In the past, an expectant mother who wanted to know the gender of her unborn baby had to wait for a sonogram 20 weeks into her pregnancy. But now an at-home test can determine a baby’s sex only 10 weeks in, with 78 to 80 percent accuracy, according to IntelliGender, the test’s creator.
When we asked the company’s rep exactly how the test worked, we were told what we pretty much already knew: It’s an analysis of urine in which chemicals react with hormones to indicate the gender of the baby. It takes about 10 minutes for the urine sample to turn either orange (for a girl) or green (for a boy). Interestingly, recent sexual activity can yield a false “boy” result.
The tests won’t be sold in India and China, where an overriding preference for male babies could prompt a rash of terminated pregnancies for women carrying girls. Here in the States, the company warns against a somewhat less drastic reaction parents might have when they see the results: painting the nursery a gender-specific color.
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Image: flickr / peasap
June 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
“The tests won’t be sold in India and China, where an overriding preference for male babies could prompt a rash of terminated pregnancies for women carrying girls.”
They won’t be sold legally. You can bet they’ll be available on the black market and, naturally, without the medical guidance to use these tests to get any kind of real accuracy.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
That test could actually spawn some cultural evolution in China & India. As some parts of China have already discovered, the shortage of females is forcing some cousins to marry – a practice frowned upon. If a test like this did dramatically decrease the relative numbers of females, then suddenly they might realize that “Oh, females are valuable.” and even reverse, or hopefully discontinue, the whole dowry concept (”illegal” but still practiced in India). In less than 20 years we could see a dramatic paradigm shift, as well as needed negative population growth.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Given the population bias in such areas, it’s pretty obvious that such gender selection is happening already. I don’t see much point in banning the tests, particularly if they mean an earlier termination.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
what is the accuracy of this test? it could lead to a lot of unnecessary abortions, etc.
A hormonal method for sex detection is susceptible to so many problems, I doubt it could be more than 60 – 70% accurate. aS for the concept of reversing the value of females, the current evidence does not support that. The rarity of females in China has not made them more valuable, but more of a commodity. As something to be stolen, bought, sold or bartered away at once or piecemeal (forced prostitution). There are now organized groups specializing in smuggling females from other Asian countries into China to satisfy demand.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
need to know what is symtomos for boy and girl baby during pregnancy.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
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July 1st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
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October 7th, 2009 at 2:24 am
thanks
is it available in syria or in any arabian contry
please how can I get this test