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Definition of Shettles method
Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026
Shettles method: A set of procedures proposed and popularized for sex selection by the gynecologist Landrum B. Shettles (1909-2003) in his book entitled "Baby's Sex: Now You Can Choose." With his method, Dr. Shettles claimed that couples could increase their odds of having either a boy or a girl by taking a few simple steps. To achieve a boy, for example, Dr. Shettles recommended abstaining until the day of ovulation and douching with baking soda. The scientific foundation of the Shettles method is generally considered precarious.