The chances of having a boy or a girl are statistically almost the same. There's no scientific evidence to suggest it's inherently harder to conceive one over the other. While some methods claim to influence sex selection, studies show these are largely ineffective.
The Myth of Easier Sex Selection
Many methods claiming to increase the chances of conceiving a boy or girl have been proposed, such as timing intercourse relative to ovulation. However, research, such as that referenced by Clearblue (https://www.clearblue.com/how-to-get-pregnant/boy-or-girl), consistently demonstrates that these methods do not significantly impact the sex of the baby.
Slight Bias Towards Male Births
Interestingly, while the chance is nearly even, there is a slight bias towards male births. A study from UTSW Medical Blog (http://utswmed.org/medblog/it-boy-or-girl-fathers-family-might-provide-clue/) notes that the sex ratio (male to female births) shows a slight preference for males. This is partially due to a higher rate of female fetal loss during pregnancy, as explained by The Bump (https://www.thebump.com/a/more-baby-boys-than-girls).
Factors Affecting Conception: Male and Female Fertility
It's crucial to understand that difficulty conceiving is related to fertility issues, not the sex of the baby. Both male and female infertility can impact the ability to get pregnant (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354308, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17201-male-infertility). Age is a significant factor, with both male and female fertility declining with age (http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/age-and-fertility).
In summary, the sex of the baby doesn't determine the difficulty of conception. Challenges in conceiving are linked to fertility factors impacting both men and women.
