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| Treatments - Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS) |
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGS) are methods of testing embryos for genetic conditions in order to select the healthiest embryos for implantation.
PGD/PGS will reduce the miscarriage rate,
and minimizing the need for termination of pregnancies
because of chromosomal abnormalities like Down’s
Syndrome and Trisomy 18. PGD/PGSD will also eliminate
the transfer of embryos affected by single gene
defects like cystic fibrosis and Fabry’s disease. These
abnormalities are impossible to detect judging embryos
by their morphologic criteria or their ability to become
blastocysts in Vitro.
When to consider PGD/PGS
PGD is indicated if you or your partner carry or are affected with a serious genetic disease that may be passed on to your offspring. The purpose of PGD is to choose an embryo that is not affected by the disease.
PGS attempts to screen embryos for abnormalities in the chromosome number or structure (called aneuploidy) in order to prevent genetic problems such as Down's syndrome. In addition, women with a history of miscarriages may consider PGS to select the healthiest embryos. Also, some women with repeated IVF failures for no apparent reason may consider PGS to investigate the quality of the embryos, and pick the healthiest for transfer.
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