{"id":10872,"date":"2024-12-05T08:21:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T13:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pockethealthqa.wpengine.com\/?p=10872"},"modified":"2025-10-20T09:10:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:10:53","slug":"gender-ultrasound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/gender-ultrasound\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Out Your Baby\u2019s Gender On Ultrasound: What to Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re pregnant, you\u2019re likely eager to learn your baby\u2019s sex. Many expectant parents want to know the earliest possible time they can find out. This guide will explain when you can expect to learn your baby\u2019s sex, how accurate the results are, and how to prepare. It\u2019s important to clarify that when we refer to gender in this guide, we are actually discussing sex, as this is how the terms are often used in medical contexts. However, it\u2019s worth noting that sex is a biological descriptor, while gender refers to an identity, and the two are distinct concepts.<\/p>\n

While this guide provides helpful information about prenatal ultrasounds<\/a>, your doctor will officially interpret your results during a follow-up appointment or phone call. If you’d like early access to your results, PocketHealth<\/a> offers secure, instant access to your report when it is available. This allows you to review the findings in advance and prepare any questions for your follow-up.<\/p>\n

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What to know about fetal ultrasounds<\/h2>\n
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Ultrasound images of a 20-week fetus<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

An ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to capture images of your internal structures. The sonographer uses a handheld, wand-like device called a transducer to perform the ultrasound. A conductive gel is applied to the belly, and the transducer is moved across the abdomen. As the sound waves from the transducer bounce off organs and other areas, such as your baby, images are created and stored on the sonographer’s computer for later analysis. Radiologists can then assess your baby’s size, growth, health and sex from these images.<\/p>\n

Transvaginal ultrasounds<\/h3>\n

There are two types of prenatal ultrasounds. The first is the transvaginal<\/a> method, typically used in early pregnancy when the fetus is small and better imaging angles are needed. The scan is performed by inserting a lubricated transducer into the patient\u2019s vagina, providing clearer images due to its internal nature. After the first trimester, most patients no longer require this method and will instead have subsequent prenatal ultrasounds performed externally via the abdomen.<\/p>\n

Transabdominal ultrasounds<\/h3>\n

Transabdominal<\/a> ultrasounds are performed externally. Clear conductive gel is applied to the patient\u2019s belly, and the transducer is moved around the abdomen to capture images of the fetus. Since the baby is larger at this stage, most of the necessary imaging can be obtained this way. For a certain period, you will likely need a full bladder for an abdominal ultrasound, as it helps improve the images. However, later in the pregnancy, this will no longer be required.<\/p>\n

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What is the nub theory?<\/h2>\n
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Ultrasound of a 13 week old fetus<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Before anatomy fully develops, babies have a genital tubercle, often referred to as a ‘nub.’ The angle of this nub is thought to be a good indicator of the fetus\u2019s sex. If the nub is parallel to the spine or less than 10 degrees from it, the theory suggests the fetus is female. If the nub is angled more than 30 degrees from the spine, the theory suggests the fetus is male. This nub can be seen as early as 11 weeks gestation<\/a>, meaning you may have strong indications of your baby\u2019s sex before your anatomy scan.<\/p>\n

As the baby develops, the nub theory becomes more accurate. At 11 weeks, it is considered 70% accurate. By week 13, it is nearly 100% accurate. However, this is dependent on the baby being in the right position for the nub to be visible. If the ultrasound technician cannot capture the necessary images, this information will not be available. There is also a chance for inaccuracies, though these decrease as the pregnancy progresses. Because of these two factors, many patients do not learn their baby\u2019s sex until a later ultrasound.<\/p>\n

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When to expect your gender ultrasound<\/h2>\n

Many patients only require two to three ultrasounds during their pregnancy. An early ultrasound<\/a>, typically performed between 6 and 9 weeks gestation<\/a>, is common to assess viability and confirm conception dates. However, some patients may not have this scan and it is too soon to determine gender.<\/p>\n

The second ultrasound for many patients is a nuchal translucency screening<\/a>, performed between 11 and 13 weeks gestation. This optional scan assesses the risk for genetic abnormalities and chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. Some patients may get an early indication of their baby\u2019s sex during this scan via the nub theory, but getting the right views is not always reliable.<\/p>\n

The last common ultrasound occurs between 18 and 22 weeks gestation and is called the anatomy scan<\/a>. During this appointment, the ultrasound technician evaluates the baby\u2019s organs, structures, size and other growth markers. By this point, the baby is large enough to reliably determine the sex, which is why the anatomy ultrasound is the standard time to learn this information. That said, there may still be factors that lead to misinformation regarding fetal sex, such as inexperienced sonographers or unclear images. However, this is rare, and most gender ultrasounds have near 100% accuracy.<\/p>\n

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How to prepare for your gender ultrasound<\/h2>\n

If you’ve already had ultrasounds before the anatomy scan, you may have an idea of what to expect. That said, this appointment is usually longer and more in-depth than others. Here are some preparatory tips that may be useful.<\/p>\n

Before the scan<\/h3>\n