The Procedure:

>>TO BEGIN | QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COST | REFERENCES

The technique developed by Ronald Ericsson, Ph.D., of Gametrics, Ltd., Montana, for sex selection has been used extensively and is presently offered by numerous centers in the United State and worldwide.

The process for both the male and the female selections begin with the sperm filtration. Although the two procedures differ in concentrations and incubation, they both are similarly filtered through a salt protein solution within isolation columns (or small test tubes). At the final incubation, the bottom layer of the filtration is collected and processed for artificial insemination. This is a procedure where the physician will place the prepared specimen either intra-cervical (female procedure) or intra-uterine (male procedure). For the female selection, the sperm filtration technique is used in conjunction with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate, to change the cervical mucus, for the insemination of the sperm.

The success for the male selection is approximately 83% and the female procedure is approximately 78%. On an average, conception has been occurring for both procedures after 3 to 4 cycles.

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The first step to begin the program will be a consultation appointment. At this appointment, the doctor will review the couple's medical history, the women's gynecological history, menstrual cycles and ovulation predicting (there will be no physical examination). For couples interested in the female selection, the doctor will give the patient a prescription for Clomid (clomiphene citrate). This is for the female selection only and it is a very important part of that process. After you have had your consultation and you are ready to begin the program, call the medical technologist when your cycle starts (this is cycle day one). We will discuss your ovulation timing and tentative dates for the insemination procedure will be given. Please feel free to confirm these dates with an ovulation predictor kit (OPK), basal body temperature (BBT) charting, using a ClearPlan Fertility Monitor, or any other means of ovulation detection. It's requested that you stay in contact (even if it's on a daily basis) with the laboratory regarding your ovulation evaluation, especially when they do not coincide with the tentative dates initially given. Our laboratory works on an appointment basis.

If you cannot conveniently come to the office for your initial consultation, we can also accommodate couples that travel from out-of-town with applying the consultation at the same time of the first insemination. Be sure to coordinate this type of appointment when you call and be sure to print off the information listed on the "Information Package" page.

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Q: Is gender pre-selection for me?
A: The decision must be made with serious consideration. Gender pre-selection meets a very personal need for many couples. It has been used to establish a gender balance within a family or to lessen the risk of gender-related hereditary diseases (i.e. Duschenne's Disease).

Q: Will I have a healthy baby?
A: Artificial insemination with isolated sperm shows no greater occurrence of birth defects than normal insemination through intercourse.

Q: Are miscarriages more common?
A: The likelihood is no greater or less than that of a naturally conceived pregnancy, which is presently estimated at one out of four pregnancies.

Q: Who will be told about my conceiving in this manner?
A: This process is totally confidential. Our physicians will release no information about you unless so authorized.

Q: Am I guaranteed the child of desired sex by sex selection procedure?
A: The outcome of pregnancies so conceived can never be guaranteed, because sperm isolation does not completely separate X from Y chromosome sperm. The statistics for each procedure will be discussed with you before processing.

Q: How can I get more information about the sex selection procedure?
A: You can make an appointment with one of our gynecologists. Further reading material and information will be made available at that time.

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The cost of procedure is as follows:

Initial Consultation... $100

One insemination per cycle (includes the gender selection process)… $600

Two inseminations per cycle (includes the gender selection process)… $900

Sundays and Holidays are an additional charge… $200

Full payment is required at the time of the service. Payment will be accepted in the form of cash, money order, personal check and major credit cards. Since this process is an elective procedure, most insurance companies will not cover the procedure cost.

When reviewing this information, please feel free to contact Jennifer, our Medical Technologist, regarding any questions. For an appointment for the initial consultation, the receptionist will be able to set up the time and date with you.

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Selected from the 113 published scientific papers.

1. Ericsson, R.J., Langevin, C.N. and Nishino, M. (1973)
   Isolation of fractions rich in human Y sperm.
   Nature 246, 421-424.
   
   
2. David, G., Jeulin, C., Boyce, A. and Schwartz, D (1977)
   Moiility and percentage of Y- and YY- bearing spermatozoa in human semen samples after passage through bovine serum albumin. Journal of reproduction and Fertility 50, 377-379.
   
   
3. Ericsson, S.A. and Ericsson, R.J. (1992)
   Couples with offspring have an increased probability of a male child after using male sex preselection. Human Reproduction 7, 372-373.
   
   
4. Beernink, F.J., Dmowski, W.P. and Ericsson, R.J. (1993)
   Sex preselection through albumin separation of sperm. Ferility and Sterility 59, 382-386.
   
   
5. Pyzak. R. (1994)
   Separation of the X- and Y- bearing spermatozoa using albumin gradients. Human Reproduction 9, 1788-1 790.
   

6. Liu, P. and Rose, G.A. (1995)
   Social Aspects of >800 couples coming forward for gender selection of their children. Reproduction 10, 968-971.
   

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