Couples with fertility issues often turn to reproductive science and medicine for answers. The medical field is constantly growing and new innovations are introduced every year. Several treatments and procedures are used to help individuals and couples that are having trouble conceiving. From in vitro fertilization to intrauterine insemination to egg donations and egg freezing services, as well as surrogacy, fertility clinics in Florida are readily available to look to their patients' needs and desires.

One of the newer and less known services often provided by certain clinics is sex selection. Some couples want to be able to choose the sex of their child. Through a new procedure called sperm selection, couples are given the opportunity to choose whether they want to have a boy or a girl. As reproductive science grows and medical technology continues its continuous expansion, this procedure and others will continue to offer greater and greater success rates.

Currently, sperm selection has about a 60% success rate and may cost anywhere from $400 to $600. In this procedure, the X-chromosome sperm (female) are separated from the Y-chromosome sperm (male). The desired sperm is then used in an artificial insemination or an in vitro fertilization procedure.

Another option is preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In this procedure, in vitro fertilization is used to fertilize the egg with the sperm. When embryos have formed, DNA testing is used to determine which embryos are male and which are female. The desired embryos are then implanted in the uterus. While more expensive, often costing around $20,000, this procedure has close to a 100% success rate.

Some couples look to sex selection procedures for the freedom of choosing the sex of their baby. Others have had all girls or have had all boys and would like their next child to be of the other sex. Couples across the state of Florida and around the globe are turning to sex selection methods like preimplantation genetic diagnosis and sperm selection to choose the sex of their child.

Couples interested in these procedures and other infertility treatments should consult a doctor to make sure they are healthy enough to undergo the required procedures. As mentioned, sex selection procedures require artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization in addition to the sperm selection or preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Men and women interested in sex selection, in vitro fertilization or other artificial means of insemination should consult with their doctor for more information about these and other options.

Learn more about sex selection in Sarasota, Florida.