PGD is used to detect genetic disorders in embryos, before they are transferred into the uterus. With PGD only embryos without genetic disorders may be transferred into the uterus. PGD helps to increase the efficiency of ART for patients who suffer from infertility, and to prevent hereditary disease in an offspring.
The AVA-Peter clinic has the largest experience of PGD in Russia. In the last 6 years more than 400 IVF cycles with PGD were accomplished.
The most common reasons for using PGD are:
- Chromosomal rearrangements in one of the partners.
- Advanced age of the female partner (above 35 y.o.).
- Three or more miscarriages in early pregnancy.
- More than two unsuccessful IVF/ICSI treatments.
- Severe disorders of spermatogenesis.
Currently the following PGD treatments are provided:
- Unbalanced chromosome set in embryos of translocation carriers
- Common aneuploidies (chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 22, 23, X, Y)
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Detection of the embryo's genetic sex – sex selection
Initially PGD for sex selection was used to avoid sex-linked genetic disease in an offspring, if one of the parents is a carrier. PGD for sex selection may also be used for family balancing (if, for example, a couple already has a boy and would like to have a girl).
The PGD method does not only provide information on sex chromosomes but can reveal serious diseases such as Downs syndrome. When using PGD for family balancing (sex selection) you should use it to check for Downs syndrome and other chromosome diseases at the same time.
PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) for sex selection examines an embryo/embryos for male and female chromosomes. To be able to examine an embryo before transferring it into the uterus in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is required. The whole process IVF+PGD for sex selection takes 2,5 weeks and consists of several steps:
