Short answer:
Yes, in many surrogacy journeys, it is medically possible to choose the gender of the baby—but it’s not always guaranteed, legal, or ethically supported everywhere.
Let’s break it down.
1. How Is Gender Selection Possible in Surrogacy?
Gender selection in surrogacy typically happens during IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Through a process called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A or PGT-SR), embryos can be screened for chromosomal information—including the sex chromosomes (XX or XY).
Once embryos are created and tested, the intended parents may choose which embryo to transfer based on gender.
2. Why Do Some Parents Want to Choose?
There are a few reasons why intended parents might wish to choose their baby’s gender:
- Family balancing: For example, if they already have sons and hope for a daughter.
- Cultural or personal preferences.
- Medical reasons: To avoid passing on sex-linked genetic disorders (like hemophilia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy).
3. Is It Legal to Choose Gender in Surrogacy?
It depends on the country and even the clinic.
- USA: Gender selection for non-medical reasons is legal and commonly practiced at many fertility clinics.
- Canada, UK, Australia: Often restricted or prohibited, unless there is a strong medical justification.
- India, China, many EU countries: Often illegal or tightly regulated to prevent gender bias.
So legality and availability are highly location-dependent.
4. Are There Ethical Concerns?
Yes. Many experts and organizations argue that non-medical gender selection may:
- Encourage gender bias
- Create social imbalance
- Turn reproduction into a “designer baby” system
Some surrogates and agencies may also have personal or ethical boundaries regarding gender selection.
5. What If You Don’t Want to Choose?
That’s perfectly valid too. Many intended parents choose to leave it to chance, and implant the best quality embryo regardless of sex.
Conclusion
Yes—you can choose gender in surrogacy in many parts of the world, particularly if IVF is involved and if local laws permit it. However, it’s important to consider the legal, ethical, and emotional aspects before making a decision.
Talk openly with your clinic, agency, and surrogate to understand the options and find a path that aligns with your values.
