You can find out the gender of your baby as early as about 6 weeks into pregnancy using a specialized blood test that detects fetal DNA in the mother's blood, with up to 99% accuracy. This test can be done with just a blood sample from the mother, often available as at-home testing kits. Another method is via an ultrasound scan, which is the most common way to determine gender. The typical time for a gender reveal ultrasound is the anatomy scan performed between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, usually around 20 weeks. Earlier ultrasound methods like the "nub theory" can sometimes predict gender as early as 11 to 13 weeks but with lower accuracy compared to later scans. Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a blood test done around 10 weeks, can also provide early gender information along with screening for chromosomal abnormalities. In summary:
- Earliest via blood test (fetal DNA): From 6 weeks pregnancy
- NIPT blood test: From about 10 weeks pregnancy
- Ultrasound gender prediction with decent accuracy: From 11-13 weeks ("nub theory")
- Most reliable ultrasound gender determination: Around 18-22 weeks, typically at 20-week anatomy scan
These methods vary in terms of timing, accuracy, and invasiveness, with blood tests offering earlier answers but ultrasounds providing visual confirmation later in pregnancy.
