Has anyone tried shettles method?

[Poppet626]

Hi

I want to try for a baby later on this year and I know it's silly to have a preference but I really do want a baby girl. Mostly because my mum passed away and I long for that mother daughter connection once again, amongst other reasons.

Obviously, a healthy baby is all that matters and either gender will be loved.

I have read a lot about the shettles method, where you time the sex with ovulation (meaning having sex 2-4 days before ovulation is more likely to result in a girl as girl sperms survive longer) and sex after that is may give a higher chance of a boy.

Obviously I know there is no garuntee and it's really always 50/50 but I thought it was worth asking if anyone tried this method and got their desired gender?

I'm not sure when I concieved my son around ovulation as he was a happy surprise lol but my daughter is the result of sex on peak ovulation day only that month!

I conceived both my children by only having sex once during my fertile window. One 5-6 days before ovulation. The other the day of or day after. They’re both boys.

I know a lot of people don’t believe this method to be true but my sister in law got pregnant twice days before ovulation and both times she’s had girls.

I am pregnant with number 3 and it was a but of a surprise baby, I didn’t ovulate until 3 days after we dtd. I have 2 boys currently but deep down would love a girl, but we’ll see.

FWIW my understanding is that statistically…
if the father is one of all boys and his father is one of all boys you’ll have a boy (true for us)
if you have 2 of one sex, the third will be the same sex. (True for my brother)

I don’t think this method would work. It is statistically more likely to conceive the closer you are to ovulation day. So if a boy is more likely during these days then there would be a lot more boys born compared to girls. It’s almost 50/50, it will never be exactly 50/50 but it is close enough to prove this theory is nonsense. I get you want a girl now and there’s a decent chance you will have one. But I’m sure when you hold your baby none of that will matter anymore.

Like @Millie1501 this 'method' is total tosh.

I don't know if there's any formal research about this but it definitely seems that families with a lot of boys on the male side (brothers, uncles, cousins etc) have more boys. I do know quite a few families where the 3rd child is a different sex but I think this has been statistically proven to be slightly less likely than 50/50.

The chances of a woman having a boy or a girl change very slightly throughout her menstrual cycle. If she gets pregnant earlier on, she’s marginally more likely to give birth to a male child. This is a true phenomenon seen at a whole population level, but the differences are much too tiny to be able to plan on an individual basis

This podcast explains it, I think it's fascinating!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/CbQ18g6MH5cts0PJvdKhGQ/why-are-more-boys-born-in-certain-years

@Foxtrotbeta But why would that be so? You can only get pregnant after you release an egg. I have long cycles so ovulate later than average. I can't get pregnant 'earlier' in my cycle and nor can thousands of other women.

That whole hypothesis is bizarre 🤔

Nope, my first was a girl and she was conceived 2 days before ovulation and my 2nd is a girl and conceived on the day of ovulation. If you research shettles it also says you need to completely change your diet up to 2 months before conception.

Scientifically it’s all down to what sperm makes it to that egg!

My understanding (may be wrong) is if the sperm are already there waiting or arrive towards end of eggs lifespan. Only a matter of hours, tiny margins which don't make a difference on an individual level but makes a difference at population level e.g. the returning soldier effect.

My husband and his brothers didn't have any sisters and we have two daughters and two nieces.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself OP. You don't know what your TTC journey is going to be like. When I was younger I wanted a girl but now with TTC struggles I just want a healthy baby.

You say you are planning for baby later this year? I hope it works out for you but just be aware that TTC can take months and often years. If you are someone who likes to have a lot of control over your life (like me!) it is a big adjustment!