Pink or blue? Parents-to-be who want to know the gender of their baby have many choices, from in-home testing kits to sophisticated genetic screenings performed in hospitals. Speak with your doctor about which form of testing is right for you.

In-Home Testing Kits

Recently, in-home gender testing kits have become available. The Intelligender Gender Prediction Test uses a morning urine sample to help predict the baby's sex. The test can be performed as early as 10 weeks gestation. Keep in mind, though, that studies have shown that the test is only 82 to 90 percent accurate, so if knowing your baby's gender is really important to you, you should seek confirmation through one of the more reliable methods below.

Ultrasound

Utrasound technology uses sound waves to create an image of the developing fetus. In many cases, the ultrasound technologist can visually determine the gender of the fetus. Some very high-quality ultrasound machines can allow the technologist or physician to determine gender as early as 11 or 12 weeks, though more accurate readings (for gender identification) are likelier later in the pregnancy.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a procedure that uses a sample of placental tissue to screen for genetic defects: The sample is obtained either vaginally (by inserting a thin tube into the cervix) or abdominally (a thin needle is inserted through the pregnant woman's abdomen and a bit of tissue is drawn into a syringe). Because the screening includes an evaluation of fetal DNA, the gender of the baby will be revealed. This test can be performed 10 to 12 weeks after your last menstrual period.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is performed 15 to 18 weeks into a pregnancy, and like CVS, it uses fetal DNA to screen for defects. A thin needle is inserted into the pregnant woman's abdomen and a small amount of amniotic fluid (the fluid in the sac that surrounds the fetus) is drawn into a syringe. The DNA in this fluid can also reveal the baby's gender.

Source:

WebMD

National Institutes of Health

OB-Ultrasound.net