PGD – Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is a test to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. This laboratory procedure is performed in conjunction with IVF (In-vitro fertilization), in which the eggs and sperm are united in an outside environment to increase the chances of pregnancy in an infertile couple.
PGD is required when either partner carries a genetic abnormality, which could be passed on to their child. If you are diagnosed with a genetic disorder, IVF with PGD can mitigate the risk of the child inheriting your genetic disorder. With the increased awareness of genetic issues in babies in Lahore, preimplantation genetic diagnosis has become a common way to protect your little ones from being born with genetic issues that stay with them for their lifetime.
IVF involves the extraction of healthy and mature eggs from women’s ovaries and uniting them with sperm to form embryos. However, if the parents have any genetic disease, these embryos can be sent to the lab for PGD screening. This ensures that only healthy embryos that do not carry any chromosomal abnormality are implanted into the woman’s uterus.
Let’s understand the breakdown of the PGD process:
PGD is a part of the IVF process, in which the woman’s eggs are retrieved through a minimally invasive procedure. Before that, the woman receives hormonal shots that stimulate the production of multiple eggs.
The scientist carefully extracts one or two cells from the blastocyst without destroying the cell mass. These cells are sent into the lab for genetic screening.
These embryo cells are tested for genetic abnormalities using FISH, PCR, and NGS (Next-gen screening). These PGD techniques can detect single-gene disorders, specific diseases, and any type of chromosomal abnormality in the embryo.
The selected embryos are then transferred into the woman’s uterus through a minimally invasive procedure. The procedure involves inserting a catheter through the cervix into the woman’s uterine lining. It is performed using an ultrasound. Depending on the genetic screening results and your health, one or more embryos can be implanted into your uterus.
IVF can be performed using fresh and frozen embryos. A couple can decide to freeze a few embryos (if not all of them were implanted into the uterus) for future attempts. In case the IVF cycle fails, they can use these frozen embryos to try again.
Australian Concept is conveniently located in Lahore, offering excellent care and PGD testing services to the residents who opt for IVF. We examine the embryos for potential genetic diseases, separate them from the healthy and viable embryos, and then use the most optimal disease-free embryo that offers the highest success rate for implantation.
PCR—polymerase chain reaction is an effective technique for conducting preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In this process, a single cell is extracted from the fertilized embryo. The DNA sample is collected from this cell and amplified to make screening easier. The procedure is commonly used in cases of single-gene disorder or monogenic disease.
FISH is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, like Down syndrome. The healthcare specialist examines the embryo cells using a special microscope to determine whether they carry the required number of chromosomes. FISH—Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization helps identify the embryo’s chromosomal structure so your doctor can pick the most viable one.
Not every couple that chooses PGD screening is infertile. Some can conceive naturally but might experience fetal death at an early stage. Others might fear their child carrying the genetic disorder that runs in their family.
In some cases, the PGD technique is used for family balancing. If a couple wants a child of a certain gender, they can undergo Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis to separate the male and female embryos. Their selected gender embryo is then implanted into the woman’s uterus. Given the increasing demand for family balancing in Lahore, this test can prove a great choice for couples who want to select the baby’s gender for their next IVF-assisted pregnancy.
PGD comes with IVF and is a highly recommended procedure for couples at an increased risk of passing genetic diseases to their offspring. As mentioned above, PGD treatment also helps you identify the gender of the child. Here’s when you should consider PGD:
PGD success rates vary depending on the reason you are considering it. A study shows that the chances of miscarriage drop significantly in women (especially above 35) who undergo PGD testing during their IVF cycle. The test showed a whopping 95% chance of a woman giving live birth after PGD testing. Our fertility clinic in Lahore offers the highest success rate for couples undergoing PGD testing.
PGD can help prevent genetic disorders in your offspring, but like any medical procedure, it comes with its share of risks. Let’s check out the benefits and risks of PGD. Let’s check out the benefits and risks of PGD:
PGD pregnancy involves testing the embryo cells for genetic mutation and any chromosomal abnormality. The procedure is a bit complex. The cost of PGD treatment in Lahore depends on the clinic and the patient’s history.
To learn more about PGD, you can contact our Australian Concept Infertility Medical Center in Lahore. We’ll discuss the benefits, risks, and procedures to help you determine whether or not PGD is the right choice for your case. We will also give you a detailed cost of your treatment.
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Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure in IVF that tests embryos for genetic abnormalities. It helps select the most viable embryo for transfer. While it’s safe when conducted by a certified fertility specialist or an experienced embryologist, it isn’t completely risk-free. Here are the risks involved.
Damage to the Embryo: The biggest risk is damage to the embryo. A few cells from the embryo are removed for testing. There’s a chance the embryo may not survive the process and become ineffective for implantation.
No Guaranteed Results: PGD is an effective way to detect genetic disorders, but it doesn’t always show accurate results. An embryo has both normal and abnormal cells. It’s possible the cells used for testing don’t represent the whole embryo. Some abnormalities might go undetected, or a healthy cell could be mistaken for a defective one.
Fewer Embryos Left after PGD: The process can leave only a few or sometimes no viable embryos for transfer. Since it excludes embryos with abnormalities or any potential defect, it may leave out many embryos.
When discussing the success rate of PGD, there are two things:
PGD is highly reliable in gender selection. If you need the baby of a specific gender, the procedure offers over 99% accuracy in identifying a gender. It checks the baby’s sex chromosomes (XX for female and XY for male) to determine the baby’s gender.
This means that if you have used the procedure for gender selection, it’s most likely that you will give birth to the baby of your desired gender. That said, it doesn’t guarantee pregnancy.
There’s a 30-50% chance you will conceive through PGD in IVF. The test does increase the chances of conception by filtering out genetically abnormal embryos, but still, nothing can guarantee a 100% success rate.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this. On average, PGD costs between PKR 250,000 and 400,000, depending on how many embryos are screened. Note that this is just a part of the IVF cost. If you see the bigger picture, you may need to budget for the entire IVF, which includes ovarian induction, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer, and follow-up visits.
Many factors may affect the PGD cost in Lahore. For example, the clinic’s reputation, lab condition, emrbyologist’s experience, and the city you choose can all influence the price. The cost can be charged separately or added to the IVF package. Make sure you discuss PGD and its cost during your consultation to avoid surprising bills.
Here’s who’s considered an ideal candidate for PGD:
The short answer is no. PGD eliminates embryos that carry known genetic disorders. But it doesn’t guarantee 100% accurate selection. Let’s understand how it works, so you know why PGD isn’t always accurate.
PGD tests an embryo for known genetic disorders. There are thousands of genetic issues or developmental problems that PGD may not detect. This means there’s still a possibility that some rare genetic disorder can be present in the tested embryo.
Some embryos have mosaicism, a condition in which an embryo can have normal and abnormal cells. The cells used for PGD may not represent the entire embryo, and could miss out on the important details.
For example, if the healthy cells were used during the test, the abnormal cells might go undetected. Even if the healthiest embryo is selected, the risk of IVF failure isn’t magically eliminated. There’s still the risk of failed implantation, miscarriage, or other pregnancy issues.
PGD is considered halal, but only if it meets certain conditions. It’s acceptable if you are advised PGD because of an increased risk of passing on a genetic disorder to the embryo, or if there’s a risk of sex-linked genetic disease.
All IVF rulings apply here. For example, the eggs and sperm must be from the partners, and the embryo must be transferred to the mother’s uterus. However, many scholars consider PGD for personal preferences or purely for family balancing not acceptable.
Simply put, PGD in Islam is halal only when there’s no third party involved, the partners have a valid marriage, and it’s done for a valid reason, such as a higher risk of passing genetic diseases to the fetus, rather than for selecting a preferred gender embryo.
No, PGD itself is not painful, as it’s done outside your body, so you won’t feel the process at all. PGD is performed on the embryo that’s already been retrieved from your body. The cells are extracted from different embryos to separate healthy and chromosomally or genetically defective embryos.
Although PGD is not painful, some procedures during IVF can cause mild discomfort. For instance, hormonal injections for ovarian induction can cause bloating, mood swings, and mild discomfort. Egg retrieval is performed under anesthesia, so nothing might be felt during the procedure. Some women experience soreness after anesthesia wears off.
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