The Center for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS)

 

Increasing the chances to carry a healthy baby

The Center for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening identifies genetic conditions in an embryo before it is implanted into the woman’s uterus – to help increase the likelihood that the embryo implanted will become a viable, healthy fetus and a healthy baby.

About PGD

Assuta fertility specialists use PGD to help prevent the conception of a baby with a serious genetic disease. They evaluate embryos created via in vitro fertilization in the lab, extracting a cell from each embryo before it is implanted into the mother's womb.

PGD greatly increases the chances of having a normal pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby, even when the woman/couples have a high risk of transferring genetic mutations that cause serious diseases in their children.

Because this method evaluates embryos before implantation, it helps prevent impregnation with embryos that may carry genetic mutations and avoids the need to terminate an existing pregnancy following poor fetal testing results. It also helps prevent the birth of babies with serious genetic diseases.

 

How PGD is performed

PGD applies two medical technologies: in vitro fertilization and advanced laboratory methods that can detect known genetic mutations using a single cell. With PGD, the egg is fertilized by the sperm in a special laboratory dish (in vitro fertilization). The fertilized egg divides several times to form an embryo with several cells. At this stage of embryonic development, each of the cells contains the entire genetic content of the embryo. After the embryo has at least 6 to 8 cells, the PGD specialist extracts a single cell and tests it to identify any genetic mutations.

Only embryos that do not have genetic defects that may cause disease are implanted into the woman’s womb. It is important to emphasize that this method applies only to known genetic mutations that can be identified using laboratory testing methods done on a single cell.

Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)

PGS determines if an embryo created via IVF carries the correct number of chromosomes. This procedure does not require special preliminary genetic consultation.

On the fifth day after in vitro fertilization, In Vitro Fertilization Unit physician samples a number of cells from the embryo. This group of cells is separated from the whole embryo and sent to the molecular laboratory, where the diagnosis is performed.

PGS helps determine whether the embryo is missing a chromosome or a large segment of it, or if it has an extra chromosome or a chromosome segment. The sampled embryos are frozen immediately after sampling to await the results of the evaluation.

The documented results of the genetic test are sent to the In Vitro Fertilization Unit laboratory team. If one or more embryos are found to be genetically healthy, the treating physician schedules the implantation with the couple or individual. The embryo or embryos are then carefully defrosted and implanted into the woman’s uterus.