CGS-authored

With advances in science and technology, having a healthy baby is more of a possibility. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, also known as PGD, is a welcome relief for a couple who wants to have a child but is concerned about passing on genetic disorders or chromosome abnormalities. With newer techniques of in vitro fertilization, PGD involves taking cells from the embryo to determine if there are any abnormalities so that the doctor will only implant healthy cells in the woman’s uterus.

PGD has also been utilized by some medical centers to determine the sex of the child, the possibility of the child being born deaf or small stature and tissue typing. [1] For family planning or health reasons, PGD is sought after by some couples for peace of mind. It comes at an expensive price tag in the $10,000 range on up for IVF and PGD, and insurance does not typically cover it. PGD testing has been in use since the early 1990s and analyzes polar bodies during the process of meiosis or single cells from embryos after fertilization. [2] The...