Shettles Method

Little Russian Bird · December 2010

Have any of you used the Shettles method to attempt to get a preferred gender? I realize it's a debateable method and theory, so just wondering about personal experiences. The method claims 75% accuracy for trying for a girl and 80% for those trying for a boy. If you used the method, did you follow all the rules to the letter or fudge in some areas. Did you get the gender you are hoping for? I read the book on it from cover to cover and it sounds convincing, however, I'm no medical expert. Will you ladies please weigh in on it?

staycee · December 2010

Little Russian Bird:
If you used the method, did you follow all the rules to the letter or fudge in some areas.

what exactly are the rules and how can they be fudged?

I just thought it was: Sex several days before O = girl, and sex on O day = boy.

we didn't try for a specific gender, but looking back on our timing, #1 should have been a boy (wrong, she's a girl). #2 should have been a girl (correct) So I guess my experience is running at about 50%

RunningGal900 · December 2010

We didn't actually practice the method, but based on the theory ours should have been a boy and he is. Although we had sex the 5 days before O, the day of O and two days after O, so I'm not certain you can say it should have been one or the other.

ManiacMcGee · December 2010

There is such a small window of opportunity to actually conceive, I wasn't going to thin my chances any more by only having sex on certain days. By charting my BBT and using OPK's I had as much sex as possible before, during, and after ovulation and didn't even think about the sex of the phantom baby.

But then again, I didn't get into this baby-making business wanting a specific sex.

heylee · December 2010

We followed some of it but we had sex before O and are pregnant with girls. Maybe if I waited a little longer it would have been boys. No sure way for me to tell though.

BetchySprout · December 2010

There is more to do with Shettles than just sex timing, such as vaginal Ph and what you eat, etc. (I read too much Ingender, judge me whatever, I was curious).

miesl · December 2010

Well, I had IUIs 24 before O and approx. at O (trigger shot).

I'm having b/g twins.

If you truly have a "preferred" gender - you should head over to in-gender.com's forums. You'll find a lot friendlier place (gender disapointment gets a well justified side-eye here) and advice from people who will have tried those things.

Little Russian Bird · December 2010

staycee:

Little Russian Bird:
If you used the method, did you follow all the rules to the letter or fudge in some areas.

what exactly are the rules and how can they be fudged?

I just thought it was: Sex several days before O = girl, and sex on O day = boy.

The timing you listed is correct according to the book, but they also mention stuff like no caffeine for either the man or the woman when trying for a girl, certain positions helping by how close the spermies are to the cervix upon "deposit", woman needs to try to O when trying for a boy, but not for a girl, etc... I think there were several more, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

jteneback · December 2010

ManiacMcGee:

There is such a small window of opportunity to actually conceive, I wasn't going to thin my chances any more by only having sex on certain days.

This...we would up having sex the day before O, so it "should" be a boy. We will find out in April!

sarahns80 · December 2010

We had sex the day before O and it's a boy so it proved right for us.

staycee · December 2010

Little Russian Bird:
staycee:

Little Russian Bird:
If you used the method, did you follow all the rules to the letter or fudge in some areas.

what exactly are the rules and how can they be fudged?

I just thought it was: Sex several days before O = girl, and sex on O day = boy.

The timing you listed is correct according to the book, but they also mention stuff like no caffeine for either the man or the woman when trying for a girl, certain positions helping by how close the spermies are to the cervix upon "deposit", woman needs to try to O when trying for a boy, but not for a girl, etc... I think there were several more, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

both of us were on limited caffiene (1 drink per day) per our RE when in treatment for DD#1. We were regularly drinking caffeine when BFP for DD#2 came along. I've never heard the no caffiene thing - wonder what they theory is behind that.

JenWen3 · December 2010

Here's my BFP chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2c67fd

Looks like I should be expecting a boy?

I'll find out for sure in April! I don't care either way.

p1nklemonade · December 2010

we weren't following shettles, but based purely on timing alone, we should have a girl and indeed we are.

blessedandhopeful · December 2010

We weren't trying for a certain gender, but I know based on what I was eating and when we conceived (2 or 3 days before O), this baby *should* be a girl, according to Shettles. Well, he's definitely a boy! Smile

I wouldn't put too much stock in it (or any other gender determination method) at this point. You get what you get and pray it is healthy and happy.

ckolak:-) · December 2010

I read the book for this one, and we tried for a girl. We find out on Wednesday but I've really been feeling like it's a girl from the beginning. The only thing we "fudged" was that I had an orgasm. Otherwise we followed everything exactly (no douches, because they don't recommend that any more), and we did try to have DH's sperm count lower (lots of hot baths) because his family produces all boys (which, according to the book, indicates a high sperm count in many cases).

With DS we hadn't read the book but timing-wise it worked out so he should have been (and is) a boy; we had sex the day after O.

I have an analysis of a bunch of fertility friend charts in my blog about this...here's the link. https://mamasmockingbird.blogspot.com/2010/08/shettles-method-and-fun-with-numbers.html

FWIW the person I got the book from got the boy she had wanted after several girls.

ETA: My sister also got a boy this way after her husband had 3 girls (2 from his first marriage, one with my sister).

rowanthefrog · December 2010

My friend tried it. They had sex once, 6 days before ovulation. She's having a boy, so it didn't work for her.

We didn't really try anything according to the method, we just had lots and lots of sex the days leading up to, O day, and the day after....we have 2 boys....which would make sense according to Shettles.

A

leneae10 · December 2010

Jeebus. This sounds like a whole hell of a lot of work - we just wanted a baby. This is our 3rd boy, and I don't care if I have 12 more boys.

BoomSmash · December 2010

I got pregnant on O day both times. My first is a girl. No idea what this baby is yet.

jenerally? · December 2010

For DS1, we had sex on O day and he was a boy.
For DS2, we had sex during O week and I don't know what day we actually conceived, but he was definitely a boy.

For this baby, we had sex 3 days before O. We'll find out in 15 days if it's a boy or a girl.

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