Boy or Girl? What You Need to Know About Gender Ultrasounds

Ultrasound exams have a variety of purposes during pregnancy. But, the most common use of ultrasounds is to reveal the baby’s gender.

What Is An Ultrasound?

Ultrasound (also called sonography or ultrasonography) is a noninvasive imaging test. An ultrasound picture is called a sonogram. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or videos of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels.

How A Gender Ultrasound Works

During an ultrasound, the doctor uses a special wand to send sound waves through your belly during an ultrasound. These pings safely bounce off your baby’s tissues, fluids, and bones, and the echoes help create an image (called a sonogram) of your baby on the screen.

All babies start with the same parts in the womb when you’re pregnant. An ultrasound can tell the difference between a baby boy and a girl. So, if you’d rather not know, tell the Doctor (sonographer) you want to be surprised!

How Accurate Is A Gender Ultrasound?

How accurately an ultrasound predicts a baby’s sex depends on when the doctor performs the test. If an ultrasound is done during the first trimester (between weeks 11 and 14), the results are right about 75% of the time. On the other hand, ultrasounds that are done in the second trimester (between weeks 18 and 22) have an almost 100 percent accuracy rate, although no test is perfect.

What Affects The Accuracy Of The Test?

• The more experience the doctor has, the more accurate the results will be.
• If you’re feeling gassy or bloated, it can create shadows or cloud the image and make it more difficult to come up with an accurate reading of the baby’s gender.
• The baby’s position can also affect the accuracy of the test. If the baby is lying in a position where its legs are crossed or the umbilical cord is in the way, the doctor might not be able to get a clear picture.
• If you’re expecting multiples, your babies may hide or block one another. As a result, it will make it more difficult for the doctor to identify.

FAQs

How Does Ultrasound Show Boy Or Girl?

With technological advances, the vulva, clitoris, and labia indicate a female fetus. In contrast, seeing the scrotum, penis, testicles, and raphe indicate a male fetus.

How Long Will The Exam Take?

The exam usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Therefore, it depends on the studied anatomy.

Are You Ready To Schedule Your Ultrasound?

Find out your baby’s gender with 4Baby Ultrasound. We commit to providing a supportive and informative experience. Schedule an appointment by calling us or booking online. We look forward to welcoming you and your family into our clinics across Dallas, Fort Worth, and Tyler Longview, Texas.