The right side ovary is neither a boy nor a girl; it's an organ in the female reproductive system. The sex of the offspring is determined by the sperm, not the ovary.
While some outdated or unsubstantiated claims suggest a link between the ovary of origin and the sex of a child, this is not supported by scientific evidence. Studies on ovulation patterns and offspring sex ratios show mixed results, with some indicating a slight correlation but no definitive conclusion. For example, some research suggests that right-sided ovulation might be associated with a higher probability of male offspring in certain groups of women (e.g., infertile women), but this is not consistent across all studies and doesn't imply the ovary itself is male or female. [See studies linked below for details].
The belief that a specific ovary produces male or female offspring is a misconception. Both ovaries produce ova (eggs) that, when fertilized by sperm carrying an X or Y chromosome, result in a female (XX) or male (XY) child, respectively. The sex is determined entirely by the genetic contribution of the sperm.
- Misconception: Some believe the right ovary produces ova that result in male offspring, while the left produces ova resulting in female offspring. This is not scientifically proven and is based on anecdotal evidence and unsubstantiated claims.
- Reality: Both ovaries produce eggs, and the sex of the child depends solely on whether the fertilizing sperm carries an X or a Y chromosome.
References:
- The statement "In the normal female the ovary of the right side yields ova which on fertilization develop as males, and the ovary of the left side yields ova which are potentially female" is mentioned in various sources like The Week and Apollo247, but should be treated with extreme caution as it lacks scientific backing.
- Research on ovulation patterns and offspring sex ratios, such as this Pubmed study, presents inconsistent findings and no definitive conclusions regarding which ovary favors male or female offspring. Studies like this one on horse foals show some correlation, but the human equivalent is unclear.
