Overview

• Caitlin Bailey, a Melbourne-based mother of three, traveled to the United States to undergo IVF to ensure her fourth child would be female.
• Bailey spent $45,000 on the procedure, which is banned in Australia for non-medical reasons but permitted in the US for family balancing.
• The case has renewed discussions on the ethics and legality of gender selection in Australia, where regulations have not been reviewed in a decade.
• Experts highlight that regulated pre-implantation gender selection could reduce harmful terminations following prenatal sex testing in some cases.
• Studies reveal cultural preferences for sons in some Australian communities, raising concerns about gender imbalances and ethical implications.