What is exactly is PGD?
PGD, or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, involves the genetic investigation of early stage embryos, which have been produced through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). PGD allows us to determine the sex of any given embryo (female or male) and the chromosomal make-up (whether the embryo is chromosomally normal, or, for example, has Downs syndrome). In more complicated testing procedures, it is possible to find out if embryos are affected by such diseases as Tay-Sachs disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell disease, Huntingtons Chorea disease, Cooley Anemia, as well as many other genetically inherited diseases. PGD is also used in non-medically related gender selection. In contrast to other available gender selection techniques, which are largely based on sperm sorting (X- vs. Y-carrying sperm), PGD is virtually always accurate.
