Can you choose to have a boy or girl?

You're more likely to conceive a boy if...

• You have sex on the day of ovulation, as male sperm are thought to swim faster and reach the egg first.
• You reach orgasm before your partner, as this releases an alkaline fluid, thought to be more male-sperm friendly than the vagina's natural acidity.
• You have deep penetration during sex.
• Your partner has a high sperm count. This is because male sperm are not as strong as female sperm, and so the higher the count, the more chance there is of a male sperm reaching the egg first.
• You avoid sex for a week before ovulation and then only have sex once on ovulation day, to keep the sperm count high.
• Your partner suggested the love-making.
• You make love at night.
• You make love on odd days of the month.
• Your partner keeps his genitals cool by wearing boxer shorts and loose-fitting trousers.
• You eat salty food, plenty of meat, fish, white flour, pasta, fresh fruit, certain vegetables, but avoid milk and dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheese, nuts, chocolate, shellfish and wholemeal bread.

You're more likely to conceive a girl if...

• You have sex earlier on in your cycle, a few days before your day of ovulation. This is because female sperm are thought to be stronger and therefore last longer than male sperm, who will die off before reaching the egg.
• Your partner reaches orgasm before you.
• You have sex frequently to lower your partner's sperm count, and so increase the chances of the female sperm reaching the egg first.
• You keep penetration shallow.
• You stop having unprotected sex four to five days before ovulation, to minimise the chances of the male sperm reaching the egg first.
• Your partner keeps his genitals warm by wearing close-fitting underwear and tight trousers (although this isn't likely to do his general fertility any good!)
• You suggested the love-making.
• You make love in the afternoon.
• You make love on even days of the month.
• You put a wooden spoon under your bed and a pink ribbon under your pillow.
• You drink plenty of milk and eat dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, unsalted foods, rice, pasta, certain vegetables, mineral water, limited amounts of meat and potatoes, but avoid salt and any salty foods, wine and beer, fresh fruit, spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms, chocolate, coffee and tea.
  
  Note : For as long as we've been making babies, experienced old women have been exchanging ideas about how to increase their chances of having either a boy or a girl.