( CNN ) -- Genetic screening techniques that allow parents to choose their children 's gender are now more accurate than ever and are becoming increasingly mainstream , but experts are divided over whether the technology should be used in this way . A technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis ( PGD ) was originally developed two decades ago to allow embryos to be tested for genetic disease . It requires parents to use in vitro fertilization , where eggs are fertilized outside the womb . With PGD , the embryos are tested for genetic disorders and only those that are free of disease are transferred to the mother 's uterus . It means that parents who carry genetic defects can ensure they do n't pass on a genetic illness to their children . But PGD also can also be used to allow people undergoing in-vitro fertilization to select the gender of the embryo implanted in the mother 's uterus . Click on the flags above to watch people around the world answer the question , `` Would you choose your child 's gender ? '' Using PGD for gender selection is banned in most countries , but it is legal in the U.S. , where the procedure costs around $ 18,000 , including in-vitro fertilization . Los Angeles fertility expert Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg uses PGD for gender selection . He told CNN 's Vital Signs program that many of his American clients already have children of one gender and are trying to achieve `` family balancing . '' He added that 70 percent of his patients are from countries where the procedure is banned . Critics question the ethics of gender selection , and some argue that it could lead to a gender imbalance , particularly in societies with a traditional preference for boys . `` If anything , there 's a slight preponderance for females , and this is contrary to everything that is publicized , and clearly it varies by country , '' said Steinberg . `` China is strongly in favor of boys , as we would suspect . India , strongly in favor of boys . But when you look at the world in general , it 's 50-50 '' Dr. Mark Hughes , who pioneered PGD , he has concerns about its use for non-medical purposes . He told CNN , `` It definitely is an expanded reproductive choice . The question is , is it medicine ? Is it something that doctors should be involved in ? '' But Steinberg argues that it 's wrong to limit scientific capabilities . `` I say to critics that the last thing in the world that you want to do is put the handcuffs on science . `` We 've been giving women expanded reproductive choices for 50 years . This is another choice . '' Although the technology for gender selection is becoming more widespread , it remains controversial . Some feel that it 's `` playing God , '' while others welcome having more choice in family planning . Would you choose your child 's gender ? Sound Off below .
Technology that lets parents choose their children 's gender is becoming more mainstream . Some experts believe that it 's wrong to use such technology for non-medical purposes . Comment: