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pH at Conception
Name: Susan K.
Status: Other
Grade: Other
Location: N/A
Country: United States
Date: March 2005
Question:
Can the pH of a woman's body at conception affect the sex
of the fetus? If so, how? Which pH is more likely to produce a male?
Replies:
Dear Susan,
I believe you're referring to 1 aspect of a widely reknown gender
selection theory, attributed to a 1984 book on "How to Choose the Sex
of Your Baby," by Dr. Landrum B. Shettles. The main considerations of
the so-called "Shettles Sex Selection Method" are summarized here:
http://www.mommyguide.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=11
The male sperm supposedly prefer a more alkaline pH. Although some of
these recommendations (e.g. scrotal temperature, abstinence, timing)
have gained support as methods to increase overall fertility in the
years since they were proposed, it's not clear that there's much
actual scientific data supporting their effectiveness for gender
selection, as also implied by the following discussions:
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/sex.html
http://www.ncssm.edu/ataglance/extra/2/MedEthics/Leach/sexpredetermination/testweb_leach/facts.htm
I apologize for the delay in responding & hope that this info. is still helpful,
Jeff Buzby, Ph.D.
CHOC Research Institute
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Update: June 2012
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