How PGD is Helping to Eliminate Common Genetic Disease
When my patients are known carriers of a genetic disease – a single gene disorder – I strongly recommend Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) testing in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Genetic diseases can be detected through PGD testing of embryos in vitro to eliminate passing on a single gene disorder to a child conceived via IVF.
Eliminate Common Genetic Disease From Being Passed On To Your Child
The most common genetic diseases tested for through PGD in conjunction with IVF are:
- Hemophilia
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Tay Saches Disease
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Duchennes Muscular Dystophy
- Thalassemia
After a woman’s eggs have been surgically retrieved and fertilized in vitro, developing embryos will be tested upon reaching the blastocyst stage (5 to 6 days after fertilization occurs). Cells are gently removed from each embryo using microsurgery technology. Our expert embryologists then analyze the cells using a probe that is specifically designed to test for a specific gene disorder. PGD diagnoses a genetic defect in an embryo.
Only Healthy Embryos Are Transferred
Embryos testing positive for a genetic disease are not transferred to the woman’s uterus. Only healthy embryos are transferred.
PGD is conducted in conjunction with:
The Revolutionary Mini-IVF™
In addition to reducing your cost for fertility medications, a Mini-IVF™ protocol lessens your physical discomfort.
- Less fertility medication to produce 3 to 5 quality eggs
- Cycle monitoring through ultrasound imaging and blood tests
- Surgical egg retrieval
- Fertilization of egg and sperm in vitro via ICSI
- Culture and monitoring of embryo(s) via EmbryoScope technology
- Grading and selection of quality embryo(s) for fresh transfer and/or future (FET)
- Single Embryo Transfer (SET)
Natural Cycle IVF™ and My One Good Egg Policy
My One Good Egg Policy helps a woman produce her natural monthly egg for fertilization in vitro and transfer of a healthy embryo to her uterus for hopeful implantation. I believe a woman’s naturally produced egg can be the best quality and likeliest to result in a successful pregnancy.
Natural Cycle IVF™ Process
- As a woman’s natural cycle begins, the growth of her one good egg is monitored through ultrasound imaging and blood tests.
- Once her natural egg has reached a prime stage of development, an ovulation trigger medication – hCG – will be self-administered by the patient at a designated time
- On a scheduled date, the egg will be surgically retrieved in an outpatient procedure while the patient is under general anesthesia
- After surgical retrieval, the egg will be fertilized in vitro through an ICSI procedure
- ICSI is an ancillary IVF procedure in which one quality sperm is directly injected into the woman’s natural egg
- Once a high quality embryo has cultured in vitro to a prime stage of development – it will then be transferred to the woman’s uterus via a thin catheter – similar to a Pap smear procedure
- A pregnancy test is scheduled in approximately two weeks
Candidates for PGD
- Women over 35 undergoing IVF using their own eggs
- Couples having a history of multiple failed IVF attempts
- Patients having a family history of genetic disease
- Couples where one or both partners are known carriers of genetic disease
- Couple who have a child born with a genetic disease
- Couples who have a history of recurrent miscarriage
IVF Doctor Specializing in PGD to Eliminate Common Genetic Disease
To discover if PGD in conjunction with IVF can help you have a healthy baby free of genetic disease, contact Dr. John Zhang by calling 917.525.5496.
