To wonder if the date of conception determines sex of baby?

[WildBelle]

In my limited experience it does but interested in others' experiences.

My understanding is that girl sperm live longer (7 days) and boy sperm swim faster, but die quicker (24 hours). So knowing that with both my kids I conceived on day 11 of my cycle, and didn't ovulate until day 14, they could only be girls (and they did turn out to be girls).

If you know for definite when you conceived/ovulated, does your experience back this theory up, or did you have an exception?

I only dtd on day 23 and had a dd. . This happened twice!

Wow day 23! How long were your cycles?

Yes, that's the theory.
There's no evidence that it works in practice - well, at least in my study of 4 it did not work even once

Oh well the theory is not really holding up so far then.

My experience seems to back this up (I think).

So I conceived late in my cycle (dtd after ovulation) and had a boy and early in my cycle (dtd before ovulation) and had a girl.

If this was true then DS2 should have been a girl

The theory worked for me - I have three boys and I'm certain all of them were conceived on the day I ovulated, which for me was day 14.

My cousin was planning girls using this logic and ended up with four boys - all four times she dtd at least 3 days before ovulation. On one occasion it was a week.

The theory worked for me - I have three boys and I'm certain all of them were conceived on the day I ovulated, which for me was day 14.

It's been thoroughly debunked. (plus its obvious nonsense)

DTD day of ovulation - boy

DTD 3 days before - girl

So it is accurate for me.

That's the theory, we had sex 4 days before ovulation and have DCDA (two eggs, two sperm) twin boys.

Don't know when dc1-3 were conceived but with dc4, I'd been for a smear and was told I was ovulating so dh raced home early (working away) and we dtd. Dc4 is a boy so the theory fits for him.

I had IUI before ovulation. I had it abroad after a false clear blue smiley face test resulted in me travelling Straightaway, anticipating the treatment. A scan showed I was not ovulating and still had not three days later. I had the treatment anyway on the off chance it would work and was told that if it did, it would be a girl because of the timings. It was a girl!

It was one book, based on nothing at all but a theory, that has been repeatedly disproved by actual science.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7477165

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9647580

I can't believe anyone still buys this crap.

I've got boy / girl twins. Work that one out

Yep, you're right. Conceived on an even number date = girl. Conceived on an odd number date = boy.

EastMidsMummy - glad to see we have a scientist in the thread.

I got boy/girl twins, so how does that fit into the theory?

I am pretty sure nobody is suggesting that boy/girl twins are impossible. The theory proposed is that girls are more likely than boys if you have treatment/intercourse prior to ovulation.

I can see the theory - see also certain positions for a boy, as it's supposed to shorten the distance for a fast swimming male sperm - but suspect in practice it's still pretty much 50/50!

Theory works for me. 3 girls all dtd before ovulation.
One time we tried for a boy and dtd on ovulation day and he was indeed a boy.
I also definitely ate a more healthy low fat diet with my girls. Probably all coincidence but who knows.

Of course its all coincidence.

Peoples fondness for anecdata and illogical beliefs is just bizarre.

I read the shettles book prior to last baby and swayed for a girl, did three days before ovulation then abstained. We have a girl. Whether it really works is anyone's guess but I'm pleased I gave it a go.

Conceived a boy on day 12 (of a normally 32 day cycle)