Ericsson method
{{Short description|Sex-selection assisted reproductive technology}}
The Ericsson method is an assisted reproductive technology for sex selection, used before implantation. In this method, sperm that will give rise to male versus female children are separated by moving at different speeds through a protein solution.
When used to increase the likelihood of a female child, studies have resulted in between 70% and 80% female children.{{cite journal|last1=Silverman|first1=A.Y.|title=Female sex selection using clomiphene citrate and albumin separation of human sperm|journal=Human Reproduction|volume=17|issue=5|year=2002|pages=1254–1256|issn=1460-2350|doi=10.1093/humrep/17.5.1254|doi-access=free|pmid=11980748}}
When used to increase the likelihood of a male child, studies have resulted in between 50%{{cite journal|last1=Jaffe|first1=Sharon B.|last2=Jewelewicz|first2=Raphael|last3=Wahl|first3=Eric|last4=Khatamee|first4=Masood A.|title=A controlled study for gender selection|journal=Fertility and Sterility|volume=56|issue=2|year=1991|pages=254–258|issn=0015-0282|doi=10.1016/S0015-0282(16)54481-1|pmid=2070855}} and 75% male children.{{cite journal|last1=Beernink|first1=Ferdinand J.|last2=Dmowski|first2=W. Paul|last3=Ericsson|first3=Ronald J.|title=Sex preselection through albumin separation of sperm**Presented in part at the 44th Annual Meeting of The American Fertility Society, Atlanta, Georgia, October 8 to 13, 1988.|journal=Fertility and Sterility|volume=59|issue=2|year=1993|pages=382–386|issn=0015-0282|doi=10.1016/S0015-0282(16)55681-7|doi-access=free}}
Method
The Ericsson method is based on the belief that X-sperm swim slower than Y-sperm. Sperm are placed atop a "column" of increasingly thicker layers of albumin, and allowed to swim down into the solution. After a certain time period has elapsed, the sperm can be separated into the faster and slower swimmers. If the couple desires a male baby the faster swimmers are artificially inseminated, and if the couple desires a female baby the same procedure is enacted with the slower swimmers.{{Citation needed|date=October 2014}}
This method differs from the Shettles method, which does not utilize artificial insemination.
History
It was developed and patented by Dr. Ronald Ericsson. The method has been in use since the mid-1970s.
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
The below references were taken from 123 published papers. These references represent the initial scientific research, the concepts behind altering the sex ratio, the clinical results and the social and demographic history of people who elect to use this technology for a wanted sex selected child.
- {{cite journal | author = Ericsson R J, Ericsson SA | title = Human sex preselection: compilation of worldwide clinical results using the albumin method | journal = Today's Therapeutic Trends | volume = 16 | issue = 2| pages = 107–119 }}
- {{cite journal | author = Beernink FJ, Dmowski WP, Ericsson RJ | year = 1993| title = Sex preselection of sperm | journal = Fertil. Steril. | volume = 59 | issue = 2| pages = 382–386 | doi = 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)55681-7 | doi-access = free }}
- {{cite journal | author = Ericsson SA, Ericsson RJ | year = 1992| title = Couples with exclusively female offspring have an increased probability of a male child after using male sex preselection | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 7 | issue = 3| pages = 372–373 | doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a137653 | pmid = 1587946}}
- {{cite journal | author = Rose GA, Wong A | year = 1998| title = Experiences in Hong Kong with the theory and practice of the albumin column method of sperm separation for sex selection | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 13 | issue = 1| pages = 146–149 | doi = 10.1093/humrep/13.1.146 | pmid = 9512247| doi-access = free }}
- {{cite journal | author = Pyrzak R | year = 1994| title = Separation of X- and Y-bearing human spermatozoa using albumin gradients | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 9 | issue = 10| pages = 1788–1790 | doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138332 | pmid = 7844202}}
- {{cite journal | author = Claassens OE, Oosthuizen CJ, Brusnicky J, Franken DR, Kruger TF | year = 1995 | title = Fluorescent in situ hybridization evaluation of human Y-bearing spermatozoa separated by albumin density gradients | journal = Fertil. Steril. | volume = 63 | issue = 2| pages = 417–418 | doi = 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57381-6 | pmid = 7843455 }}
- {{cite journal | author = Ericsson RJ | year = 1994 | title = Sex selection via albumin columns: 20 years of results | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 9 | issue = 10| pages = 1787–788 | doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138331 | pmid = 7844201 }}
- {{cite journal | author = Ericsson RJ, Langevin CN, Nishino M | year = 1973 | title = Isolation of fractions rich in human Y sperm | journal = Nature | volume = 246 | issue = 5433 | pages = 421–424 | doi = 10.1038/246421a0 | pmid = 4587152 | bibcode = 1973Natur.246..421E | s2cid = 4173919 }}
- {{cite journal | author = Ke-hui Cui | year = 1997| title = Size differences between human X and Y spermatozoa and prefertilization diagnosis | journal = Mol. Hum. Reprod. | volume = 3 | issue = 1| pages = 61–67 | doi = 10.1093/molehr/3.1.61 | pmid = 9239709| doi-access = free }}
- {{cite journal | author = Liu P, Rose GA | year = 1995 | title = Social aspects of >800 couples coming forward for gender selection of their children | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 10 | issue = 4| pages = 968–971 | doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136072 | pmid = 7650153 }}
- Ericsson RJ and Ericsson SA. 1999 Sex Ratios. In: Knobil E, Neill JD (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Reproduction. Academic Press, CA. Volume 4, pages 431–437.
- {{cite journal | author = Silverman AY, Stephens SR, Drouin MT, Zack RG, Osborne J, Ericsson SA | year = 2002 | title = Female sex selection using clomiphene citrate and albumin separation of sperm | journal = Hum. Reprod. | volume = 17 | issue = 5| pages = 1254–1256 | doi = 10.1093/humrep/17.5.1254 | pmid = 11980748 | doi-access = free }}