PGD

Pre-Genetic Implantation Diagnosis or PGD is the analysing of a cell from an embryo. At present sex linked chromosomal abnormalities and single gene disorders can be treated with PGD. Couples who are offered treatment have either:

• Been identified as a carrier of a genetic disease
• Have had children born who have been affected
• Have experienced recurrent miscarriages and this has been linked to a genetic abnormality

The couple would need to be counselled by a genetic counsellor to explore the implications of PGD and treatment. In order to produce embryo’s for testing a couple would have to have an IVF/ ICSI treatment cycle. Following treatment the embryologists would perform an embryo biopsy on an 8 cell embryo. An embryo normally reaches 8 cells on Day 3 of its development. Following the biopsy the cell will either be sexed or a strand of the cell will be processed to identify affected embryo’s. Those that are not affected by the genetic disorder will then be selected for embryo replacement. The Embryo Replacement would then proceed Day 4/5, the unaffected embryo’s being replaced into the uterus.