Low-Tech Ways to Choose Baby's Gender

The Whelan Method

In Boy or Girl?, a lesser-known book on low-tech gender selection, author Elizabeth Whelan details a method that directly contradicts Shettles' theories. Basing her technique on the research of Dr. Rodrigo Guerrero of Colombia, Whelan states that Shettles' approach to timing intercourse only applies to couples undergoing artificial insemination.

She explains that for those partners conceiving the old-fashioned way, intercourse timed closer to ovulation is likelier to result in a girl, and having sex earlier in the cycle will favor boy conception. Further, Whelan promises a lower success rate than Shettles—68 percent for boys and 57 percent for girls.

Dr. Shettles devotes several pages of his book to attacking Whelan's theories. He even includes a letter written by a woman who takes Whelan to task and touts Shettles' techniques as superior. Shettles maintains that Whelan's book "has fallen into merciful obsolescence because it is based upon assumptions that are sometimes absurd and sometimes self-contradicting."

Does the Whelan Method Work?

Judging the accuracy of Whelan's book is difficult in part because fewer couples use her approach. And Shettles isn't the only person to critique his rival. Madeleine states that after reading both books, "Whelan made no scientific sense to me so we went with Shettles."

However, Kate* says she conceived the girl she wanted using Whelan's method. Referring to Boy or Girl?, Kate says, "I read [the book] and tried to use as much as I could follow."