Determining your baby's gender via ultrasound depends heavily on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Ultrasound Accuracy for Gender Reveal
The accuracy of determining your baby's gender increases as your pregnancy progresses. Early in the pregnancy, the accuracy is lower, but it greatly improves by the second trimester.
-
Early Ultrasounds (11 weeks): The earliest sex determination via ultrasound is 11 weeks, using the 'nub theory'. At this stage, the accuracy is approximately 70.3%.
-
Later Ultrasounds (12 weeks): The accuracy increases significantly to 98.7% at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
-
Optimal Ultrasounds (13 weeks and beyond): By 13 weeks, the accuracy for determining the baby's gender using ultrasound reaches 100%.
Key Points to Remember:
- Nub Theory: The 'nub theory' involves examining the angle of the genital tubercle (or 'nub') in the ultrasound image. This method can only be performed after 11 weeks.
- Accuracy Improvement: The accuracy increases greatly as the baby grows, because the anatomy is more easily visible.
- Timing is Key: Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is essential for accurate gender determination using an ultrasound.
- Technology and Expertise: The accuracy of ultrasound gender determination also depends on the equipment used, as well as the skill and experience of the sonographer performing the ultrasound.
| Gestational Age | Accuracy of Gender Determination |
|---|---|
| 11 weeks | 70.3% |
| 12 weeks | 98.7% |
| 13+ weeks | 100% |
It's important to note that while ultrasound is a very reliable method, the accuracy of determining gender early on can fluctuate, and is most precise in later ultrasounds.
