Which countries legally allow IVF with gender selection?

Countries Where IVF with Gender Selection Is Legal

For many hopeful parents, the ability to choose the gender of their child is a deeply personal and significant part of their family planning journey. This practice, often referred to as "family balancing," is made possible by advanced reproductive technologies.

However, the legal and ethical landscape surrounding IVF with gender selection varies dramatically from one country to another. This global patchwork of regulations has created specific hubs for fertility tourism, where patients can access these services legally and safely.

The key to elective gender selection lies in a technology called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A). Understanding this process and knowing which countries have a permissive legal framework is the first step for any couple considering this path.

This guide, current for September 2025, is designed to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of the global situation.

We will explore the countries where family balancing is a well-established and legal option, explain the difference between elective and medically necessary gender selection, and highlight the regions where the practice is restricted or banned, giving you a complete picture of your options worldwide.

How Does IVF with Gender Selection (PGT-A) Work?

Gender selection is not a standalone procedure but an advanced add-on to a standard In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle. The process is meticulous and requires a highly skilled embryology team. The steps are as follows:

1. IVF Cycle: The mother's ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs, which are retrieved and fertilized with sperm in the lab to create embryos.
2. Embryo Culture: The embryos are grown in a controlled incubator for 5 to 6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage, which consists of over 100 cells.
3. Biopsy: A highly skilled embryologist uses a laser and microscopic tools to safely remove a small sample of 5-10 cells from the outer layer of the embryo (the trophectoderm), which will later form the placenta.
4. Genetic Testing: These cells are sent to a genetics lab where the chromosomes are analyzed. The test confirms which embryos are chromosomally normal (euploid) and identifies their sex by looking for XX (female) or XY (male) chromosome pairs.
5. Embryo Transfer: Based on the results, the intended parents and their doctor can choose a healthy, chromosomally normal embryo of the desired gender for transfer into the mother's uterus.

Which Countries Are Top Destinations for Elective Gender Selection?

These countries have become hubs for fertility tourism due to their permissive legal frameworks and high-quality medical care.

What is the Difference Between 'Elective' and 'Medical' Gender Selection?

This is a critical legal and ethical distinction that determines the law in many countries. While the technology (PGT-A) is the same, the reason for its use is different.

• Family Balancing: A couple with two sons may wish to have a daughter, or vice-versa. This is a personal, non-medical choice. The countries listed in the table above allow this.
• Medical Necessity: Some genetic diseases are passed down on the sex chromosomes. For example, a mother who is a carrier for Hemophilia A has a 50% chance of passing it to a son, but her daughters will not have the disease. In this case, selecting female embryos is a medical procedure to ensure a healthy child. Many countries that ban elective selection do permit it for these serious medical reasons.

Which Countries Prohibit or Restrict Elective Gender Selection?

It is important to know where the practice is not allowed. In countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, using PGT for gender selection is only legal for medical reasons to avoid a serious genetic disorder. Family balancing is explicitly banned.

In other countries, such as China and India, the practice is illegal primarily for cultural and social reasons, as it was historically used to favor the selection of male children, leading to imbalanced gender ratios. In much of continental Europe, including Germany, France, and Switzerland, the practice is also prohibited on ethical grounds.

What is the Average Cost of IVF with PGT-A?

The cost of PGT-A is an add-on to the base price of the IVF cycle. In Mexico, for example, where a base IVF cycle might cost $6,000, adding PGT-A could bring the total medical cost to between $9,000 and $12,000. In the United States, where a base cycle can be $15,000-$20,000, adding PGT-A can bring the total cost to $20,000-$28,000 or more.

This significant cost difference is a major driver of fertility tourism for this specific procedure.

Making the right choice for your family requires clear information and access to trusted providers. Placidway is a leading medical tourism platform that connects patients with a global network of pre-vetted, high-quality fertility clinics in destinations where gender selection is legal and safe. Explore your options and plan your journey with confidence.