How do we begin the PGD process?
Potential PGD patients will have to first consult a fertility specialist who will guide them through their available options depending on the nature of the condition to be tested and their current fertility status. Blood tests and ultrasound scans will also have to be performed before an IVF cycle can be commenced.
Why do we need to undergo an IVF cycle?
Embryos to be tested need to be fertilised and cultured outside of the body and the only way this is possible is through an IVF cycle.
Will the biopsy and removal of a cell damage the embryo or affect the resulting child?
No, at the stage at which the embryo is biopsied, all the cells have the full genetic complement i.e. the cells are not specialised and removal of a cell will not affect the development/growth of the embryo/child as the remaining cells are able to compensate for the loss of one or even two cells.
Who can benefit from PGD?
Patients at risk of transmitting an inherited gene disorder such as: Cystic Fibrosis, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Tay Sach’s Disease, Fragile X Syndrome and Huntington’s Disease
Individuals at risk for aneuploidy and chromosomal abnormalities, especially those older than 35 years
IVF patients with a history of repeated IVF failures or pregnancy losses
Will PGD increase my chances of having a baby?
Yes, it has been shown in studies that PGD can increase pregnancy rates and decrease miscarriage in women who are older than 37 years. Normally older woman have a lower pregnancy rate and higher chance of miscarriage even with fertility treatment. This is because both problems are primarily due to a higher rate of abnormal embryos that occur in advanced maternal aged females. By testing, selecting and transferring only normal embryos the chances of a successful pregnancy are increased.
Is there any chance of a misdiagnosis?
Current literature suggests that there is a 2% false normal and 5% false abnormal rate. This error rate is due to a number of reasons but the most common is that embryos have been found to be mosaics at early stages of development. This means that the cell tested with PGD may not always be representative of the embryo as a whole. Therefore the cell tested may be normal and the rest of the embryo not or vice versa.
Furthermore the embryo can only be classified as normal for those conditions actually tested. That is, an embryo can be found to be normal for one or two disorders but that does not guarantee the embryo will be free of all inherited genetic diseases.
How much will IVF and PGD cost?
Please contact our clinic for a tailored IVF/PGD plan as the cost does differ between patients, based on various factors including type of ovarian stimulation & diseases to be tested.
What are the other possible costs that can be incurred?
Other costs that can be incurred include cryopreservation, if there is a surplus of normal embryos that could not be transferred in the present cycle, as well as the accompanying storage fee and subsequent embryo transfer costs for those frozen embryos.
