Breaking the “Family Curse” with Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a reproductive technology that is used to screen embryos for genetic or chromosomal disorders in order to select those that are healthy and disease-free prior to embryo transfer.

PGD is generally used with couples who either have lost pregnancies due to genetic disorders, have one child with a genetic problem, or who are carriers of a genetic disease. It is performed in the laboratory by removing a single cell from each embryo which is then analyzed for the presence of genetic disorders, a technique that requires great precision and must be done by experts. The removal of one cell does not affect the proper development of the rest of the embryo. Once a diagnosis is made, only unaffected embryos are transferred back into a woman’s uterus.

Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common cause for miscarriage and are often a reflection of reproductive aging, commonly known as the female “biological clock.” With Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis, couples can avoid passing these abnormalities to their children and the “family curse” can be broken.