What are PGD and PGS?

IVF technology has given many couples a ray of hope, enabling them to have their biological child. The technology ensures better clinical results with cutting-edge techniques, advanced equipment, and dedicated lab personnel. A couple who undergoes fertility treatment such as IVF may have their fertility doctors advise to have their embryos undergo genetic testing before they get implanted into the uterus.

After the tests, only the embryos free of genetic abnormalities get implanted in the uterus.

PGD may be a screening to detect genes linked to specific diseases. If either the man or the woman has a family history of a hereditary disease, this test can help ensure that the child born out of IVF will not have the condition.

Some of the diseases that PGD is employed to check for include:

• Huntington’s Disease

• Exchange of chromosomal material that may cause a miscarriage, mental retardation, or congenital anomaly

• Marfan Syndrome

• Cystic Fibrosis

• Haemophilia

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

• An abnormal number of chromosomes

PGS test determines if an accurate number of chromosomes are present in the embryo’s cells. Normal, healthy humans have a complete of 23 pairs of chromosomes. IVF has a high risk of multiple pregnancies. Usually, 2-3 embryos are implanted within the uterus to maximize the probabilities of a successful pregnancy. PGS makes it possible to implant only a single embryo avoiding multiple pregnancies. Because having more or less than the usual number of chromosomes is one of the most common reasons a fertilized egg fails to be implanted in the uterus and has miscarriages. Female ageing increases the risk of abnormal chromosomes. Thus, this test is usually for women above 35 years and trying to have a family through IVF. The test is advisable if the woman has had recurrent miscarriages. Compared to the PGD test, this is often a simple test, and it can help detect Down Syndrome. It happens by an extra chromosome in the person’s DNA. This screening may be helpful for gender selection.

These tests use an amniotic fluid sample drawn on day three after the embryo culture. Withdrawing this sample risks the health of the fertilized egg & any damage to it will not result in a successful pregnancy. In addition, the PGS test requires samples for five to six embryos. In the case of older women, this might not be possible during a single IVF cycle. Hence, these women may require one IVF cycle to develop enough embryos for testing.

Therefore, it is crucial to work with expert doctors to undergo these tests only if required.

Not all couples undergoing IVF need to take both tests. The test depends on many factors, such as whether or not they have had earlier unsuccessful IVF cycles, past miscarriages, medical history, a family history of genetic diseases, etc. If you are looking to consult a Fertility Specialist, visit your nearest GarbhaGudi IVF Centre. Consult with the country’s best fertility & reproductive medicine specialists.