I'll discuss a few of the historically popular methods. Some can be done at home, others require medical intervention. The Microsort method is an expensive, high-tech approach to gender preselection. Many have claimed success at this type of sperm separation, but few have been able to back up their claims with hard data, until now. The Microsort method uses a technique known as flow cytometry.
Seminal fluid is filtered and then run through an extremely long, thin tube under pressure.
After the flow cytometry separation, the newly created samples were studied. The September 1998 article reported on 29 clinical pregnancies to date, where the desired gender was female. Until more data is published, this method appears to be effective and legitimate. A report on their success with a male gender preference will be published soon. Harsher conditions would favor a female fetus, such as lower sperm counts caused by heat, tight underwear or frequent ejaculations.