ABSTRACT
The current interest in the possibility of pre-selecting or rather controlling the sex of human progeny is only a recent manifestation of an age old phenomenon. The sex of the off spring remains important historically, culturally and economically. The fascination one has with the possibility of exercising control over the sex of one’s offspring is thus understandable. There are numerous descriptions in history at attempts to influence the sex outcome as placing a hammer under the heel for a boy or placing an egg or scissors under the bed for a girl. The early Greeks (about 500 BC) believed that male determining sperm were derived from right testis and so removing the left testicle would guarantee a male offspring.1 There are various suggestions offered today as, “at home”, methods of sex preselection techniques, and include timing of intercourse, sexual positions, timing of female orgasm, acid or base techniques and other methods which have been described in various “How to” books available for enhancing the chance of achieving the desired sex. Dietary methods have also been suggested to alter the sex ratio.2
