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aParent IVF Performs New Techniques In Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Giving Couples Trying to Conceive a Viable Option For a Healthy BabyBecoming a parent can be a stressful decision for people with a history of inheritable genetic disorders or chromosomal defects, especially if they already have a child with these problems. Likewise, if a woman has a history of recurrent miscarriages or if a mother is over the age of 35 or 40, which increase the risk of having a child with Down syndrome. "The cutting-edge techniques of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can take some of the stress out of wondering if you'll have a healthy child," says Colleen Wagner Coughlin, Laboratory Director and Founder of aParent IVF. "We use PGS and PGD to analyze embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) to test for genetic mutations such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or chromosomal defects. The great benefit of these techniques is that they are performed on fertilized embryos before they are implanted into he uterus and before a pregnancy is established, eliminating the anguish of making the decision to terminate a pregnancy later on if a defect is found." Only healthy embryos are transferred to the uterus; embryos can also be frozen for future use. Research shows that about half of patient's embryos have chromosomal abnormalities, although they may look normal under a microscope. The older the parents, the greater the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This may lead to a failure of an embryo to implant, miscarriage, or, if a child is born, physical and mental impairments. PGS and PGD involve taking a few cells from an embryo at the blastocyst stage, day 5 or 6 after fertilization in the IVF lab. The results of the testing allow the transfer of normal embryos. "The list of disorders that can be tested for is continually growing which makes this an exciting area of medicine for people like me who want to help couples have healthy babies. We even do preimplantation tests that indicate whether a child will be a boy or a girl for parents who have their hearts set on a specific gender. Another application of PGS and PGD is to find a genetic match for an ill older child to serve as a source of stem cell transplantation. Knowledge is power, so it's important that couples with a high risk of having a child with a genetic or chromosomal abnormality know about the option of PGS and PGD," adds Coughlin. aParent IVF Laboratory has been turning patients into parents for over 30 years and has helped women conceive over 30,000 babies! For more information on genetic testing and other services, visit: http://www.aparentivf.com
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