Gender selection with IVF and genetic testing.
Choosing the sex of your next baby with IVF/ICSI and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), for family balancing or to avoid a sex-linked genetic condition. Planned by Dr. Omar Aboali, MRCOG, with a diploma in genetic diseases from Harvard.
Ask about gender selection- Method
- IVF/ICSI, embryo biopsy on day 5, PGT of each embryo
- Accuracy
- Over 99% for the sex of each tested embryo
- Bonus of testing
- Embryos are also checked for chromosomal abnormalities
- Time in Egypt
- About 2 weeks, then 3–5 days for the transfer
- First step
- A video consultation and a review of your reports
- Legal status
- Permitted in Egypt, for medical reasons and family balancing
The only reliable method is testing the embryo
Sex is decided by the sex chromosomes: XX for a girl, XY for a boy. With IVF, each embryo can be tested before transfer. A few cells are taken from the outer layer of the embryo on day 5 — the part that becomes the placenta, not the baby — and analysed by PGT. The report shows whether each embryo is chromosomally normal and whether it is XX or XY. Only an embryo of the sex you have chosen, and with a normal result, is transferred. Diets, timing of intercourse and sperm-sorting methods do not give comparable reliability.
- 01from home
Video consultation
Your history, previous pregnancies and tests reviewed online, with an honest estimate of how many embryos you can expect.
- 022–4 weeks
Preparation
Blood tests and a semen analysis, which can usually be done where you live. We send the list.
- 03≈ 2 weeks in Egypt
Stimulation and retrieval
Monitoring visits for 8–12 days, then egg retrieval under light sedation (about 20 minutes).
- 041–2 weeks
The lab and PGT
Fertilization by ICSI, embryo culture to day 5, biopsy, and genetic testing. All embryos are frozen while results come back.
- 05by video
Results
We go through the report with you: how many embryos are normal, and of which sex.
- 063–5 days in Egypt
Frozen embryo transfer
A short second trip for the transfer of one embryo of the chosen sex, then a pregnancy test 10–14 days later.
Two reasons couples choose it
Family balancing
Couples who already have children of one sex and would like a child of the other.
Sex-linked genetic conditions
Families carrying an X-linked condition such as haemophilia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, where the sex of the embryo changes the risk. PGT-M can also test for the specific mutation.
What the treatment can and cannot promise
- Testing is accurate, but a pregnancy is never guaranteed. Each transfer carries the success rate of a single tested embryo at your age.
- You need at least one normal embryo of the chosen sex. Some cycles produce only one sex, or none that are chromosomally normal.
- Age matters most. Women over 38 produce fewer normal embryos, and a second cycle is more often needed.
- Embryos of the other sex are not destroyed. They stay frozen in your name, and you decide later whether to use, keep or discard them.
For patients from Europe, the UK, the US and the Gulf
Sex selection for family balancing is not available in many countries, including the UK and most of the EU, and couples travel to Egypt for it. The consultation, planning and results review happen online. Rules on travelling abroad for treatment differ between countries, so check those that apply to you.
Gender selection: common questions
PGT identifies the sex chromosomes of a tested embryo with over 99% accuracy. What is not guaranteed is the pregnancy itself: each transfer has the success rate of one healthy embryo at your age.
Yes. Licensed fertility clinics in Egypt offer sex selection with PGT both for medical reasons and for family balancing.
Yes. Couples choose either sex. The choice depends only on having a normal embryo of that sex in your cycle.
Usually about two weeks for stimulation and egg retrieval, then a second trip of three to five days for the frozen embryo transfer once the genetic results are back. Some patients prefer one longer stay of around four to five weeks.
The biopsy takes a few cells from the outer layer, which goes on to form the placenta. It is a standard laboratory procedure done on day 5 by experienced embryologists.
They remain frozen and belong to you. You can use them later, keep them stored, or decide otherwise. Nothing is done without your written consent.
It depends on the protocol, the number of embryos tested and whether a second cycle is needed. After reviewing your reports, you receive a written plan with the expected costs before you book any travel.
Yes. Testing the embryo is the only reliable way to choose its sex, and testing needs embryos created by IVF/ICSI. Couples without fertility problems usually respond well to stimulation.
Related articles
All articles
Gender selection: how to choose the gender of your baby through IVF
How IVF with embryo genetic testing lets couples choose a boy or a girl, family balancing and medical reasons, availability in Egypt, and realistic chances.
IVF for gender selection: how does it work and what are your options?
How IVF with embryo genetic testing identifies the chromosomal sex of embryos, the difference between PGT-A and PGT-M, success factors, and treatment in Egypt.
PGT-A and IVF: when is embryo genetic testing recommended?
What PGT-A tests for, how it works during IVF, and when it helps: advanced maternal age, repeated IVF failure and recurrent miscarriage.
Start with a video consultation.
Send your history and any previous tests on WhatsApp. Dr. Omar reviews them and tells you what to expect from a cycle.