Parents spending thousands to choose baby's sex
Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different.
Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo.
Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons.
"I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP.
"My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family."
Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons.
Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said.
As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US.
"The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said.
"The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access."
Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex.
The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added.
"The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said.
"We have non-invasive pre-natal testing at around 10 weeks, so some people are getting pregnant, determining the sex and then choosing to continue with that pregnancy or not.
"Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that."
Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes.
The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said.
"The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said.
"Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant."
The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many.
It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments.
While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience.
"I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said.
"I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Mum's blunt message to all Australians after dismissing her cancer symptoms
An Adelaide mother-of-three is calling on all Australians to change the way they go about a daily habit after her own cancer symptoms were dismissed. Paediatric nurse Nina Distano was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in April 2020. Five years on, Distano is still undergoing treatment with plenty of support from her family, her husband Aaron and her three teenagers, Ben 18, Luisa 16 and Gabe 13. When she first became sick, Distano said there were other health issues that masked the start of her symptoms, including low iron from her vegetarian diet and bleeding which she thought was just previous hemorrhoids. 'The cause was put down to a combination of slightly heavier periods leading into menopause as well as a predominantly vegetarian diet.,' she told 'There had been occasional blood on the toilet paper but having had three children, I suffered from hemorrhoids as well as being prone to constipation so between the two, I dismissed that sign. 'Getting closer to diagnosis, I was having abdominal pains and weight loss but between shift work and the stress of working in the health system at that time, my eating pattern was irregular so I could also explain that away. 'It took a lot of blood in the toilet one day to get me back to my GP. This prompted a colonoscopy which led to my diagnosis.' Nina Distano initially dismissed her symptoms of bowel cancer. Credit: Supplied She is now in her 50th round of chemotherapy. Credit: Supplied. Battling the cancer head on, Distano said her medical team were optimistic about her recovery. But sadly, the cancer returned and is now stage four. 'My best hope now is to keep it under control for as long as possible,' Distano said. 'My ongoing treatment has included two major abdominal surgeries to remove many of my internal organs and I am coming up to my 50th cycle of chemotherapy. The treatment and surgeries have left me with a multitude of health problems including a colostomy bag, surgical menopause and numbness in my hands and feet.' Distano told that she and her husband have tried to keep their life as normal as possible, with difficult conversations likely to come. A family photo of Aaron, Nina and their three children Ben, Luisa and Gabe on a holiday. Credit: Supplied. She said watching other bowel cancer patients, who were also her friends, die from the disease was 'heartbreaking'. 'My husband has had to care for me when I have been recovering from surgery and when I have chemo. My kids have had to see me extremely unwell and in pain and we are constantly trying to keep away from infections,' she said. 'We have had some difficult conversations — but to be honest the worst are probably yet to come. 'I've lost so many friends along the way who I have met through the bowel cancer community and seen them say goodbye to their loved ones way too soon. It is heartbreaking.' Distano is speaking out ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness month in June, which South Australian-made toilet paper brand Kleenex is using to team up with Bowel Cancer Australia to raise awareness about one of Australia's deadliest cancer. Kleenex rolls will now encourage millions of Aussies to break the taboo and 'check their poo' for bowel cancer symptoms. For those who may not know what to look for, has been launched to help educate and raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and encourage people to take action. Distano told she wished she knew what the symptoms were earlier. 'I wish I knew the signs and symptoms. I would've pushed harder earlier if I'd known that what I was experiencing was not normal and that it is not an old man's disease,' she said. A lot of Australians struggle with talking about their bathroom habits. Credit: Supplied. Adam Carpenter, a mill manager at Kimberly-Clark Australia (parent group of Kleenex), said he was very supportive of the campaign to help spread awareness of bowel cancer. 'We're incredibly proud to support the team at Bowel Cancer Australia, using our Kleenex loo rolls to help address some of the bathroom blind spots when it comes to bowel cancer symptom awareness,' he said. 'Thousands of Aussies already trust Kleenex in the bathroom — and this crucial initiative transforms the humble loo roll into a bowel cancer awareness game-changer that helps Aussies to break the poo taboo. 'This is a natural step and partnership for Kleenex, and we hope it contributes to driving awareness, particularly as we head into Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this June.' Australians are also reminded that not everyone will experiences symptoms, particularly in the early stages of bowel cancer. Distano told it was time to get past the taboo. 'Check your poo. Be aware that any blood in your poo is not normal,' she said. 'It might just be haemorrhoids, but the only sure-fire way to know is via a colonoscopy. 'And, the bonus is, if it is polyps or early-stage bowel cancer, then it can be stopped in its tracks — early detection is key. 'With low iron, so many woman I know have this and it is never fully investigated. Please push until the cause is found. 'Changes to bowel habit, constipation to diarrhea or vice-versa, an urge to go but unable to, skinny 'ribbon-like' poo, all needs to be investigated.' Those concerned over changes to their poo should consult a GP. Credit: Supplied. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and the second deadliest in Australia. Nearly 15,000 Australians are told every year they have bowel cancer, with just over 5,000 people per year losing their lives to it. Common symptoms can include: Blood in your poo or rectal bleeding Bright red or very dark blood should never be ignored A recent, persistent change in bowel habit such as looser, more diarrhea-like poo, constipation, or going to the toilet more often, or trying to go — irregularity in someone whose bowel habits have previously been regular A change in shape or appearance of your poo For example, narrower poos than usual or mucus in poo Frequent gas pain, cramps A feeling of fullness or bloating in the bowel or rectum Unexplained anaemia A low red blood count causing tiredness, weakness or weight loss A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely after going to the toilet Pain or a lump in the anus or rectum Abdominal pain or swelling Those concerned about their health should consult with their medical practitioner. Anyone with symptoms is urged to contact their medical practitioner. Credit: Supplied. New research from PureProfile, which surveyed more than 1,000 Australians on their bathroom habits, also revealed a grim reality. A majority admitted to never looking for any signs of issues, with nearly three-quarters (73.6 per cent) of respondents admitting they aren't checking their poo for possible signs of bowel cancer. Whilst almost half (43.2 per cent) are unable to correctly identify three key bowel cancer symptoms. Two-in-five (38.6 per cent) respondents indicated they were uncomfortable talking about their bowel habit with their family, while more than a quarter (26.8 per cent) are uncomfortable talking about it with their doctor. CEO of Bowel Cancer Australia, Julien Wiggins said the partnership with Kleenex will raise vital awareness for the cancer. 'We are delighted to be partnering with Kleenex for this innovative campaign, raising much-needed awareness around Australia's second-deadliest cancer — bowel cancer,' he said.
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
The Good Retirement: Living the high life on a low budget
Retirement can be a tricky time when we wonder, "Have I got enough money to live happily ever after?" But come retirement time, many Australians find their nest egg isn't big enough to go luxury cruising or laze on a tropical island. So how can you find enjoyment and fulfilment from retirement without spending a fortune? Guests:
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tom's plan was to get a degree in Sydney. It went horribly wrong
After finishing high school, Chinese international student Tom considered university study in the United States. But, after seeing pictures of Australian beaches and the Opera House on social media, he enrolled in a degree in Sydney. He did not realise that, within months of arriving, he would find himself homeless for the first time, trying to sleep in a park underneath the Harbour Bridge. 'I was so tired, but I cannot sleep because I was hungry and freezing,' Tom said. That was in February 2024. After more than a year, he's become accustomed to sleeping in parks. Tom's story is an increasingly common one, according to the city's homelessness services, who say international students are increasingly finding themselves without a place to live. Nurse unit manager at St Vincent's Hospital's homeless health service Erin Longbottom said international students were becoming the hidden face of homelessness. 'No one is talking about it,' she said. They prefer to sleep in well-lit areas, she said, such as train stations or near public libraries. 'We have, at times, a build up of people in car parks where they can charge their electric bikes as that's where they work [doing] food delivery,' she said.
