Why Are Parents Often Interested in Gender Predictors?

Are you curious to find out the biological sex of your baby early on in pregnancy? If so, you're not alone. Parents often want to know as much as they can about their unborn child and take advantage of the options available that give them control over when and how they learn the sex of their baby.

Until a few years ago, expecting parents waited until the second-trimester ultrasound to learn the gender of their baby. Today, parents-to-be have access to at-home tests like Juno Birch™,  allowing them to discover their baby's sex with more certainty and privacy than ever before and as early as 7 weeks into the pregnancy.

How do at-home gender prediction tests work?

Fetal sex prediction tests examine the genetic material from biological tissues of the baby, placenta, or placental precursors. For most expecting parents who want to know their baby’s sex, this method will take the form of prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening for sex chromosome information. 

As early as 7 weeks of gestation, the Birch test looks for the presence (or absence) of Y chromosome pieces within the maternal blood. Since most women have two X chromosomes and most men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, if we find Y chromosome material in your sample, we'll know you’re expecting a boy!

Watch Maggie's gender reveal party!

What are the benefits of knowing the sex of your baby?

For many families, learning the baby’s sex helps them feel more connected to the pregnancy and prepared for what comes next:

• On a practical level, some parents want to find out the baby’s sex as soon as possible so they can dive into picking out names or choosing colors for the nursery. 
• On an emotional level, finding out the baby’s sex may be the moment the pregnancy starts to feel “real” and can help expectant parents bond with the baby. 

Another reason at-home tests like the Juno Birch™ appeal to parents is that they allow families to control how and when they find out the baby’s sex. Traditionally, the second-trimester anatomy ultrasound has been the most common way for parents to learn the sex of their baby. However, depending on the baby’s position, it may be difficult to see the genitalia, and there is no guarantee that the ultrasound will identify the fetal sex. 

Lastly, it is important to remember that the primary purpose of this sonogram is to assess the baby’s growth and development. While the technician may be able to reveal the fetal sex during the visit, it might not be as bedazzling as you would have hoped.

Opting for an early at-home test to predict their baby’s sex gives parents a cost-effective opportunity to celebrate the moment exactly the way they want to - whether privately, with a few friends, or with an elaborate gender reveal party. They can focus fully on their medical and ultrasound appointments with their curiosity about the baby’s sex already satisfied. 

Understanding the nuances between fetal sex and gender

We would like to take the time to recognize that sex and gender, while commonly used interchangeably, are two different things. Biological sex encompasses components such as a person's genitalia, internal anatomy, endocrine production, genes, and genetic makeup. Gender, on the other hand, is correlated with societal and cultural norms also encompassing one’s inner experience of themselves.

Learn more about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Statement, or watch our video for more information on this topic.

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