What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)?
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure which is used to screen embryos during the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. While PGD is not used for all IVF patients, many do opt for the procedure, because it allows them to select the healthiest embryos for transfer, increasing the chances of having a healthy baby. This procedure was first performed in 1988, and it has significantly improved since that time. You may also hear PGD referred to as Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) or just “embryo screening.” It can be performed on a single oocyte, or human egg, or it can be performed on an embryo. To perform PGD, a sample of the egg or embryo is carefully biopsied and then subjected to genetic screening. After the screening, a doctor can identify the healthiest embryos, and recommend one or more for transfer to the uterus of the patient. There are two main reasons to perform PGD. The first is in the case of a couple which is prone to genetic diseases. For example, if a
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, is an advanced genetic testing procedure available at our Manhattan, New York fertility center. PGD genetic testing is used to identify some abnormalities present in embryos prior to transfer during an New York IVF cycle. The process involves isolating a single cell from an 8-cell embryo and analyzing the cell for some chromosomal abnormalities and inherited genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, tay sachs, and Huntington’s disease. By selecting healthy embryos to transfer, preimplantation genetic diagnosis increases the likelihood of a successful pregnancy for couples who risk passing on genetic disorders to their children and couples who have been unsuccessful with previous in vitro fertilization cycles. If you are interested in genetic testing, and specifically, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, PGD, contact our Manhattan, New York practice today.
The preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) procedure allows the screening of embryos for specific genetic traits before an embryo is implanted in a patient’s uterus (that’s the “preimplantation” part of “preimplantation genetic diagnosis”. Also known as “embryo biopsy,” PGD allows couples at risk for certain genetic disorders to determine which of their embryos are affected, and which are not, before the embryos are used to establish a pregnancy. We use PGD at the Southern California Reproductive Center to detect abnormalities in chromosomes or hereditary conditions. The first reports of PGD used in conjunction with IVF treatments appeared in the early 1990s, and since then hundreds of normal, healthy babies have been born through the use of this advanced reproductive technology.
