Gender Selection with ICSI

[KrissyLee85]

Hi all,
Just wondering if any one had any wisdom on the subject of wether gender selection is possible/legal through ICSI?
Please dont reply with negative comments on moral issues, Just wondering if its possible and or leagl.
Thanks for you help!!

[melbel]

Gender selection is not possible with ICSI......you would need to do PGD as well which is another $3500 - $4000 out of pocket. also it is not legal here in Australia to select for gender.....the only exceptions to this are if you are trying to avoid a sex linked genetic serious illness like haemophilia etc. To select just because you want a girl or a boy is not legal here in this counry at this stage. Hope that helps

[Sara69]

Hi,

The following comes from the Sydney IVF website and may be helpful:

Sydney IVF has previously offered sex selection treatment, using a technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, provided couples understood that there would be no subsidy from Medicare for the treatment involved.

We suspended our sex selection program in February 2005 following the release of an opposing clinical practice guideline (based on moral reasons) by the Australian Health Ethics Committee.

While we are no longer able to provide sex selection for family balancing reasons, sex selection is still available through Sydney IVF for medical reasons (for example, to prevent the transmission of a sex-linked genetic disease) and this form of treatment is usually covered by Medicare.

IVF with PGD and selection of embryos according to sex for family balancing, however, is therefore presently suspended "pending further community discussion".

Should you wish to contact the NHMRC and their AHEC (Australian Health Ethics Committee) division to encourage such community discussion, their website is: National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC and the contact phone number is 02 6289 9575.
Where can I go?

Meanwhile, we are frequently asked where IVF for sex selection is available outside of Australia. Geographically the clinic that is closest to Australia and which we can recommend is Superior ART in Bangkok, Thailand, a clinic with which we have an ongoing relationship enabling them to provide high quality embryo culture, blastocyst biopsy and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Sydney IVF cannot take responsibility for your decision to pursue such treatment, which carries physical and psychological hazards that might not be explained to you to the standard of informed consent we might expect at a clinic fully under our control in Australia.

[KrissyLee85]

Thank you so much for that information. I honestly had no idea. My DH and i start IVF next month and i was asked by a friend if i was going to ask for a boy or girl, my response was "i dont think thats even possible!"
The blessing of a healthy baby any sex for us would be a mircle anyway!!
Thanks again!!

[tiggerlinda]

Good luck with the IVF sweetie but it is not possible unless there is some need. I do know that the Clinic knew what they put back in me 2 embies this time but they could not tell me even if they wanted too. I also know that these were the strongest 2 embies. I would like to think it was one of each and the universe decided which one took for me.

[KrissyLee85]

thanks tiggerlinda, i always love hearing about positive ivf experiences!!!
We are also hoping to get 2 embies put in, was it difficult for you to get permission for them to be put in?