Sex selection is a method that may be used by couples that would like to have a child of a certain gender. There are a few methods of sex selection that may be used before the conception or after it; however, these methods may raise ethical concerns.
Sex Selection Methods
The sex selection of the child may be chosen before or after conception. The methods used before the conception include:
- Sperm sorting, getting all the X chromosome sperm separated from the Y chromosome sperm and performing artificial insemination afterwards, using the selected sperm
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is used for in vitro fertilization and the sperm is selected before implantation. This method is also helpful to prevent birth defects.
There are also methods to draw blood from the fetus to determine its sex, and this method can be performed as early as week 6 of pregnancy. There are also other methods that are illegal and unethical, but still practiced by some parents, such as abandoning their baby after birth.
Ethical Concerns
Sex selection is considered unethical and raises a few concerns. For starters, the methods used after conception are cruel, and killing the fetus or the baby is a severe crime. The methods used before conception may also lead to discrimination and potential disappointment.
Discrimination
The technologies used prior to conception may be considered moral by some, but there are also people that consider these immoral. This is because they consider the sex selection a case of gender discrimination and may lead to a higher percentage of males or females in the world or a geographical area (potentially causing discrimination against the minority group).
Not Natural
There are also groups that oppose to sex selection, considering this procedure an unnatural act. If science interferes with the conception, selecting the sex of the child, this child is like an artificial experiment.
Against God’s Will
There are people that consider sex selection an act that is going against God’s will. Religious people rarely opt for sex selection, as this is considered a sin, and God’s plan should be respected.
The sex selection raises complex ethical concerns, which you should be aware of.
