Using an ultrasound for gender prediction is perhaps the most reliable method available to an expectant couple. While there are other methods of gender prediction, none are quite so scientifically proven as ultrasound. The fact of the matter is that an ultrasound is extremely reliable in terms of gender prediction, although there are some factors of which you should be aware.
The first factor that will determine how reliable an ultrasound will be at gender prediction is the age of your baby. The younger your baby is, that is, the closer you are to conception, the more likely it becomes that the ultrasound operator will not be able to use the ultrasound for reliable gender prediction.
Another significant factor in determining whether ultrasound gender prediction is reliable is the specific type of ultrasound equipment that is being used. While ultrasound technology is based on the same principles, regardless of the specific ultrasound machine being used, there are a variety of ultrasound machines on the market. Some of the newer ultrasound designs, for example, tend to give a clearer picture of the baby and will therefore be more reliable at gender prediction.
The ultrasound technician’s experience and knowledge will also influence whether an ultrasound is reliable for gender prediction. There are some ultrasound technicians, for example, that will make a prediction that the gender will be female, whether or not they actually see the labia on the ultrasound. Just the absence of a penis will be enough for them to predict that the baby will not be a boy. This is not nearly as common a practice as it may have been just a few years ago, however. Today, most ultrasound technicians won’t offer a gender prediction unless they actually see a reliable image of the genitals, whether it is the labia in the case of a girl or a penis in the case of a boy. If your ultrasound technician predicts that your baby’s gender will be female, you should ask if she actually sees the labia, or just doesn’t see a penis.
Finally, the position and cooperation of your baby plays a role in whether an ultrasound is reliable for gender prediction. There are positions in which it is not easy to predict your baby’s gender in a reliable way with the ultrasound. If this is the case, you will probably just have to wait for your next ultrasound to get a gender prediction.
