All 3 Starters in Kalos

The gender ratio for the 6th generation starters is currently unknown, but all starters so far had a ratio of 12.5% female / 87.5% male, or 1 : 7.

The gender of your Pokémon does not depend on your character's gender. Both male and female protagonists can have either male or female starters.

This specific gender ratio is used to make it more difficult in breeding more of them since players usually get them as gifts or Fossils rather than catch them in the wild. All starter and Fossil Pokémon are in this group.

The only way to ensure you'll get a female starter is indeed by saving the game beforehand and reloading it as necessary.

There are a few different ways to obtain all three Kalos starts.

1. Your rival will trade you the starter that is weak to your starter after beating the Elite Four. -NOTE: You need a spare Pokemon to trade for it, but you should have one.

2. Friend Safari can give you the 1st evolution of a starter if you are lucky with who you add as a friend.

3. Wonder Trading can result in one of the Pokemon you are looking for, but it requires lots of luck, and lots of attempts.

4. Using the GTS is an easy way. If you breed your start and put it to trade for one of the ones you are looking for, it could be traded.

5. If you have a friend who has a different starter who would be willing breed it and trade one, then trading is another way.

Now out of those, the GTS is the best way to get the starters, seeing that there are many breeders and collectors who are willing to trade their starters for other Pokemon.

It really takes lots of patience, and to look at the right places.