how early can you find out the sex?

shannykay

Hey Ladies,

 Just a quick question.  Does anyone know how early you can actually determine the sex of the baby?? My husband keeps telling me his friend found out at 12 weeks.

forensicmama

I think 16 weeks by ultrasound. Some can make educated guesses at 12 weeks, but few are as accurate as at later dates. The closer you get to 20 weeks, the more accurate you are.

forensicmama

ETA... did your DH's friend have a boy? At 12 weeks, boys and girls look like they both have little penises... it's the "angle" of those penis-like structures that give the clue to gender. Some people see the little "penis" and think, "It's a boy!" when that's only 50% correct if you just go by that.

KariChadDora

Anything before 15ish weeks is really just an educated guess.  After 15-16 weeks you can get a more definitive answer. 

Junebug060609

I think the pp's are right on with what they've said.  I just wanted to add that I believe that the CVS testing can tell male/female.  I believe that is done around where we're at now (late 1st tri-early 2nd tri). 

shannykay

thanx ladies. Ya, her utlra sound said it was a boy.  I thought she might have gotten scammed, even though they ended up being right.  She paid $40 at a mall to get an ultra sound done.  I decided not to go wtih it I would rather wait and not have to pay a dime. 

DomerJenC

yeah, if they do add'l genetic testing (cvs and amnio) they can tell you the sex.

triple_sevens

As other ladies said, genetic testing is the only way to know for sure at that point. My BIL and SIL had a CVS at 12/13 weeks and found out the sex then. My office will give you the sex at the 16 week level 1 scan.

skeenan293

My doctor's office wont even discuss the sex until 18-20 weeks because it is easier to detect at that point.

cantalopes24

Sometimes they can tell at the NT scan because they can see the ovaries inside the babys body.

lizzonyc

I actually had an ultrasound yesterday and the Dr asked if I wanted to know and of course I blurted out "yes!!!"

The baby was on its head with its legs spread wide open and he showed me what looked like an equal sign (=).  He said that 'marking' usually means its a girl...I'm going back for another checkup at 17 weeks so we'll see if he was right.  I'm not running out buying anything pink yet, but my husband and I have a gut feeling it is a girl from the start