(BPT) - Few experiences compare to the excitement of finding out you are pregnant and the anticipation of your growing family. Along with natural concerns about the childbirth process and health of your child, you have many other questions and curiosities. What will your baby be like? Will your child resemble one parent or the other? How will they act, smile, learn and grow? And one of the most intriguing questions: Will your baby be a boy or a girl?

The unknowns you face as a parent can feel overwhelming, so wouldn't it be great to have at least one of these questions answered sooner? According to a survey commissioned by Myriad Genetics, 82% of parents want to know the gender of their baby in advance, and of those parents who did find out ahead of time, almost all of them (94%) said they would do it again.¹

Answering the age-old question

For generations, there were many tales about how to determine your baby's gender, including the shape and position of the mother's "baby bump," which were not very scientifically accurate. While these tales still hold popularity, many parents seek out more verifiable ways of determining their baby's gender, like an ultrasound, which typically does not happen until 20 weeks into pregnancy.

While 70% of survey respondents believed you could get an accurate gender result via ultrasound as early as 11-20 weeks into pregnancy,¹ the reality is that the accuracy of gender determination by ultrasound is just over 70% at 11 weeks. The second-most commonly cited method of determining gender by expectant parents is noninvasive prenatal screening, which is offered at 10 weeks or later to detect risk for certain genetic conditions.

Early answers

Thanks to modern science, it's possible to learn if your new bundle of joy is a male or female as early as six weeks - from the comfort of your own home. The SneakPeek^® At-Home Gender Test uses an innovative DNA-based method to detect fetal sex as early as six weeks with clinically proven over 99% accuracy.²

The only six-week gender test used by more than one million parents, the SneakPeek test requires the collection of a simple, at-home blood sample, which is then analyzed in a lab to detect whether male chromosomes are present or not. If they are present, the baby is predicted to be a boy, and if not, the baby is predicted to be a girl. SneakPeek is also the number one OBGYN-recommended gender test.³

The benefits of knowing early

Why are so many expectant parents eager to know their baby's gender as soon as possible? Here are the top seven reasons according to survey respondents:

1. Preparedness: You can feel more ready for your baby's arrival, including decorating their room or nursery, planning a baby shower, buying their clothing and more.

2. Naming: Face it, deciding on a baby's name is hard! You'll have a few more weeks to find the perfect fit.

3. Satisfy curiosity and impatience: Nine months is a long time, so why wait if you don't have to?

4. Bonding with the baby: With more information, it's easier to imagine your life with your new child and strengthen that early sense of connection.

5. Reducing the number of unknowns: Welcoming a new child can be stressful, and fewer unknowns can help you feel more confident and secure as you go through your pregnancy journey.

6. Celebrating with friends and family: Knowing earlier gives parents the power to plan and decide when to share the your news with everyone.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to know your baby's gender sooner, you're not alone. Now expectant parents can enjoy getting to know their newest family member earlier than ever before.

For a "sneak peek" into the future of your family, visit SneakPeekTest.com, or find the test at your local drugstore or retailer.

Survey Methodology: Myriad Genetics SneakPeek Survey was conducted online by Padilla Newsmaker January 2024 among a statistically representative sample (n=1,000) of U.S. women between the ages of 21-45 who intended to get pregnant, are pregnant or have been pregnant.

¹ ©2024 Padilla Newsmaker Online Survey, January 2024, n=1,000.

² In a separated published study run in 2021, fetal sex was accurately determined in 100% of 134 pregnant women at 7 weeks gestational age. In a 2022 scientific study, SneakPeek accurately determined fetal sex for 100% of 103 women at 6 weeks gestational age.

³ SneakPeek recommended six to one among 100 OBGYNs surveyed.