Appropriate Response to Gender Selection Request

Ethical Framework

• The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and other international professional societies argue against using preimplantation genetic testing for nonmedical sex selection, as it encourages gender discrimination and preference for male offspring 1, 2, 3
• The European Society of Human Genetics and other organizations state that sex selection can only be used for preventing serious sex-linked diseases or avoiding transgenerational health risks, and not for nonmedical traits 1, 2

Clinical Guidelines

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional societies recommend that fertility treatment for patients with PCOS and recurrent ovulation induction failures may include IVF with or without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy screening if medically indicated, but not for gender selection 4, 5
• The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and other organizations suggest that reproductive autonomy does not extend to selection for nonmedical traits, particularly gender, as it conflicts with broader ethical principles regarding gender discrimination and the welfare of future children 1, 2, 6, 7

Documentation and Refusal

• The American Medical Association and other professional societies recommend that requests for gender selection and subsequent refusals should be documented in the medical record, as this practice is considered unethical by international professional societies 1, 2, 5