| Repeated
pregnancy loss
is frequently
due to genetic
problems. This
is a difficult
and emotionally
draining
experience.
However, there
are solutions
and treatment
options that can
help you,
including
Preimplantation
Genetic
Diagnosis (PGD).
PGD
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 its
chromosomal
make-up
(whether
the
embryo
is
chromosomally
normal,
or, for
example,
has
Downs
Syndrome). |
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PGD
Procedure
video
Click on
the Pay
button
to start
the
video |
In more
complicated
testing
procedures, it
is possible to
find out if
embryos are
affected by such
diseases as Tay-Sachs
disease, Cystic
Fibrosis and
Sickle Cell
disease, as well
as many other
genetically
inherited
diseases.
PGD is widely
used in Gender
Selection with a
more than 99%
accuracy rate.
PGD – How is it
done
Embryos created
in an IVF cycle
are cultured in
the laboratory
for 3 days when
they will have
developed
approximately 6
to 8 cells.
Embryos with
normal
development on
Day 3 will have
one or two cells
removed for
testing. This is
performed by
placing the
embryo under a
powerful
microscope and
using a Laser to
make a small cut
in the zona
pellucida, (a
tough outer
membrane holding
the embryo
together).
Depending on the
health and size
of the embryo,
one or two cells
are taken out.
The cut then
snaps shut so no
cells can fall
out
accidentally.
PGD is safe and
reliable
There is no
evidence that
PGD leads to an
increase in
birth defects or
chromosomal
disorders. PGD
is done before
the embryo’s
genetic material
becomes ‘active’
when the cells
inside the
embryo are still
all identical
and each cell is
still capable of
becoming any
part of a baby.
Removal of two
cells from the
early embryo
does not alter
the ability of
that embryo to
develop into a
complete, normal
pregnancy.
PGD for
Recurrent
Miscarriage
As the risk of
miscarriage
after two
previous
consecutive
miscarriages is
around 29
percent the use
of PGD in
identifying
causes is
extremely
valuable. A very
high percentage
of pregnancy
losses occur
because of
genetic or
chromosome
abnormalities
occurring in the
embryos. A woman
can have
predisposing
factors that
cause her to
produce
genetically
abnormal embryos
at a higher rate
than other
women, even
though she has a
normal
chromosome
analysis
herself.
Preimplantation
genetic
screening for
aneuploidy
(chromosome
number) can
avoid most
abnormalities
due to missing
or extra
chromosomes.
If you have
experienced
multiple
pregnancy losses
for unknown
reasons you may
wish to also
consider PGD
screening of
your embryos as
genetically
normal embryos
have a very high
chance of making
a pregnancy. The
option of PGD
for this purpose
can be discussed
with Dr Wiwat or
a member of our
International
Patient Care
Team prior to
you coming to
Thailand.
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