The Pros and Cons of Gender Selection

There are quite a few advantages and disadvantages to gender selection. Many people would argue that it's not up to a couple to decide the gender of their children. Others argue that gender selection is important, because a couple can choose the genders that they feel they are well suited to raise. Here are some pros and cons of gender selection.

Pros:

Helps determine the size of a family. Many couples want two or three children. And, most that I know, want at least one girl and one boy. With gender selection, couples can have that. I stood in line at the doctor's office in front of a woman who was pregnant with her sixth son. She was so disappointed. She had five boys and they tried one last time for a girl, and she ended up with another son. I admit, that I felt kind of bad for her. Boys are blessings, but they are usually high energy, and love to get into everything.

Couples get the gender they desire. One lady that I know was so depressed throughout the rest of her pregnancy because she was having a boy. She really did not want to have a son. I don't know how she responded after having him, but prior to his birth she suffered from depression over having a boy. Another lady that I know gave birth to a son that she thought would be a girl. She was so distraught over having a son that she refused to hold him until she left the hospital and had to.

Economics. For couples that have children close together, it could be economically advantageous to have the same sex close together. The new baby could have the older child's hand me downs.

More time to prepare. Knowing the gender in advance helps with preparing for the new baby.

Sense of empowerment by being able to choose.Shared decision with your spouse.

Cons:

Takes God out of the equation. He will give you the children and gender that you need. By selecting the gender you think you should have, you may be circumventing possible blessings. If I chose gender selection I would definitely have chosen to have a girl first, then a boy. But, as God would have it, I had a boy first, then a girl. Now, looking back on it, I'm so thankful and grateful that I had my son first. I think it's best to leave gender selection up to God. But, I can understand in situations where there are multiple children of one sex and a couple wants to have at least one of the opposite sex.

Expensive. If a couple is going through fertility treatments to have children, they have the option of choosing the sex of the baby. There are high expenses.

Disapproval of family and friends. Many feel that you should leave gender selection up to God.

No surprises. There is an element of excitement and surprise when choosing not to determine your baby's gender. That's part of the joy of preparing for the baby, the element of surprise.

Can create a negative family dynamic. Maybe if left up to chance, it would've been best for a certain couple to only have girls or only have boys. Reasons beyond our imagination or knowledge.

Couple may regret decision later. If it's not a choice, then you can't go back and say, "Oh, I should have chosen the other way." But, when the decision is up to you, then sometimes regrets can creep in later. Be sure that gender selection is the best choice for your family, before making such an important and life changing decision.