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 (in vitro fertilization) 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.

Patients Love Houston Fertility Center

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Karina Dovalina

Houston, TX

2023

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My nurse Mayra Lopez was the absolute best! Sweet, easy to talk to and made my day of embryo transfer feel stress free. Thank you Mayra for all your kindness ❤️

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Dave Bertrand

Houston, TX

2022

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I Definitely want to thank Houston Fertility clinic . Y’all made our dreams come true . I couldn’t thank y’all enough we are obsessed with our baby girl . Anyone who is trying to conceive, I would defiantly recommend them .

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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

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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

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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.
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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.

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. 

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 and fertility treatment options that best fit your needs. You can schedule a family building consultation online or call our fertility clinic serving Houston, TX, at:

staff at our fertility clinic

Understanding How Gender Is Determined

In general, there is about a 50/50 chance of conceiving either a male or a female child. A female parent carries XX chromosomes, while a male parent carries XY chromosomes. 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. 

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.

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.

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

Hear from Our Patients

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A P.

Houston, TX

2023

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From the very first phone call the staff was very patient and informative. I was given so much to work with and didn't feel rushed. All of my follow-up questions were answered as well. I will update my review over time.

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1

Celeste Garcia

Houston, TX

2023

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I love this place the nurses definitely put alot of definition into this clinic. Without them and their kindness I probably wouldn't have made it mentally. Anytime I had a question they answered whether through phone call or email. It was the best!.. Thank you to Blanca and Mayra for making this the best experience for me! I'll be seeing yall again in another year or 2. ❤️

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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.

Which Method Should I Choose? Comparing IVF and 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.

The Treatment Process For IVF and INVOcell 

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.

Understanding the Role of Gender Enhancement Wash

For the gender enhancement wash method, a sperm sample is collected and spun in a centrifuge, causing layers to separate based on density. The dense X-sperm is distinguished from the lighter Y-sperm. This method may only increase the odds of conceiving with the desired gender when used with the intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure. Although this is a safe procedure, this method is considered unreliable for gender selection and is not FDA-approved.

Electing this treatment option requires all services, including testing, to be performed locally at the Houston Fertility Center.

Gender Selection FAQs

How is gender selection performed?

Dr. Kristiansen can perform gender selection with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). PGT is performed in combination with IVF or INVOcell.

What is the success rate for gender selection?

IVF and INVOcell 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 fertility office is equipped with all of the technology needed to perform gender selection on-site, which can make the process more affordable.

"We definitely recommend Houston Fertility Center."

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Diana B

Houston, TX

2023

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Dr. Kristiansen and all the staff are great. We went in for a RIVF consultation and due to the way they treated us and made us feel we decided to begin the process as soon as we were able to. We will always be thankful to Dr. Kristiansen, Blanca, Melissa and especially Mayra they are all amazing, they helped us with our thousand questions and doubts and when we felt discouraged they kept our spirits up. Thanks to them we are now expecting our precious baby girl. We definitely recommend Houston Fertility Center.

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Vicky Montenegro

Houston, TX

2023

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I love this place and Dr. K has a high success rate. This is why I initially went to her clinic. They don’t treat you like a business but it’s very personal. I was successful on my first IVF attempt and had a healthy baby girl. I will be using her for my next baby when I’m able. Highly recommended.

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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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