IVF and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Essay - 1048 Words

In America alone there are 6.1 million couples coping with infertility (ASRM). In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the many assisted reproductive technologies used to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy. Since IVF is costly (the average cost is $12, 400. for one cycle), time consuming and a very emotional situation, many couples have a limited amount of opportunities to commit to the procedure and every step should be taken to maximize the chances of a successful healthy pregnancy. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, is a valuable tool for infertility treatment technology and can facilitate in successful IVF cycles. The IVF procedure involves removal of eggs from the females ovaries using an ultrasound guided needle†¦show more content†¦The procedure merely delays continued cell division for a few hours, after which the embryo reaches the same number of cells as before and continues its normal development (Fischer). Figure A. Implantation failure and miscarriage are the two most common reasons for an unsuccessful IVF cycle. Implantation failure is defined as three or more failed IVF attempts. PGD is being used to improve implantation and decrease the number of miscarriage by testing for a specific chromosomal condition called aneuploidy. Aneuploidy is a situation in which either the egg or sperm has an extra (trisomy) or missing (monosomy) chromosome and is the cause of fifty percent or more pregnancy losses. An embryo with a monosomy will cease to grow before implantation. Only a few carrying a trisomy chromosome would develop to term. Those that are carried to term result in physical and mental defects such as Downs syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, trisomy thirteen and trisomy eighteen. By using PGD to transfer only chromosomally normal embryos, the number of pregnancies going to term will increase and births resulting in defects will minimize (Cohen). The accuracy of the PGD for aneuploidy is a bout ninety percent; however it does not increase the chances of successful IVF procedure. PGD is also highly encouraged for women seeking to get pregnant after the age of thirty-five with or without fertility issues. AsShow MoreRelatedThe Use Of Ivf And Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis ( Pgd ) Essay2306 Words   |  10 PagesThe Use of IVF and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Introduction Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure that tests early-stage human embryos for genetic defects. Its main use is to test for heritable genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities, and it may be used to find embryos that are a tissue match for siblings who are living with certain genetic conditions. 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