The Infertilitydoc.net Blog

If you want to be sure that your next child will be the gender you need or desire, be aware that no other gender selection method comes close to the success or reliability of IVF with PGD (greater than 99.9%). Available sperm separation methods, such as Erickson (60-75% successful gender selection) or MicroSort sperm selection (65-85% success) cant come close to the PGD gender selection methods. Using IVF and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for gender selection, male and female embryos are identified and only embryos of the desired sex are transferred to the uterus. At our Chicago area IVF clinics, this is the method of sex selection we recommend. Whether doing PGD gender selection for prevention of sex-linked genetic diseases or for ‘family balancing’, the embryos can also be screened by our genetics team for ‘aneuploidy’ (see above). The aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome count) screening process, employed at the time of PGD gender determination, allows for the detection of various genetic count abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome (one "extra" chromosome 21). Comparative Genomic Hybridization-CGH is also available to screen all 23 chromosome pairs for genetic abnormalities and determine gender at the same time. PGD for gender selection IVF pregnancy success rates are similar to regular in vitro fertilization success rates and sex selection rates approach 100%.

Preimplantation Genetics of all 24 chromosomes !! Preimplantation Genetic Screening/Diagnosis (PGS & PGD) consists of the biopsy of a single cell per embryo, followed by its genetic diagnosis through different techniques, and the subsequent replacement to the patient or freezing, of only those embryos classified by genetic diagnosis as normal. Since the early 1990s, the standard preimplantation genetics testing methods, using PGS/PGD techniques, have only allowed for the evaluation of 9 to 12 chromosomes out of a total of 23 chromosome pairs in the human embryo cell. Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) and MicroArray solve this problem by evaluating all 23 chromosome pairs, allowing completely screened normal embryos to be identified and transferred or frozen. The field of Preimplantation Genetics has been recently revitalized with the appearance of these new CGH and MicroArray technologies. The future of Preimplantation Genetic testing is now available at both our Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) Chicago area IVF clinics - FCI Highland Park IVF and FCI River North IVF! Due to our long-standing relationships with ReproGenetics (www.Reprogenetics.com ) and the Center for Preimplantation Genetics (www.PGDCenter.com), as well as our excellent day 5 blastocyst culture methods and embryo freezing (vitrification) techniques, FCI is one of only a handful of IVF programs world-wide able to offer this major breakthrough.