PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC
DIAGNOSIS (PGD)

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is used alongside in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle for couples who have a known inherited disease in their family, such that they can avoid passing on the genetically transmitted condition to their child and future generations. In some instances, neither prospective parent may be aware of a condition as they may simply be a carrier.  PGD involves checking the genes or chromosomes of your embryos for a specific genetic condition ensuring that only embryos that are not at risk of developing the known disorder are identified for implantation.

Currently, our regulatory body, the HFEA has approved over 400 conditions for testing using PGD including, Thalassaemia, Down Syndrome, Sickle cell disease, Cystic fibrosis, Inheritable cancer pre-dispositions, Dominant/Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Congenital adrenal Hyperplasia, Hemophilia, Huntingdon’s Disease, Muscular dystrophies and Fragile-X syndrome. For a detailed list of all approved conditions, you can view the HFEA website.

The procedure involves undergoing a cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, fertilising your eggs with your partners (or donor sperm) and taking a biopsy of your embryos to send to the genetic laboratory for testing of any unique rearrangements. After the biopsy the embryos would need to be frozen. When these results are received, we can then transfer an unaffected embryo back to your uterus. Any remaining unaffected embryos can be preserved for use in a later cycle.