Finding out gender at 5 weeks!

amber1142 · Jul 6, 2005

I am curious on everybody's viewpoint.
Thanks!

I don't think this test is a particular threat. There will always be people who use technology for purposes that the majority don't approve of, but I don't foresee that happening much here (USA). I think most people here, including those who are pro-choice, don't take termination lightly, and gender prejudice doesn't seem to be a huge cultural issue here.

sddlnscp · Jul 6, 2005

That's good to know - thanks for the input!

smk1, LPN · Jul 6, 2005

wow, i was taught that the embryos were gender indifferent until about 6 weeks. If you think about embryology from A&P, the development of the gonads start about week 3 from the mesoderm and endoderm layers. the duct system is formed and both sexes have both a mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts, and unless the embryo is expsed to androgens it will be a female. If i remember correctly testosterone (an androgen) isn't produced by the genital ridge until sometime after week 6. This is interesting, I'll have to look for the article to see if further research was done and our books are already out dated. Just finished A&P this past spring.

live4today, RN · Jul 6, 2005

I don't think this test is a particular threat. There will always be people who use technology for purposes that the majority don't approve of, but I don't foresee that happening much here (USA). I think most people here, including those who are pro-choice, don't take termination lightly, and gender prejudice doesn't seem to be a huge cultural issue here.

Oh yeah it does (and will continue to) happen here in the good ol' USA. :uhoh3: We, the American public, may not be privy to everything the USA dips its funds and underground work into, but every piece of my fiber tells me we are in the dark about much of what our country does and is capable of doing. :rolleyes: Sorry, I love my country, but we are farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr from perfect. :stone

I really wouldn't have wanted to know what gender my babies were going be. That capability wasn't available when I had my babies, but even if it were, I'm not so sure I would have wanted to know. I like the element of surprise "It's a Girl...." :) And, I heard that beautiful phrase THREE separate times. :)

CEG · Jul 6, 2005

I saw a TV segment on this test. It looks for Y chromosomes in mom's blood (apparently from the minute amount of blood that crosses the placenta). The presence of a Y chromosome means boy, and the absence means girl.

From what they reported (the Today show) it is very expensive, $20 for the test kit but $300 for the lab fee.

wow, i was taught that the embryos were gender indifferent until about 6 weeks. If you think about embryology from A&P, the development of the gonads start about week 3 from the mesoderm and endoderm layers. the duct system is formed and both sexes have both a mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts, and unless the embryo is expsed to androgens it will be a female. If i remember correctly testosterone (an androgen) isn't produced by the genital ridge until sometime after week 6. This is interesting, I'll have to look for the article to see if further research was done and our books are already out dated. Just finished A&P this past spring.

sddlnscp · Jul 6, 2005

Hmm, how interesting. I am set up to take A&P I this fall, so I have no idea about the development of the fetus yet (well, at least in that aspect - I know the basic details from having babies myself, but I didn't know anything about when the sex was determined). I do recall something being said about placentas, but I really only caught blips because it was on the local news while I was making a salad to go with supper - that must've been when they were discussing that y chromosome presence or absence. My goal is to work with neonates eventually, but to possibly start out in L&D as well as a well-baby nursery which is why these topics intrigue me in the first place.

Thanks for the input so far -keep it coming. :)

wannabeL&D73 · Jul 6, 2005

Interesting. My very first thought was that it would be used for gender selection and termination before I even finished reading the OP. I absolutely think there would be people here who would use it that way...of course not to the extent in China or India, for example, but still. Many people would have a much easier time justifying terminating a pg. at 5 or 6 weeks than later. People already terminate for things like an extra digit in the pinkie, cleft palate, etc., so I don't see that it would be such a stretch for some.

Shannon

PS I loved finding out in the delivery room the sex of my babies! But I certainly respect those who choose to find out before birth.

amber1142 · Jul 6, 2005

Oh yeah it does (and will continue to) happen here in the good ol' USA. We, the American public, may not be privy to everything the USA dips its funds and underground work into, but every piece of my fiber tells me we are in the dark about much of what our country does and is capable of doing. Sorry, I love my country, but we are farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr from perfect. :stone

The birth rate continues to favor boys slightly in this country, and the number hasn't changed a huge amount in the last umpteen years (even with the availability of ultrasound and amniocentesis and legal abortion). I don't know what you're concerned about, but it doesn't seem to address the issue at hand which is not what our "country" does but what individuals are choosing to do with their pregnancies..

sddlnscp · Jul 6, 2005

Interesting. My very first thought was that it would be used for gender selection and termination before I even finished reading the OP.

That was what I thought when I heard it too - glad it's not just me. :) The very thought sends shivers down my spine - but, like I said before, I am not everybody, therefore I guess I can't fully understand.

wannabeL&D73 · Jul 6, 2005

The birth rate continues to favor boys slightly in this country, and the number hasn't changed a huge amount in the last umpteen years (even with the availability of ultrasound and amniocentesis and legal abortion). I don't know what you're concerned about, but it doesn't seem to address the issue at hand which is not what our "country" does but what individuals are choosing to do with their pregnancies..

True, this hasn't been an issue yet...IMO because by the time you can have amnio results back, the baby looks like a baby on u/s and it is more difficult to justify termination at that point. But at 5 or 6 weeks it is much harder (for some people) to feel an attachment to a blob on the screen. Also, in this country I wouldn't be so much concerned about people terminating females...parents here who use the sperm-sorting machine thing (sorry, can't think of the real name for it and don't have time to look it up) usually select for girls.

The technology is really amazing though!

Shannon

Dayray, RN · Jul 7, 2005

Wow with all the major health issues our race faces. The summation of our great and powerful, multibillion dollar health science reaserch has now developed to the point that we can detect winkies and who who's at 5 weeks gestation

:chuckle :chuckle I smell a Nobel peice prize :chuckle :chuckle