Patient's question:
Dear Doctor:My wife is already seven months pregnant, and I would like to know if there are any methods other than ultrasound to determine the baby's gender.
Doctor's answer:
Blood Test to Determine Fetal Gender??Maternal Blood DNA Test: Utilizing genetic engineering technology, a blood sample is taken from the mother's veins to determine the gender of the fetus. It poses no risk to the fetus or the mother. As the report comes from a blood DNA laboratory, the accuracy of identification can now reach up to 98%. By analyzing chromosomes, gender can be inferred, especially for male babies, which show a strong positive reaction. The test can be performed after the baby is 8 weeks old, and results are available within about 3 days.
2. Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is primarily used to diagnose whether the fetus has chromosomal or neural tube defects. It is usually performed between weeks 16 and 20 of pregnancy. Since the fetus's chromosomes can be determined, the gender of the fetus can also be identified. The accuracy can reach up to 99%, but there is a 1% risk of miscarriage. Therefore, the medical community does not recommend amniocentesis solely for determining the fetal gender: Amniocentesis involves using a long needle to pierce through the mother's abdominal wall to extract amniotic fluid from the amniotic cavity, thereby examining the fetal condition.