Published on November 8th, 2019 and Updated on February 29th, 2024
Once you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll likely want to learn everything you can about your growing baby—including their sex.
In fact, you may be wondering, how many weeks do I have to be to find out the gender of my baby?
The answer to this question ultimately depends on which testing method you use. While ultrasounds can be up to 99% accurate at predicting gender between 18 to 20 weeks, some at-home gender tests can confirm your baby’s sex with over 99% accuracy1 as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy journey.
In total, there are seven scientific (and not-so-scientific) ways to determine the sex of your child, each of which must be performed at a specific time to ensure accurate results. Below, we’ll address each method and when it should be used so that you can determine how (and when) you want to find out who you’ll be meeting on delivery day.
When can you tell the sex of a baby?
Before we look at each gender testing method in detail, let’s address the main topic at hand:
What’s the earliest you can find out gender?
Here’s when various gender testing methods work with maximum accuracy, from earliest to latest:
- In vitro fertilization with sex selection – Before pregnancy
- At-home gender test – 6 weeks (SneakPeek Test)
- Chorionic villus sampling – 10 weeks
- Non-invasive prenatal test – 10 weeks
- Amniocentesis – 15 to 20 weeks
- Ultrasound – 18 to 20 weeks
No matter which method you choose, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider, OBGYN, or midwife before pursuing screening. While each of these methods is perfectly safe, some of them look for other conditions (like birth defects) as well as gender.
Methods for Determining Baby’s Sex
Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods for discovering your baby’s sex and how they work in practice.
#1 In Vitro Fertilization with Sex Selection for finding out baby’s gender
IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that can help women who struggle with fertility achieve a pregnancy. It’s a highly involved process during which mature eggs are harvested from ovaries, fertilized in a laboratory, and returned to the body for implantation in the uterus.
Parents who undergo in vitro fertilization have the option to select their baby’s sex even before implantation occurs, which eliminates the need to discover this trait later on in pregnancy.
However, not all parents who have a child via IVF elect to choose the gender of their baby. In these cases, you may use any of the other listed techniques to discover your baby’s sex.
How accurate is it: IVF with sex selection offers a remarkably high accuracy rate for determining the baby’s gender, with success rates exceeding 99%.
#2 At-Home Tests for finding out baby’s gender
Because of the significant strides made in DNA testing methods in recent years, there’s excellent news for parents-to-be wondering, how early can you find out gender?
The SneakPeek Early Gender Prediction test is a DNA-based, at-home gender test lets you discover your baby’s sex with over 99% accuracy1 as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy.
These test kits use a special, pain-free device to collect a small blood sample from the mom-to-be. The sample is then sent to a laboratory, where qPCR-based testing methods are used to look at the nucleic acids comprising the baby’s DNA, which can indicate gender.
How accurate is it: Among all of the available gender testing methods, this at-home test can tell a baby’s sex the earliest and with the highest accuracy-99%.
#3 Chorionic Villus Sampling for finding out baby’s gender
Chorionic villus sampling is a technique that can be performed as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy. This procedure may be administered in one of two ways:
- Transcervical, where a tube is inserted into your cervix
- Transabdominal, where a needle is inserted into your lower abdomen
During this procedure, your healthcare provider will locate your chorion—the most superficial layer of your placenta—to retrieve a small sample of villi. Villi are tiny extensions emanating from your placenta that interact with maternal blood and possess the same genetic material as your baby (including information about their gender).
While this procedure can be used to identify fetal sex, clinicians primarily use chorionic villus sampling to:
- Rule out chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome
- Screen for genetic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis
How accurate is it: Success rates typically exceed 98%.
#4 Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests for finding out baby’s gender
Non-invasive prenatal tests, or NIPTs, are primarily used as a means of screening fetuses for genetic abnormalities. These tests involve taking a small sample of blood, which is then sent to a lab to examine cell-free DNA, or cfDNA—a type of DNA that originates in the placenta and contains genetic information about your baby.
NIPTs are usually only offered to pregnant women who are at risk of giving birth to a baby with chromosomal or genetic disorders like Down Syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or Patau syndrome. Risk factors include:
- Being 35 or older
- Having a history of pregnancies with chromosomal abnormalities
- Having a personal or family history of chromosomal abnormalities
However, because NIPTs examine the fetus’ sex chromosomes, they can also determine gender.
NIPTs may be offered as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy, with NIPT test results typically arriving between 8 to 14 days.
How accurate is it: Often exceeding 99% in accuracy.
#5 Amniocentesis for finding out baby’s gender
Amniocentesis is similar to chorionic villus sampling because it also requires your provider to take a sample from your body. In this case, instead of sampling your villi, your doctor will retrieve a sample of your amniotic fluid.
Your amniotic fluid is the liquid that envelops your baby in the womb to help her stay cushioned, thermoregulated, and protected from infections. Floating in your amniotic fluid are dead cells that your baby has shed, and these cells contain her genes—precisely the material your doctor needs to determine your baby’s sex.
Amniocentesis may be performed in your second trimester, typically between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. The results of this procedure tend to take longer than others to receive, meaning you’ll likely need to wait 10 to 14 days after testing to learn your baby’s sex.
How accurate is it: Usually providing results with an accuracy rate of over 99%.
#6 Ultrasounds for finding out baby’s gender
Ultrasounds use sound waves to get a closer look at your baby as he develops in utero.
During this procedure, your provider (usually a sonographer) will use a special wand called a transducer to emit sound waves either transvaginally (through your vagina) or transabdominally (over your abdomen). These sound waves bounce off of your internal organs and growing fetus to produce a rough image of your uterus and your baby, which you’ll be able to see on a monitor.
Most pregnant women undergo two ultrasounds during the course of their pregnancy—one in their first trimester, and one in their second. Pregnancy ultrasounds are primarily used to:
- Determine how far along you are and predict your due date
- Confirm that your baby is growing at a healthy rate
- Screen for complications or birth defects
- Assess the baby’s position before you’re ready to give birth
While fetal ultrasounds are important for monitoring your baby’s health, they aren’t necessarily the most recommended method for early fetal gender detection. This is because most sonographers hypothesize a baby’s sex based on what’s known as the “nub” method.
Between the 11th and 13th week of your first trimester, fetuses develop a nub—a small protrusion where their future genitals will be. Sonographers look for two variations of this nub to gauge a baby’s sex:
- If the nub is angled over 30 degrees up, the baby will most likely be male
- If the nub is angled 10 degrees down or flush with the baby’s spine, it will most likely be female
How accurate is it? When using this method, ultrasounds can predict the sex of your baby as early as 11 weeks into your pregnancy, but with only 70.3% accuracy.
For the most accurate gender assessment, you’ll want to schedule your ultrasound between your 18th and 20th weeks, when accuracy jumps up to between 95 to 99%. At this point in fetal development, male genitalia is typically visible, so sonographers can more easily identify (or rule out) a baby boy.
#7 Old Wives’ Tales for finding out baby’s gender
Modern science has equipped parents-to-be with various empirical methods for finding out their baby’s gender, but there’s nothing wrong with speculating on your little sir or miss (and having a little fun) with some folk knowledge!
A few of our favorite old wives’ tale gender tests include:
- The Baby Heartbeat Gender Test – You’ll need a fetal heart monitor for this one. This method claims that a bpm (beats per minute) over 140 signals a girl, while a bpm below 140 points to a boy.
- Pregnancy Cravings – During a pregnancy craving spell, do you lean towards potato chips or chocolate pudding? This myth suggests that salty tastes point to a boy, while sweeter ones indicate a girl.
- Baking Soda Gender Test – This pop science gender experiment requires you to break out some baking soda. The next time you pee, take a sample of your urine and stir in 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Supposedly, if it stays flat you’ll have a girl, and if it fizzes, you’ll have a boy.
- Gender Prediction Quiz – Engage with the topic through our Gender Prediction Quiz for a fun and interactive experience!
These old wives’ tales can be put into practice at any stage of your pregnancy. Just remember: while they can add an element of fun to your parenthood journey, we wouldn’t recommend choosing your baby’s name based on their predictions.
In Conclusion
At SneakPeek, we understand that the journey to discovering your baby’s gender is an exciting chapter in your pregnancy story. As you’ve explored the various methods for early gender determination, we hope you’ve gained insights that empower you to make informed choices that align with your unique journey.
Remember, the decision to learn your baby’s gender is a personal one, and whichever path you choose, it’s a celebration of your growing family. From our advanced DNA-based technology to the age-old wisdom of old wives’ tales, your journey is a tapestry woven with anticipation, love, and the promise of new beginnings.
As you move forward, we encourage you to embrace every moment of your pregnancy. Whether you’re captivated by the earliest possible reveal or captivated by the mystery until the big day, know that SneakPeek is here to support you.
How accurate is it: Old wives’ tales are more about fun than science, so take their predictions with a grain of salt.
SneakPeek: It’s Never Too Early to Meet Your Little One
If you’ve decided you want the earliest and most accurate verdict possible, your best bet is to scoop up SneakPeek’s At-Home Gender Test. This test delivers faster, more accurate results earlier than any other method used today—and it’s the #1 OBGYN-approved test kit, trusted by 1 million moms eager to meet their little ones as early as 6 weeks into their pregnancies.
SneakPeek also offers complete privacy protection to keep you and your little one’s sensitive data safe, with a 100% money-back guarantee if your results don’t match your baby’s gender on delivery day.
If you’re ready to learn the sex of your baby, we’re ready to help. Jump-start your journey into parenthood with SneakPeek.
This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:
Katie Smith is a seasoned Certified Nurse Midwife and a nurturing mother to six children, offering a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience. She is the founder of Birth Your Way Midwifery and Women’s Wellness Center in Bay County, Florida. Katie's comprehensive approach to care is informed by her hands-on experience in motherhood and her passion for empowering women through their birthing journey. Her dedication extends beyond her center as she actively engages in community wellness and family health education.
Sources:
- Mayo Clinic. Chorionic villus sampling
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chorionic-villus-sampling/about/pac-20393533 - NHS. Results – Chorionic villus sampling
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chorionic-villus-sampling-cvs/results/ - Johns Hopkins Medicine. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/chorionic-villus-sampling-cvs - Mayo Clinic. Fetal ultrasound
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/fetal-ultrasound/about/pac-20394149 - Grow by WebMD. What to Know About Ultrasound to Learn Baby’s Sex
https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-to-know-ultrasound-babys-sex - Johns Hopkins Medicine. Amniocentesis
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/amniocentesis - Mayo Clinic. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716 - Health. Can You Pick a Baby’s Sex Using IVF?
https://www.health.com/condition/pregnancy/is-it-actually-possible-to-choose-a-babys-gender-through-ivf - Healthline. NIPT (Noninvasive Prenatal Testing): What You Need to Know
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/nipt-test - Enzo Life Sciences. What are the differences between PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, and RT-qPCR?
https://www.enzolifesciences.com/science-center/technotes/2017/march/what-are-the-differences-between-pcr-rt-pcr-qpcr-and-rt-qpcr?/ - The Bump. Boy or Girl: What’s the Chance Baby’s Gender Test Is Wrong?
https://www.thebump.com/a/ultrasound-wrong-gender - Healthline. How Soon Can You Find Out the Sex of Your Baby?
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/when-can-you-find-out-sex-of-baby
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SneakPeek aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to help our readers make informed decisions regarding their health before, during, and after pregnancy. This article was written based upon trusted scientific research studies and/or articles. Credible information sources for this article are cited and hyperlinked.