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PGD also known as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is a reproductive technique that is used along with In-Vitro-Fertilization cycle to improve the chances of pregnancy and delivery. PGD is a procedure that helps couples with an inherited condition in their family and avoid passing it to their children. This procedure helps parents prevent the birth of a child with genetic defects. Preimplantation Genetic Disorder is very much similar to In-Vitro-Fertilization, but with an extra step to check whether the embryo is affected by a genetic disorder.
PGD is considered during IVF cycles. People who benefit from this test are couples who are at risk for specific genetic disorder or chromosome abnormalities. It also includes women who suffered from many miscarriages or someone with a chromosome abnormality. Women above the age of 35 and men with some types of sperm chromosome abnormality may produce embryos with chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to this, if a person who carries a structural rearrangement of the chromosomes, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis can help identify which embryo has a normal amount of chromosomal material. It is also called PGT-SR. PDG is designed to identify which embryo is unaffected, affected or a carrier for a condition/disease. The embryos without the disorder are selected and then transferred to the uterus. This procedure is also called PGT-M.
PGD and PGS are presently the only options available for avoiding a high risk of having a child affected with a genetic disease prior to implantation. It is an attractive means of preventing heritable genetic disease, thereby eliminating the dilemma of pregnancy termination following unfavorable prenatal diagnosis.
Step 1: Stimulation of the Ovaries: To create embryos for genetic testing, the ovaries have to be stimulated artificially using hormones to produce eggs as a significant number of a couple’s embryos are likely to be affected by chromosomal abnormalities or genetic disorder. Large numbers of embryos need to be developed for success full outcome.
Step 2: Collection of eggs from the Ovaries: The eggs are removed at the right time by a minor surgical procedure also known as egg retrieval.
Step 3: Insemination: Fertilization during PGD is done either through IVF or ICSI procedure.In In Vitro Fertilization the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish to allow fertilization.
In ICSI a single sperm is injected into egg.
Step4: Fertilization: After insemination of the sperm, the embryologist carefully examines each and every egg to see if the fertilization has happened or not.
Step 5: Embryo Biopsy: The eggs that are successfully fertilized in the lab become embryos which are cultured for 5 days upto the stage of blastocyst, which called blastocyst of about 150 cells.
Step 6: Embryo Testing: The cells are tested to see if the embryo contains any kind of abnormality that can cause genetic disorder
Step 7: Embryo Transfer: Embryos that are tested and don’t have any genetic condition will be transplanted into the women’s uterus.
Step 8: Pregnancy Test: After 12 days of embryo transfer, the woman is told to take a pregnancy test