Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

A normal embryo must have forty-six chromosomes in the correct combination to be viable. As a woman ages, the number of eggs remaining in her ovaries decrease and the ones that remain are more likely to give rise to embryos with abnormal chromosome counts (aneuploidy). Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) has been promoted as a method to screen embryos for aneuploidy. In this technique, a single cell is removed from the embryo when it is three days old. The biopsied cell then undergoes genetic or chromosomal analysis.

PGD is still a technique under development. When used to detect known inheritable diseases, the benefits often outweigh the risk of error in diagnosis. The technique is also accurate for gender selection. However, using PGD to screen embryos for aneuploidy has recently been shown to be inaccurate, leading to false diagnosis and disposal of normal embryos. We will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of PGD with you further and to provide additional educational materials.