Preconception Sex Selection in Traditional Persian Medicine: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objectives: This review investigates the existing research with regard to a variety of different suggested methods by traditional Persian medicine (TPM) about the baby’s sex selection. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive scoping review including five stages was conducted to summarize evidence on pre-implantation sex selection in TPM. The research question and relevant studies were identified in stages 1 and 2, respectively. Then, studies were selected and data were charted in stages 3 and 4, and finally, the results were collated, summarized, and reported in stage 5. Results: Accordingly, 7 general categories were arranged, including the temperament of the sexual organs in a man, the temperament of sexual organs in a woman, the type of male semen, and timing and manner of sexual intercourse for fetus sex induction purposes. Other categories were the effect of environmental factors, the couple’s psychic states during the course of love-making, the couple’s age, and measures for male sex induction. Conclusions: This review summarizes the existing research regarding different suggested methods by TPM on the baby’s sex selection. These could well be the basis for further prospective scientific research and investigation.

Keywords

• sex selection
• traditional medicine
• male fetus