4 Pros and Cons of PGD
During in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, doctors have a number of tools at their disposal to increase success rates. One of these tools is preimplantation genetic diagnosis, commonly referred to as PGD. PGD is a method of testing embryos during IVF treatment to determine if an embryo has a genetic disease or chromosomal defect. Both of these issues can result in pregnancy loss, so transferring healthy embryos is ideal to increase the likelihood of a live birth and healthy child.
PGD Process
PGD may be performed in the early stages of an embryo’s development. To perform testing, a single cell is removed from an embryo. Removing the cell does not have long term effects on the embryo which will continue to increase in the number of cells it has. Once the cell is retrieved, it can be tested in order to look for certain genetic diseases or to determine if the embryo is chromosomally normal. Embryos that are found to have issues are not used during IVF treatment.
Pros and Cons of PGD
The process of testing embryos during IVF is done at an additional cost. Therefore, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of having the procedure done before moving ahead.
Pros of PGD
- Women who have PGD are at a lower risk of having a miscarriage
- The process has an extremely high success rate of identifying genetic diseases and chromosomal issues
- Many couples are unaware that they are carriers for genetic diseases until they have a child with a birth defect
- As a woman ages, she is more likely to have a child with a chromosomal defect due to decreased egg quality, PGD can avoid this
Cons of PGD
- The process is not 100% accurate, so prenatal testing is still strongly advised
- Some individuals have a moral conflict with the use of PGD testing and the disposal of embryos
- There is a significant cost to having the procedure done, which is often not covered by medical insurance
For additional information on the use of PGD, contact our team of industry leaders at New Hope Fertility Center. Please click the link below to enter your information and New Hope will contact you, or simply call 212-517-7676. Thank You.
