Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is an advanced genetic test conducted on three-day-old embryos conceived with IVF that is recommended to patients who are carriers of a genetic anomaly condition. The purposed is to identify the embryos not carrying familial single genes associated with dominant and recessive diseases such as: Huntington's disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Muscular Dystrophy, in order to avoid, or at least greatly reduce the risk of transmitting those genes to children.

Once the embryos are created amidst the IVF cycle, the embryologist removes one or two cells from each that are then tested for abnormal genes and chromosomes. The healthy cells are then transferred to the uterus.

PDG may also be used as an effective tool for women with a history of recurrent miscarriages. Since only embryos that do not contain abnormalities are selected for the transfer, the chance of a miscarriage - and birth defects, are greatly reduced.