Debunking Common Myths About Conceiving a Boy

Over the years, many theories have emerged claiming you can sway the chances toward having a boy. Let’s review some of the most popular methods people talk about – and why science doesn’t support these claims [1][4]:

• Timing Intercourse Around Ovulation: One long-standing idea (often called the Shettles Method) is that when you have sex can influence a baby’s sex. The myth suggests having intercourse as close to ovulation as possible to conceive a boy, based on the notion that Y-chromosome (boy) sperm swim faster and will reach the egg first. In contrast, for a girl, it advises having sex earlier and avoiding the ovulation day. Reality: Careful research has debunked this timing theory. Studies – including a large analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine – have found no meaningful association between intercourse timing and having a male or female baby [1][4]. In fact, doctors note that timing sex around ovulation only helps you get pregnant at all, not choose a boy or girl. As one fertility specialist bluntly states, “timing of conception doesn’t play any role in your child’s sex” [1]. So, by all means track ovulation to maximize fertility, but don’t expect it to influence baby’s gender.

• Sexual Position and Orgasm: Another pervasive myth is that certain sexual positions or orgasm timing will favor conceiving a boy. For instance, deep penetration positions (like rear-entry) are said to deposit sperm closer to the cervix, supposedly giving those speedy Y-sperm a head start. Some also claim a woman’s orgasm (before the man ejaculates) creates an alkaline environment more hospitable to male sperm. Reality: There is no scientific evidence that sexual position has any effect on a baby’s sex [1]. Deeper penetration doesn’t change how fast or far sperm travel in a meaningful way – millions of sperm will still make their journey either way. Similarly, while female orgasm has many benefits, it doesn’t influence which sperm fertilizes the egg in terms of X vs. Y. These ideas are fun speculation but ultimately myths.

• Vaginal pH or Douching: In the past, some theories suggested “engineering” the vaginal environment to favor one sex. An old recommendation for conceiving a boy was to douche with a baking soda solution to make the vagina more alkaline (for a girl, a vinegar solution to make it acidic). The thought was that an alkaline pH might give male sperm an advantage. Reality: This one is not only false but potentially harmful. Douching does not improve chances of conceiving a boy (or girl); it can actually upset the natural vaginal flora and lead to infections [1]. Doctors strongly advise against douching for any reason, as it offers no benefit for gender selection and may cause irritation or other problems [1]. In short, don’t try this at home.

• Dietary Changes and Supplements: You may have heard that eating certain foods or following a special diet can increase the likelihood of a boy. One popular tip is to consume more sodium and potassium (think bananas and salty snacks) to conceive a boy, whereas more calcium and magnesium is said to favor a girl. There’s also a notion that a higher calorie intake or eating breakfast cereals leads to boy babies. Reality: Overall, no specific diet has been proven to guarantee a baby boy. It’s true that one study in 2008 found an association between higher maternal caloric intake (including more potassium-rich foods) and a slightly higher chance of having a son [1][3]. In that study, women who ate the most calories around conception had about 56% boys vs. 45% in the lowest-calorie group – a small difference [3]. However, experts point out that this amounted to only a ~5% increase in boy births, which is minimal and not a reliable method by any means [1]. Many other studies have failed to find any consistent diet effect. So while it’s always wise to eat healthy when trying to conceive, don’t bank on any “boy diet” to do the trick.

• Other Folk Tales: Countless other myths exist – from taking cough syrup to thin cervical mucus (a theory with no scientific merit [1]) to bizarre notions like conceiving during certain moon phases or having the man wear specific types of clothing. Rest assured, these have no basis in fact. For example, there’s no evidence that wearing boxers instead of briefs will increase your odds of having a son. While it’s true that extremely high scrotal temperatures can impair overall fertility, simply switching underwear style doesn’t influence the baby’s sex. In general, if a method sounds far-fetched or is not backed by medical research, it’s safe to consider it a myth. Numerous myths about conceiving a boy have been studied and disproven [1].

After reviewing these tales, a clear theme emerges: Ultimately, you cannot naturally control or “choose” your baby’s gender. If you’ve been trying these tricks, don’t feel bad – you’re certainly not alone in wishing for some influence. But it’s important to recognize that a baby’s sex is a genetic coin flip in normal conception. Focusing on your overall health and fertility will do more good than any gender-swaying myth.