Gender Ultrasound

Overview

A gender ultrasound is simply the use of ultrasound scans during pregnancy with the motivation of determining whether a baby is male or female.

Since the late 1950s, when it was first introduced, ultrasonography has become an extremely useful diagnostic tool in Obstetrics. It isn't surprising to hear that the number one most asked question is "what is the gender of my baby?"

Equipments currently used are referred to as real-time scanners, through which a continuous picture of the moving fetus can be shown on a monitor screen. Generally, extremely high frequency sound waves of between 3 to 7 megahertz (i.e. 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 cycles each second) are used for this reason.

gender ultrasounds

These sound waves are emitted from a transducer placed in contact with the maternal abdomen. The transducer is moved to "look at" (likened to a light shined from a torch) any particular content of the uterus. Repetitive groups of ultrasound waves survey the fetus in tiny slices and are mirrored back onto the exact transducer.

How A Gender Ultrasound Works

The information obtained from the unique reflections is transformed to create a picture on the monitor screen (a sonogram, or ultrasonogram).

Assessments and measurement can be made accurately on movements such as fetal heart beat and malformations in the fetus. These measurements are vital in the assessment of gestational age, size and growth in the fetus.

The pregnant woman is often required to have a full bladder for the procedure when abdominal scanning is carried out in early pregnancy.

It is possible for the woman to feel a small amount of discomfort from pressure on the full bladder. The gel used is won’t stain but may feel a little cold and wet. The 3D ultrasound waves themselves do not cause any sensation.

What to Look for in a Gender Ultrasound

The 3D 4D ultrasound technician will have to look for specific signals and signs.

There should be no "assuming" and any technician "worth his gel" will not make a judgment unless actually seeing the male's penis for a boy and the labia for a girl.

It is important to understand that the if a fetus lacks a penis, that does not automatically mean that it is a girl. A "3 line sign" denotes the labia on a fetus and is quite the accurate indication of being a female.

In most cases, an ultrasound technician should be able to determine the gender of a baby by approximately 20 weeks and even at sixteen weeks. With the upgrades in today's technology, it is possible to determine a gender ultrasound even at 11-12 weeks.

How accurate is a gender ultrasound? At 12-14 weeks the procedure is reported to have about 80% accuracy in determination of fetus gender; 98-100% at 20 weeks.

For more useful information on the gender ultrasound topic, check out the page options to the side.

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