Evening Primrose oil (EPO) is often recommended for women who are trying to conceive a boy. The evening primrose is a flowering plant that grows mainly in the United States. It can also be found growing in Europe and other countries. The yellow flower blooms in the evening, hence the name.

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an Omega-6 essential fatty acid. GLA is converted by the body into prostoglandin E1, which is a hormone-like substance that reduces inflammation. It also thins cervical mucus and helps the body produce more high-quality “egg-white” mucus. This mucus is more favorable to male sperm because it is easier for them to swim to the egg.

The oil is extracted from Evening Primrose seeds and put into capsules for easy consumption. Dosage for sex selection is usually 1500 to 3000mg per day. Most women suffer no side effects when they take the oil, but some experience mild stomach upset or a headache. However, reports show that it can cause uterine contractions or prevent implantation, so it is often recommended that it be taken only from menstruation through ovulation each cycle.

The effectiveness of evening primrose oil in gender selection has not been studied. Studies have shown that it helps with breast pain during the menstrual cycle, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis. However, there have not been any large, well-designed studies performed for any of these conditions. As with any supplement, you should make your doctor aware that you are using it so that medication interactions can be avoided.

There are only two scientifically reliable methods of choosing the gender of your child, PGD and sperm sorting. However, those methods do not involve the natural conception of a child. If you are trying to conceive a girl the old-fashioned way, these methods may be able to help you out. There are varying reports of their reliability.

1. Attempt conception from the end of your period until 3 days before your ovulate. This is based on the theory that male sperm only live 12-24 hours and female sperm live can live up to 3-4 days. (Shettles Method)

2. Use the missionary position. (Shettles Method)

3. Attempt conception in the 12 hours after ovulation. (O+12 Method, Whalen Method)

4. Take calcium and magnesium supplements for several months prior to conception.

5. Conceive in the afternoon or during a full moon.

6. Try to conceive your baby on an even numbered day.

7. Eat chocolate.

8. Use the Chinese conception chart to help you plan the conception date.

9. Put a pink ribbon under your pillow and a wooden spoon under your bed.

10. Take cranberry capsules for the week before you ovulate. This lowers the pH level in the reproductive tract, which harms male sperm.

Remember that no matter what anyone else tells you, unless you are planning to use PGD or MicroSort, there is no reliable way to insure that you will be able to select the gender of your child.

The Chinese Gender Calendar is believed to be over 700 years old. It was found in a Royal Tomb near Peking, China. The chart uses the mother’s lunar age and the lunar month of conception to help predict the gender of an unborn baby. It can also be used when you are trying to conceive a baby of a particular gender. There are anecdotal reports that the Chinese Gender Chart is 90% accurate.

There are many examples of the Chinese Gender Calendar online. However, in order to use the chart, you must know you lunar age at conception. If you were born January 1st up to and including February 20th, then your lunar age is the same as your regular calendar age. If you were born after February 20th, then you add one year to your regular calendar age. You must also remember that the chart is based on the conception month of the child, not the birth month.