problems, including learning disabilities.

Our Expertise and Technology Make It Possible

two test tubes and the symbols for male and female
We use advanced methods so you can choose your child's gender to achieve family balancing or avoid passing on genetic diseases.

Understanding How Gender Selection Works

In general, there is about a 50/50 chance of conceiving either a male or a female child. A female parent carries an XX chromosomal makeup, while a male parent is XY. Therefore, the male parent can contribute an X chromosome or a Y chromosome. If an "X" sperm fertilizes the egg, a baby girl is conceived. In contrast, if the sperm that fertilizes the egg is a "Y," the offspring will be male. Here at the Houston Fertility Center, we offer gender selection with  IVF or INVOcell with preimplantation genetic testing and gender enhancement wash with intrauterine insemination.

"My Baby Boy Is Now 1 Month Old, and I'm in Love!"

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Meli Rodriguez

2020

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Dr Kristiansen and her staff are amazing! I did invocell and had a great experience. I liked that I always got a staff person on the phone when I called. They are great at returning emails quickly too. You won’t be disappointed. They will take good care of you!

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Reyna Alcala

2020

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Personally i had a good experience with my invocell process started meds for 2 weeks in September by october 8 had the transfer and couple days later the positive pregnancy test! My baby boy is now 1 month old and im in love ❤ Thank you so much Dr. K and staff you were all amazing!!

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Helping Hopeful Parents Build the Family They Desire

If you're ready to start or grow your family and wish to choose the gender of your child, we can help. We understand that every situation is different, so we take the time to learn about your unique journey in order to provide personalized care that best fits your needs. You can schedule a family building consultation online or call our fertility clinic serving Houston and Sugar Land, TX, at:

(713) 225-5375

staff at our fertility clinic

Preimplantation Genetic Screening/Testing

Our fertility center utilizes the latest tools and techniques to help hopeful parents achieve their family goals. We use a genetic testing method known as PGT to identify whether embryos are XX or XY. This allows us to select which embryos will be placed into the woman's uterus to achieve pregnancy with your desired gender. PGT is performed with either IVF or INVOcell. These methods have success rates that compare well to the national average, making them a safe and reliable option for sex selection.

We Partner with Patients and Their Families

Newborn baby
Regardless of your reasons for seeking gender selection, we understand that each journey is unique and have helped many hopeful parents just like you. 

"I can't express my gratitude enough." Hear from Our Patients

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DALLASFAM

2021

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Dr. K and the entire staff always made my day! From the beginning of the treatments they have been there through all of my questions and concerns & then more. Every email I sent was answered thoroughly from the ivf coordinator the same day if not in hours! They didn’t treat me as if i was just some regular patient. Everytime I have went in to my appointments theres always a smile on everyones face and a warm welcoming. They are a lovely staff & the best facility. I would HIGHLY recommend them. Thank you so much for everything y’all have done for me. I cant expess my gratitude enough.

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1

Mary Ramirez

2021

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I want to start by saying that I am so beyond greatful to have found a Doctor and a office staff to help me through one of the hardest things I have every went through in my life mentally , physically , emotionally and especially spiritually. I am so greatful for the honesty and compassion that has always been shown by Dr. Kristiansen . If you are considering or have decided that IVF is for you , this is a absolutely amazing place and I recommend Dr. Kristiansen with my whole heart. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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The IVF and INVOcell Treatment Process

IVF and INVOcell with preimplantation genetic screening are currently the most reliable gender selection options with high pregnancy rates. During these processes, you can expect:

Ovarian Stimulation

The woman goes through the IVF or INVOcell cycle, beginning with ovarian stimulation. The injectable hormone medication results in the production of multiple eggs a month.

Egg Retrieval

The eggs are carefully retrieved one by one using gentle suction. The patient is anesthetized during this procedure to ensure her comfort at all times. 

Fertilization & Embryo Development

The eggs are mixed with sperm, allowing fertilization to take place to form an embryo. The embryos will develop for three to five days in the laboratory or within the body using INVOcell.

Genetic Testing

Once the embryos have matured, a biopsy is performed to test for gender using PGT. This allows us to identify which embryo has the desired chromosomal makeup for sex selection.

Embryo Transfer

The selected embryo of the preferred sex is implanted into the female's uterus during a frozen embryo transfer.

Pregnancy

After about two weeks, a pregnancy test is taken at our fertility center to determine if IVF or INVOcell with preimplantation genetic diagnosis was successful.

Should I Choose IVF or INVOcell for PGT?

IVF

IVF is the process of joining eggs and sperm in a laboratory setting before transferring the embryos back to the uterus. PGT is performed before the embryos are transferred to the uterus.

INVOcell

INVOcell relies on a woman's body rather than a laboratory to support fertilization and embryo development. It is more affordable than traditional IVF, but it boasts similar success rates.

Contact Houston Fertility Center for More Information

If you are curious about gender selection for the purposes of family balancing or gender-linked disease prevention, contact Houston Fertility Center for more information. Our team can review your unique case and provide the professional insight you need.

To get started, send us an online message or call our Houston fertility clinic:

(713) 225-5375

"If I Could Give More Stars, I Would"

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Jackee Lowery

2019

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Dr. Kristiansen and her staff are amazing! If I could give more stars, I would. For my first appointment, I went by myself and Dr. Kristiansen was so warmly, and non judgmental on every question I’ve asked her. Every visit since then, my fiancé have gone with me and everytime, the staff would hold conversations with us and answer any and every question we’ve had. 

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Caroline Shaheen

2020

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Dr K and her entire staff are a GOD SEND! I’ve had two miscarriages back to back and when i came to see Dr K i was extremely distraught and just wanted to find out what was wrong with me. She worked very closely with me to find out the root cause of my miscarriages. We ended up doing a medicated cycle and it worked the first round and in currently 7 weeks pregnant and have just graduated from her office to my regular OB’s. 

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Gender Enhancement Wash

While gender enhancement wash has been performed in fertility clinics for over 30 years, it is not FDA-approved because it is considered an unreliable method for gender selection with low pregnancy rates.

Gender enhancement wash typically results in 70-85% for female and 60-75% for male success rates

A sperm sample is spun in a centrifuge, causing layers to separate based on density.
The dense X-sperm is distinguished from the lighter Y-sperm.
The sperm cells are separated from the seminal fluid so that irregular and abnormal sperm are eliminated.
Once this process is complete, the resulting sample is more likely to lead to pregnancy, while also increasing the chances for the desired gender.
Once the sperm sample is washed, it can only be used for the intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure.

What Is the Cost of Sex Selection?

Our clinic understands that the cost of fertility treatment can be significant. We try to make treatment as affordable as possible and offer several financing options to help offset the cost of care. Our warm and friendly staff are always willing to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Gender Selection FAQs

How is gender selection performed?

Dr. Kristiansen can perform gender selection with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) or gender enhancement wash. PGT is performed in combination with IVF or INVOcell, while gender enhancement wash is used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures.

What is the success rate for gender selection?

IVF, INVOcell, and IUI have good success rates compared to the national average, making them reliable options for parents thinking about gender selection.

How much does the treatment cost?

The cost of gender selection will depend on which technique you choose and other factors. Our Houston clinic is equipped with all of the technology needed to perform gender selection on-site, which can make the process more affordable.

Dr. Sonja Kristiansen

Houston Fertility Center

Dr. Sonja Kristiansen is the founder and Medical Director of Houston Fertility Center. She is a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist Infertility (REI) specialist who is proud to help hopeful parents fulfill their dreams of having children. Our center is affiliated with the:

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • American Society for Reproductive Medicine
  • Texas Medical Association

We provide convenient care for patients from greater Houston and visitors from out of town. For more information about our services, contact our office online or call (713) 225-5375 today.

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Houston Office

9055 Katy Fwy
Ste 450
Houston, TX 77024

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