PGD Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

After your egg retrieval and fertilization, and before your embryo transfer in your IVF cycle the PGD Testing is carried out, During PGD testing, your doctor will examine the embryos to identify genetic defects within embryos created during the IVF process.
PGD is designed to detect specific genetic diseases that might be passed down to your biological child through the examination of chromosomes and single genes. By examining the embryos, your doctors can decrease the chances of genetic diseases from being passed on to your child in the event of a successful pregnancy. During this test, doctors separate the embryos containing problematic genes from those free from defects, which they then transfer to the uterus. Also through this process, the gender of the embryos can be identified and selected before transfer.

Diseases commonly diagnosed through PGD include:

• BRAC 1 & BRAC 2 genetic mutations
• Cystic fibrosis (CF)
• Down syndrome
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Fragile X syndrome
• Hemophilia A
• Huntington’s disease
• Myotonic dystrophy
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Thalassemia

Candidates for PGD testing

The intent of PGD testing is to mitigate the risk of passing down genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities to your baby. If you and your partner have a recessive disorder, the chances of genetic inheritance in reproduction are high.

PGD testing is recommended for intended parents with known diseases, such as:

• • Women older than 37
  • Intended parents with known inherited genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis,
  • History of recurrent miscarriages due to chromosomal abnormalities

The benefits of PGD testing

The primary reason why intended parents choose PGD, is to lower the possibility of passing on specific genetic diseases down to their children or for the purpose of gender selection. By using PGD testing, you and your doctors can:

• • Identify and avoid fertilizing embryos that carry one (or more) genetic disease and conditions.
  • Allow intended parents who are carriers of genetic disorders to conceive with a significantly lower risk of passing those disorders on to your children.
  • Improve your chances of a successful pregnancy by transferring the strongest, best embryos into the uterus (thus preventing genetically flawed embryos from being transferred to the uterus).
  • Reassess your decision to continue with pregnancy given the embryos available, as implantation has not yet occurred.
  • PGD is also the only scientific proven method for gender selection, as after the embryos are screened, either XX (female embryos) or XY (male embryos) are transferred back to the uterus. Therefore, PGD is a highly beneficial service we offer for patients whom desire a specific gender.