There are thought to be 3 main factors in influencing the sex of your baby. These are the timing of intercourse, the sexual position used when conceiving, and the foods eaten by the mother. Each of these factors is described in a bit more detail below.

Factor 1 – Timing intercourse correctly
One of the most important ways of influencing the gender of your baby is to time intercourse correctly. If you’re trying to conceive a boy, you should have intercourse as close as possible to ovulation. The reasoning behind this is as follows – female (X) sperm are more resilient than male (Y) sperm and therefore they live longer. So in effect they can ‘hang around’ in the female body for 3 or 4 days waiting for ovulation to occur, and fertilise the egg. Male sperm have a shorter lifespan, and will die before ovulation occurs.

So, as male sperm are quicker, and have a shorter lifespan than female sperm – having sex as close to ovulation as possible maximises their chances of fertilising the egg – as they can reach the egg quicker than the female sperm, and can fertilise the egg before they die off.

Factor 2 – Choosing the right sexual position
Have intercourse in a position that allows for deep penetration (for example doggy style), as deeper penetration allows the sperm to be deposited closer to the egg, giving the male sperm a better chance of survival, as they have less distance to travel to the egg. Female sperm are thought to be slower swimmers than male sperm, but they survive for longer, so deep penetration positions reduce the distance to the egg, giving the male sperm a better chance of getting there first.

Factor 3 – Eating the right foods
In order to conceive a boy, it’s best to eat foods high in potassium and / or sodium. You should begin this diet at least 6 weeks before attempting to conceive a boy.