How to conceive a boy: The truth about how to have a boy

How to conceive a boy?
Sex selection of embryos is only available in Australia for medical reasons such as sex-linked chromosomal disorder. There is no surefire, scientifically proven natural method of predetermining your baby’s sex but if you are trying to conceive a boy there are some tips you might like to try.

If you’re wondering how to have a boy, you can’t guarantee your baby’s gender but there are a few natural methods that can’t hurt and might be worth a try. Speak to your doctor about your own individual circumstances, though, as dietary changes or supplements might not be right for you.

When is the best time to conceive?
In the 1960s, the idea that timing sex around ovulation was more likely to produce a girl or a boy became popular thanks to Dr Landrum Shettles, whose book, How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby, was a bestseller. He discovered that male-chromosome sperm move faster and die sooner and female-chromosome sperm move slower and live longer.

His theory was that if sex is timed as close to ovulation as possible (so just before, on the day of ovulation or just after), the Y sperm (leading to male babies) would arrive at the egg first. If it’s a few days before or after ovulation, the Y sperm are more likely to die off and the X sperm (leading to female babies) are more likely to arrive first.

Since his theory was popularised, the scientific evidence has been mixed and the most high-profile study has found no evidence to suggest that timing sex around ovulation led to a significant change in the resulting babies’ genders.

But if you’re keen to give it a go, you can chart your cycle using an ovulation calculator or ovulation prediction kit.

Sex positions to conceive baby
Deeper, more penetrative sex, such as when the woman is sitting on top, is said to be more likely to produce a boy, as the male sperm are closer to the egg and have a shorter distance to travel.

It also apparently means the women’s reproductive tract is more alkaline. It is more acidic closer to the opening of the vagina and acidity is supposed to kill the male sperm.

Again, this is based on Dr Shettles’ theories, as is the theory that if you are trying for a boy, you should have sex less frequently and abstain for up to five days before. None of these theories have been proven and in fact, experts say if you are trying to conceive, you should have sex as often as possible to maximise your chances of falling pregnant.

Boxers vs briefs
Some people believe wearing boxer shorts is better for producing male sperm as the scrotum doesn’t get as warm as with tighter underwear such as briefs and jocks. There doesn’t seem to be any scientific basis to this theory.

The boy diet
There are several theories that the foods you eat can influence your baby’s gender. Eating foods high in potassium and sodium, and avoiding foods high in calcium, is supposed to maximise your chances of having a boy. One study found mothers who ate cereal were more likely to have boys and another that women following a low-salt, high-calcium diet were more likely to produce girls.

The theory is that these minerals are supposed to affect the pH levels of the woman’s cervical mucus. A more alkaline environment is supposed to be better for the male sperm. However, experts say while there is some credibility to the theory, the pH levels in mucus change all the time because of the body’s natural cycles and not necessarily because of diet. 

But if you’d like to give it a try, eat plenty of bananas, broccoli, spinach and brussels sprouts, which are all high in potassium. While some might like to try cutting down on dairy, talk to your doctor first as it’s important that you get enough calcium.

Some also believe taking an evening primrose oil supplement can boost your chances of having a boy as it is said to improve the quality of your cervical mucus, but this is unproven. Don’t take any supplements without talking to your doctor first.

While there are several theories around conception, all that matters is that you try to stay fit and healthy and deliver a healthy baby, regardless of their gender.