| The controversy surrounding the use of embryo | | | | These conditions can be identified during pre-natal |
| screening to diagnose genetic abnormalities has been | | | | testing once the pregnancy is undergoing however if |
| ongoing since IVF specialists began using the | | | | conditions such as these are identified only in |
| pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) testing 15 | | | | pre-natal tests, patients must decide whether to |
| years ago. Debates have raged over whether PGD | | | | abort the pregnancy or continue to full term with the |
| testing is necessary, is morally acceptable and most | | | | high risk that the child will be born disabled. Pre-natal |
| importantly, whether PGD could harm the child born | | | | testing also poses the risk of inducing miscarriage; |
| as a result of the consecutive IVF cycle. | | | | another benefit of pre-implantation screening. |
| PGD is a method of testing for inherited diseases and | | | | At the start of 2009, PGD heralded a breakthrough |
| defective chromosomes that could lead to birth | | | | with the birth of a healthy baby girl born without the |
| defects and chronic disease. Performed alongside IVF | | | | BRCA1 gene, a gene that increases the risk of breast |
| treatment, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis involves | | | | cancer development by 80% and is passing from |
| removingone, or a small number of blastomeres (the | | | | mother-daughter during conception. Infertility |
| initial embryonic cells). These cells are then tested for | | | | specialists and scientists developing and advancing |
| genetic abnormalities allowing couples undergoing IVF | | | | PGD testing are confident that this is the first of |
| to tansfer only healthy embryos. | | | | many such successful pregnancies. |
| Scientists have questioned the use of PGD for many | | | | IVF specialists worldwide are mainly in agreement |
| reasons - in particular whether removing blastomeres | | | | that PGD is a positive step forward in IVF treatment. |
| could have a contradictory side effect and result in | | | | For many couples however the high cost of PGD |
| birth defects. A report released this month by a | | | | screening, up to £7,000 or $10,000USD per IVF |
| team of Belgian experts, published in the journal | | | | cycle, is prohibitive. Infertility clinics abroad in countries |
| Human Reproduction, states that pre-implantation | | | | such as Jordan and Cyprus offer PGD with IVF for |
| genetic diagnosis poses no increased risk of birth | | | | up to 70% lower costs and many couples choose to |
| defects in singleton IVF pregnancies and many | | | | travel abroad for the pre-implantation screening. |
| experts have voiced the opinion that this latest | | | | Women and couples considering PGD can recieve |
| research allows doctors to advise patients that PGD | | | | help, guidance and advice on which countries offer |
| is a safe method to screen for genetic and inherited | | | | IVF with PGD by contacting a medical facillitatory |
| illnesses and conditions. | | | | platform such as , as well as information about the |
| This is good news to the many couples for whom | | | | cost of PGD in countries worldwide. Such platforms |
| PGD provides the solution to passing an inherited | | | | also assist patients in contacting IVF specialists |
| disease to their children - PGD is able to diagnose | | | | directly to answer specific questions regarding IVF |
| embryos that are prone to debilitating conditions such | | | | treatment. |
| as cystic fibrosis or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. | | | | |