Gender Predictions: How and When You Can Know Your Baby's Sex

Curious about whether you're having a boy or girl? You're not alone. There are reliable medical options and a bunch of myths. I'll walk you through what actually works, when to test, and what to avoid.

The earliest accurate noninvasive option is cell free DNA testing. Also called NIPT, it analyzes fetal DNA fragments in your blood and can report sex around nine to ten weeks. Labs that run NIPT are usually accurate for sex but the main reason to do one is screening for chromosomal conditions. If you want sex info, ask your clinician to include it.

Diagnostic tests like chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis tell sex and confirm chromosomes with near 100 percent accuracy. CVS is done around ten to thirteen weeks and amnio around fifteen to twenty weeks. Both are invasive and carry a small risk of miscarriage. Only consider them if you need genetic diagnosis, and discuss risks with your doctor.

Reliable tests

Ultrasound anatomy scan at about eighteen to twenty weeks is the most common method people use. A trained sonographer can usually tell sex then, but accuracy depends on fetal position, gestational age, and equipment quality. Sometimes the tech will say they can’t see clearly and ask you to come back or schedule a later scan.

Early ultrasounds sometimes use the “nub theory” around eleven to thirteen weeks. It looks at genital angle, but it’s not as reliable as NIPT. Treat early ultrasound guesses as tentative.

What to avoid and practical tips

Skip commercial home tests that claim to predict sex very early from urine. Many lack independent validation and can give false results. Also be cautious with social or cultural pressure to find out sex early. Make decisions with your partner and healthcare team.

Practical tips: if you want accurate noninvasive results, ask about NIPT after nine weeks. If you prefer to wait, plan for the anatomy scan near twenty weeks. If you get a result, confirm what the lab reported and ask about error rates. Record keeping helps in case you need later confirmation.

If sex selection or genetic reasons are on your mind, talk to a genetic counselor. Procedures like preimplantation genetic testing during IVF can select embryos but are regulated and reserved for specific medical cases.

Bottom line: NIPT and diagnostic tests give the clearest answers; the routine ultrasound is usually reliable by twenty weeks; folklore methods are fun but not dependable. Talk to your provider to pick the right route for you.

Quick timing checklist: blood-based NIPT: available from about nine weeks and often returned in one to two weeks; anatomy ultrasound: usually 18–22 weeks and gives a high chance to see sex; CVS: 10–13 weeks for diagnostic results, ask about miscarriage risk numbers from your clinic; amniocentesis: 15–20 weeks with similar diagnostic certainty. Always get results in writing and keep one copy for your medical record. If confused, ask your midwife or genetic counselor for guidance today.