Gender selection IVF isn’t new, but talking about it openly still is. When it comes to IVF Australia, our team knows that each embryo represents not just science, but hope, planning and love. For some, the goal is a first child. For others, it’s about family balancing or completing a long-awaited picture.
IVF for same sex parents comes with added challenges, often involving donor eggs or sperm and fewer embryos to choose from. When every decision matters, access to clear, compassionate information is essential.
With growing public interest and media coverage, now is the time to have a thoughtful conversation about reproductive choice and what it really means for Australian families.
The Media Spotlight
Gender selection is back in the headlines! This is thanks in part to Dr Daniel Potter’s recent Australian tour. Dr Potter is a familiar face for our GSA patients. He’s a highly sought-after US reproductive endocrinologist who works closely with our team to support families through the IVF process. With decades of experience and a focus on ethical, science-led care, Dr Potter has helped hundreds of Australian families navigate the complexities of IVF and family balancing.
His visit sparked national conversation and renewed interest in gender selection as a legitimate part of reproductive choice. Dr Potter has been clear that this isn’t about “playing God,” but about giving parents access to information already available through routine IVF testing.
Recent media coverage has also highlighted a growing trend: Australian families travelling overseas to choose their baby’s sex. In the Sunday Times, Perth mum Stacey Hughes shared her experience of having a daughter through IVF in the US. She’s one of many quietly doing the same.
Gender Selection Australia’s own Nikki Mason explained that families aren’t chasing a perfect child. They’re seeking balance. “Sex selection isn’t manufacturing a result,” she explained. “It’s revealing what embryos exist after IVF and allowing families to choose.”
Understanding PGT-A
At the heart of this conversation is a scientific tool already used in many IVF cycles: PGT-A. Short for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy, PGT-A screens embryos for the correct number of chromosomes before implantation. It’s a crucial step for identifying embryos with abnormalities that can lead to miscarriage or conditions like Down syndrome.
This same test also happens to show the biological sex of each embryo. It’s not an added step or a designer-baby shortcut. It’s simply part of the information already available at this stage of IVF.
By selecting chromosomally normal embryos, families reduce the risk of heartache from failed transfers or pregnancy loss. It’s one of the most important tools in giving IVF patients the best possible chance of a healthy pregnancy. It also happens to reveal the gender of each embryo.
The Right to Full Information
At its core, the right to choose the gender of your child is about informed choice. Parents going through IVF have already invested emotionally, physically and financially. When they reach the point of embryo selection, we believe they deserve access to all available information, including the gender of each embryo.
Right now, that information is being withheld. Current Australian laws prevent families from knowing something that’s already revealed through standard genetic testing. And yet, these embryos belong to them. At GSA, the choice of which embryo to transfer sits with the people whose genetic material created them.
For many, it’s not about preference. It’s about completing their family in a way that feels right.
Gender Selection IVF for Same Sex Parents
For same-sex couples, IVF often comes with more emotional, logistical, and financial hurdles. Donor constraints can mean fewer embryos to work with, which makes every decision feel even more significant.
Like any parent, many same-sex couples dream of raising a son or a daughter. But under current laws, they’re denied the right to make that choice, even when the information is already available through testing.
Regulated, Transparent, Compassionate Care
Right now, families who want gender selection are travelling overseas, often navigating complex medical systems, varying regulations, and a lot of misinformation along the way.
That’s where trusted guidance becomes crucial. Our team at Gender Selection Australia supports families through every step of the process, connecting them with a renowned specialist, and helping ensure their journey is informed and smooth.
Unfortunately, gender selection is already happening in Australia… just not through regulated IVF pathways. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) at around 10 weeks can reveal a baby’s sex early in pregnancy. In some cases, this information influences decisions about whether to continue the pregnancy. It’s a quiet, unregulated form of gender selection that carries significant emotional and physical risks, and highlights the need for safer, more transparent options.
As interest continues to grow, so does the case for bringing this option into a regulated Australian setting. Until then, families need clear, compassionate support. That’s exactly what our team at GSA provides.
Reproductive freedom means having access to clear, compassionate, evidence-based information. The science exists. It’s time for policy to reflect lived experience, medical best practice and the reality of modern parenthood.
Australia needs an open, honest conversation about gender selection. One that puts parents, empathy and science at the forefront.
Learn more about your options and how Gender Selection Australia can support your IVF journey.