What is PGD?
PGD or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis technology enables our expert team to genetically evaluate the embryos before we transfer them into the womb. As the first step of gender selection, the embryos should be on day 3, and display 4 to 10 cells and a single nucleus. Removing one or two cells from embryos with suitable morphology with the aid of a biopsy pipette is the first step. Afterwards, the genetic examination begins. You may wonder if this procedure is harmful to the embryo, and according to experts, it does not compromise the subsequent embryo development, as long as the procedure is performed properly. Depending on the PGD result, transferring embryos with normal genetic content to the patient is the last step.
Who is Gender Selection or PGD For?
- Those with a minimum of two to three failed attempts
- Those who have had recurrent miscarriages
- Individuals with hereditary diseases within family history
- Those who have advanced maternal age
- People with sex chromosomes transmitting diseases
- Those with HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing
- Couples who want to choose the gender of their child for family balancing purposes
How is Gender Selection or PGD Done?
The first step is the biopsy procedure. An experienced embryologist performs it in the laboratory. They take the biopsy from the polar body of the egg before and/or after fertilization or from the cells of the embryo. The latter is more extensively used. Subsequently, the specialist removes one or two cells from the embryos with the aid of a pipette.
The second step is the fixation procedure. They fix the cells removed from the embryos onto glass slides. The explosion of their genetic content comes afterwards. Later on, the genetic laboratory evaluates the results.
FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization)
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)