What are polar bodies?
Polar bodies are the byproducts of the egg’s division. As an egg matures, it goes through a two-step division process, dividing once at the time when ovulation would occur and again at the time of fertilization. The two polar bodies are the products of this division which are essentially being discarded by the egg (oocyte). By analyzing the polar bodies, it is possible to infer the genetic status of the oocyte. Generally for aneuploidy, both polar bodies are removed following fertilization.
