It is unfortunate that in our society women are blamed for giving birth to female children and have been ostracised and ill-treated because of this false notion. Out of 23 pairs of chromosomes present, 22 pairs are exactly the same in both males and females, these are the autosomes.

A pair of X-chromosomes are present in the female, whereas the presence of an X and Y-chromosome are determinant of the male characters. During spermatogenesis among males, two types of gametes are produced.

50 percent of the total sperm produced carry X-chromosome and the rest 50% has Y-chromosome besides the autosomes. Females, however, produce only one type of ovum with an X-chromosome. There is an equal probability of fertilization of the ovum with the sperm carrying either X or Y-chromosome.

In case when the ovum fertilizes with a sperm carrying X-chromosome the zygote develops into a female (XX) and the fertilization of the ovum with Y-chromosome carrying sperm results into a female offspring. Thus, It is evident that it is the genetic makeup of the sperm (male) that determines the sex of the child.

It is also evident that in each pregnancy there is always 50% probability of having either a male of a female child.