What is the cost of IVF with gender selection in Dubai?
The cost of IVF with gender selection in Dubai starts at £4,500. Depending on your needs, an all-inclusive package can range from £4,500 to £9,500.
| Procedure | Price in Dubai |
|---|---|
| IVF with baby gender selection | £6,500 |
What is family balancing?
In the field of medically assisted reproduction, family balancing is the term used in Dubai for IVF with gender selection. It is a process that aims to achieve a more balanced representation of both sexes within a family.
For example, if a couple has a daughter and would like a son, or vice versa, family balancing can help select the desired sex during an In Vitro Fertilisation procedure.
Using a technology called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which tests the chromosomal make-up of an embryo, only embryos of the desired sex are transferred into the patient’s uterus.
How does it work?
Family balancing with IVF-NGS
Thanks to today’s advanced reproductive technologies, identifying the sex of your embryos before pregnancy is possible through IVF and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), sometimes called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT).
In Dubai, the sex of the embryo is read directly from its chromosomes. The method is not infallible, however: the biopsy covers only a few cells, and practice guidelines recall the risk of false positives, false negatives and embryo mosaicism[1].
Read also: IVF with baby gender selection in Turkey
What is comprehensive chromosome screening?
Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), also known as “embryo screening”, is a test carried out on a few cells obtained from the embryo and offers the following benefits:
- Screening of all 24 chromosomes for any chromosomal abnormality such as Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome.
- Identifying the sex of the embryos
- Embryos free of chromosomal abnormalities carry a reduced risk of miscarriage.
The process
Adding a cycle of IVF-ICSI to CCS does not change the length of treatment. After egg retrieval, if the eggs are successfully fertilised, a biopsy is taken from each embryo and tested by CCS. The healthy embryos of the desired sex are then transferred into the uterus.
The following steps take place over 15 to 20 days.
Step 1
Ovarian stimulation (day 1 to day 12)
On the first day of the menstrual cycle, medication is prescribed to stimulate the growth of several follicles in the ovaries. During this period, follicular growth is monitored by ultrasound as it develops into eggs. Medication protocols are adjusted if necessary.
36 to 40 hours before the planned egg retrieval, a “trigger” hCG injection is given to induce egg maturation within a set timeframe.
Step 2
Egg collection (OPU)
The eggs are collected using a fine needle guided by ultrasound during a short procedure under sedation. The number of eggs collected depends on how the body responds to the medication.
Step 3
Sperm collection and ICSI
On the day of egg collection, a sperm sample is collected to fertilise the retrieved eggs. To increase the chances of fertilisation, a single sperm is injected into each egg using a precision needle in a method called ICSI.
Step 4
Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) will be carried out for family balancing or to screen for any chromosomal abnormality. 3 to 5 days after egg collection, a biopsy is taken from each embryo and tested in the genetics laboratory. The health and sex of the embryos are identified and discussed with you before embryo transfer.
Step 5
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer is a minor procedure that does not require sedation and is usually performed under ultrasound guidance. After the procedure, hormone levels are monitored with a blood test to confirm pregnancy after 10 to 12 days.
Conclusion
Our British coordinator answers logistical questions and passes on quotes from the clinics.
If you are interested in IVF with gender selection in Dubai or any other assisted reproduction treatment, you can contact the coordinator. Our services are also available to international patients.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
How much does IVF with gender selection cost in Dubai?
From £4,500 to £9,500 depending on the package, compared with £8,000 for IVF in the UK, where sex selection for non-medical reasons is not permitted. The same technique is also available in Turkey, at prices that vary from clinic to clinic.
Is sex selection allowed in the UK?
No, not for non-medical reasons. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis there is reserved for couples at risk of passing on a serious, incurable genetic disease, and the analysis “covers only the disease identified in the family”[2].
Is the method 100% reliable?
No. A study carried out in Abu Dhabi on 84 embryos compared three biopsies of the same embryo: only 59.5% were concordant across all three, and 10.7% were totally discordant[3]. These figures relate to chromosomal abnormalities.
In which other countries is this technique available?
What do learned societies say?
The ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine describes preimplantation sex selection as “ethically controversial” and calls on clinics to publish their own policy on the subject[4].
Does screening improve the chances of pregnancy?
Not in every case. Randomised trials have shown a gain in implantation and ongoing pregnancy per transfer only in good-prognosis patients able to produce at least two blastocysts for biopsy[1].
Do you already need to have a child to be eligible?
That depends on the clinic. No international rule requires it, and practitioners are obliged “neither to provide nor to refuse” sex selection without a medical indication[4]. The clinic’s policy should be asked about before the first appointment.
Sources & References
- Chan C, Ryu M, Zwingerman R. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy: A Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Guideline. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2020. View the source
- Agence de la biomédecine. Diagnostic préimplantatoire. 2026. View the source
- Lawrenz B, El Khatib I, Liñán A, et al. The clinicians’ dilemma with mosaicism, an insight from inner cell mass biopsies. Human Reproduction. 2019. View the source
- Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Use of reproductive technology for sex selection for nonmedical reasons: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility. 2022. View the source
