One method of selecting the sex of your child that has proven to be effective is MicroSort®. How this works is that a sample of sperm is taken from the male and it is divided according to sex. The male sperm are separated from the female sperm. Usually, within a normal sperm sample, there is usually an equal number of male and female sperm. MicroSort® attempts to increase the likelihood that the sperm that is the gender that you would prefer has greater chances of fertilizing the egg. However, there cannot be a 100% guarantee since it is virtually impossible to have an entire sperm sample that has only sperm of one gender, meaning that you cannot have a sperm sample that contains exclusively male or female sperm.

The sperm that are found in the sample pass through a cytometer which serves the purpose of separating them into male and female. Since female sperm have 3 more DNA molecules than male sperm, the process of separating them is made possible. The sperm sample is then tested for purity by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This is a method used for DNA analysis. When the sample of sperm has been separated and tested, it is then placed in the woman’s uterus through a process called intrauterine insemination. This sample is usually placed in the woman’s body when she is almost ready to ovulate. Although MicroSort® is one of the more effective methods of sex selection; it is also one of the more expensive methods. The price range for one of the cycles of this procedure is approximately $4000USD.