Half of Sydney women either expecting a baby or having fertility treatment believe they should be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn child, according to research.
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A survey of the women, who were patients at St George Private Hospital, found three-quarters were opposed to using IVF to select the sex of first-borns.
But half approved of sex selection for subsequent children to gender balance families.
The research into the 150 patients is at odds with previous surveys into the attitude of the general population towards social sex selection. Over the past 10 years, such surveys have shown 80 per cent of Australians are against using IVF to choose a baby's sex.
''Women who are at the sharp end of reproduction are more tolerant of this than the general population,'' Fertility Society of Australia vice-president Michael Chapman, who conducted the survey, said.
The National Health and Medical Research Council is reviewing its ethical guidelines that prevent parents from using assisted reproductive technologies to chose the sex of a child. The review committee met for the first time last month, however Fairfax Media understands overturning the ban is ''not a priority''.
Fertility specialists are pushing for the ban to be repealed, arguing there is growing demand for this service, spurred by improvements in the technology over the past two or three years.
Hundreds of Australians now travel to clinics in Thailand and the US to select the sex of their child.
''The increasing numbers of couples who are going overseas seeking sex selection indicates society is changing its views,'' Professor Chapman said.
''People have become aware the technology is there to genetically test embryos. We live in the 21st century where we get what we want, and if we don't get it we go out and make sure we do.''
A spokeswoman from the Australian Family Association warned allowing gender selection for social reasons would commoditise children. ''If you really want a child, but then you start putting conditions on, you have to start asking questions,'' Terri Kelleher said.
Professor Chapman supports sex selection for second and subsequent children so families can achieve their desired boy/girl ratio. He suggested the practice could be regulated by requiring ethics committees at fertility clinics.
