IVF and PGD

In Vitro Fertilization is one of the most popular Assisted Reproductive Technology today. Complementary PGD comes to check for specific genetic disorders and can provide an increased pregnancy rate. Hopefully the information found here will help you understand what these procedures are, what are the risks, what are the costs and the success rates.

IVF refers to the procedure by which sperm fertilizes the egg cells in a controlled environment outside the woman’s body. In vitro is the Latin for within the glass, referring to test tubes, or petri dishes where the egg cells and sperm come together for fertilization.

IVF involves hormonally stimulating the ovulatory process, taking the eggs from the ovaries, have them put together with sperm in a fluid where the fertilization can occur. At this point, and sometimes even before fertilization, an optional procedure can take place. It’s called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.

PGD stands for preimplantation genetic diagnosis and consist in diagnosing the fertilized oocytes – the embryos by performing a biopsy to retrieve the material for testing. There are several techniques to diagnose, like PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) and FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization).

PGD can be used to diagnose many disorders such as: sickle cell disease, spinal muscular atrophy, Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, myotonic dystrophy, mitochondrial disorders, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Beta-thalassemia, haemophilia A, Duchenne muscular dystrophy etc. It can also be used for sex selection, mainly for medical purposes in case of X-linked inherited diseases, but even if in some countries is illegal, it has been used for “family balance” or where the couple expresses their wish of a certain gender.