How Early Can I Find Out The Gender Of My Baby?
When you’re counting down the days until you finally get to meet your new baby, every opportunity to learn more about them is like a gift. Whether you prefer an extravagant gender reveal or a quiet moment at home, seeing your gender testing results for the first time can be one of the most special moments of pregnancy.
When and how can I find out my baby’s gender?
You may be able to learn the sex of your baby as early as 7 weeks after your last period, depending on what method you choose for learning this information.
1. Ultrasound
Prenatal ultrasound, also called “sonogram,” has long been the most common way someone learns the sex of their baby. While it’s possible that some obstetrical ultrasounds can see enough fetal structures to determine “male” or “female” at ~13 weeks, it’s not until the more detailed fetal anatomy sonogram at 18-20 weeks gestation that most expecting parents learn the sex of their baby.
Prenatal ultrasounds pose no known risks to you or the baby, but they may not reveal your baby’s sex if your baby’s position hides their genitals during your appointment. Sometimes, that area of the baby’s body may be hard to see if you’re overweight or obese, as thicker abdominal tissue can create challenges in making a clear picture from the ultrasound’s sound waves.
2. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)*
Chorionic villus sampling is an optional medical procedure that is typically performed between weeks 10 and 13. Under continuous ultrasound guidance, the doctor uses a needle or a catheter to take a small biopsy of the placenta, and those cells are sent to a diagnostic laboratory for chromosomal analysis. The sex chromosomes (X and Y) are evaluated as part of this analysis and can inform expecting parents whether a pregnancy has XX chromosomes (consistent with a female) or XY chromosomes (consistent with a male).
3. Amniocentesis*
Amniocentesis is an optional medical procedure that is typically performed after week 15 or 16. Under continuous ultrasound guidance, the doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove a sample of amniotic fluid. That fluid is sent to a diagnostic laboratory for chromosomal analysis on the fetal cells within the fluid. Similar to CVS, the sex chromosomes (X and Y) are evaluated in this analysis and can inform expecting parents whether a pregnancy has XX chromosomes (consistent with a female) or XY chromosomes (consistent with a male).
*Because the CVS and amniocentesis procedures each carry a slight risk (usually <1%) of miscarriage, it’s important to discuss their benefits and limitations in detail with your obstetrical care team.
4. At-home gender tests
At-home gender tests can be performed as soon as seven weeks gestation, earlier than any of the above tests. They’re completely safe and pose no risk to you or your pregnancy.
When can I find out my baby’s gender with a blood test?
Some at-home tests, including the Juno Birch Early Gender Test, may be able to tell you the gender of your baby as early as seven weeks after your last menstrual period. These tests analyze your blood to find fragments of placental and fetal DNA, which will have material from the sex chromosomes. Usually, the material is either consistent with XX (female) or XY (male).
Benefits of at-home gender testing kits include:
- Earlier knowledge of your baby’s sex
- Greater convenience with testing — you can do it on your own time from the comfort of your home
- Shorter time spent waiting on results compared to other genetic tests
What is the Juno gender testing process?
The Juno Early Gender Test has a 99% accuracy rate. In our latest large-scale study of fetal sex testing performance, completed from May to November 2021, JunoDx provided accurate results to 101 out of 102 women.
You can use the Juno Early Gender Test to find out your baby’s gender by following these three steps:
- Order your gender testing kit
- Follow the detailed instructions to collect your sample
- Get your results within a few days
Visit the FAQ page for more about the Juno Early Gender Test.
Why gender versus sex?
At Juno, we are firmly committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity. We appreciate all discussions concerning the concepts of sex and gender, and are thankful for your patience as we work to carefully balance approachability and medical accuracy.
For now, with accessibility as our primary goal, we use the word “gender” to broadly refer to a baby’s assigned sex (“male” or “female”) at birth. We recognize that sex and gender are nuanced concepts involving physical anatomy, hormones, chromosomes, and so much more. Most importantly, we are here listening to and learning from your feedback.
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Please be aware: JunoDx.com and the materials and information it contains are not intended to be and do not constitute medical advice, other health advice, or diagnosis. Do not use JunoDx.com or the materials and information published at JunoDx.com as a substitute for medical care and treatment. You should always consult with a qualified physician or healthcare provider about your specific circumstances.
