Your chances of having a boy are approximately 51%.
While often simplified to a 50/50 chance, the global sex ratio at birth is slightly skewed towards males. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a ratio of about 105 boys to 100 girls. [Source: UTSW Med Blog, Jun 25, 2019] This translates to a slightly higher probability of having a boy.
Factors Affecting the Perception of Probability
Several factors contribute to the common misconception of a perfectly even 50/50 chance:
- Simplification: The slightly higher chance of a boy is often simplified for ease of understanding.
- Individual Experiences: Personal experiences and anecdotal evidence can lead to skewed perceptions of probability. Having several girls in a row doesn't alter the probability for a subsequent pregnancy. [Source: BabyCenter forum]
- Independent Events: Each pregnancy is an independent event; the sex of previous children does not influence the sex of a future child. [Source: Reddit r/NoStupidQuestions]
Genetic Determination
The sex of a baby is determined by the father's contribution - either an X or a Y chromosome. The mother always contributes an X chromosome. A combination of XX results in a girl, while XY results in a boy. [Source: Veritas International Blog]
Conclusion
While the chance is often presented as 50/50, the reality is closer to a 51% chance of having a boy due to the slightly higher global sex ratio at birth. However, each pregnancy is an independent event.
