Conceiving a girl - is it harder?

[Heather1977]

We are TTC #3 and already have 2 DS. We are following the Shettles/Chestermann Philips theory of sex pre-ovulation. We have been trying for 3 months now (I know it is not that long, but I conceived the first 2 straight away) and feel that I am just being too cautious as we have been stopping around 3 or 4 days before ovulation. How far should I go?? To one day before? I know it all may be a load of old nonsense but there seem to be a lot of success stories. It seems like it would be a lot easier if TTC a boy!! Anyone in the same boat or have experience?

[dozily]

I conceived straight away too. Three dds!

Sorry not very helpful I know. Good luck!

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

The risk of timing before ovulation is that you run the risk of missing out on the right time completely! Yes it's probably easier to try to conceive a boy although I'd take those methods with a pinch of salt.

You were very fortunate to conceive so quickly the first two times. Realistically, if everything is ok still you have an 80% chance if conceiving within a year.

[moggle]

I doubt the chance is still 80% if you are stopping after 3-4 days before ovulation every month... You're banking on the sperm and your, ahem, environment being good enough for the sperm to hang out happily for a good few days before the egg is released.

Anyway it does sound like (if the shettles method really works) boys are easier to "get"... Along the same lines, if the shettles method really does work, we'd presumably see a higher proportion of girls born to people using the rhythm method for contraception as they stop having sex well before ovulation? (but some sperm may hang around...)

[Wishihadabs]

We used this method got dd on the 3rd month. Got Ds accidentally.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Oh yes moggle I didn't think of that! 80% chance of conceiving within a year if you're having regular sex..

[IrnBruTheNoo]

You get the gender you get, there is no point analysing it. Just have sex when you feel like it and what will be, will be. If you're meant to have three boys you'll soon know about it. Same if you're meant to have two sons and a daughter.

[christinarossetti]

I think only 25% or so couples conceive the first month of trying, so you were very lucky twice and are waiting a little longer with this one.

I don't think it can be 'more difficult' to conceive girls as just over 50% of the population is female....

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

I think it's 'more difficult' to conceive a baby if you're trying for a girl..,

There's a 25% chance of conceiving per cycle if you have sex at the right time and there's no underlying fertility problems....

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Most couples I know have more boys than girls. Girls are in a minority, really.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

It's because men die younger. Means they need a slightly higher birth rate.

[Heather1977]

Yes, its strange, out of all my group of friends with young children, there are 15 boys and 1 girl! My theory is that they are all so busy working that they are saving sex for ovulation, and ending up with boys!
I know the subject of wanting a certain sex is a difficult one but I´m not ashamed to admit that I long for a girl. Many reasons why, very difficult relationship with my own mum being one of them. I am besotted with my two DS, and would be with a 3rd DS, but I would like to try...

[Jamdoughnutfiend]

2 DDs both the first month of trying - is the luck of the draw

[IrnBruTheNoo]

It is all purely down to chance and nothing else. Reading into it about this method and that method will only cause you more grief if you don't get the gender you 'want'.

I have two boys, btw. It would have been nice to raise one of each gender, but hey ho, it wasn't to be. There are worse things in life to be down about, tbh...