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A peculiar phenomenon has swept across Chinese social media platforms, causing a stir among expectant parents and curious onlookers alike. A brand of weakly alkaline natural mineral water, sold under Sam's Club's private label, has become the subject of an extraordinary claim: drinking it can supposedly increase the chances of conceiving a son.
The rumor, which began circulating on various social media platforms, quickly gained traction. By September 2nd, the hashtag "Mineral water rumored to help conceive sons sells out" topped Weibo's trending list, attracting widespread attention and debate.
Remarkably, numerous netizens have come forward in comment sections, sharing personal anecdotes that seemingly support the water's alleged properties. As the story spread, the purported benefits of Sam's Club mineral water grew increasingly fantastical. Some users claimed it could lower uric acid levels or neutralize stomach acid, while others expressed skepticism about these miraculous assertions.
This isn't the first time such claims have surfaced. Last year, similar posts appeared on social media platforms, suggesting that alkaline water could help couples conceive male children. The belief in "alkaline conception" to increase the likelihood of having a boy is not uncommon in online discussions, though some users have questioned whether this might be a clever marketing ploy.
According to Sam's Club's app, the product in question ranks second on their monthly bestseller list. A pack of 24 300mL bottles of weakly alkaline natural mineral water is priced at 22.8 yuan, averaging 0.95 yuan per bottle. The water is sourced from Longevity Mountain in Bama County, Guangxi province.
On September 2nd, Sam's Club customer service responded to media inquiries but did not provide a clear statement on the validity of these claims.
Medical experts have weighed in on the matter. Dr. Wu Dongmei, Chief Physician of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Fujian Second People's Hospital, stated, "Sex chromosomes determine a baby's gender. The body's pH level is an indicator of acid-base balance. These are completely different categories, and pH levels have no determining effect on a baby's sex."
Professor Wei Yiming from Fujian Medical University's Department of Physiology added, "Scientifically speaking, the local pH of the vagina can affect sperm activity. However, vaginal pH is maintained by both local and systemic environments and cannot be simply altered by changing diet, taking acid-base medications, or using vaginal pH cleansers."
