Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis can test more than 600 genetic diseases while 46 chromosomes can be tested when Pre-implantation Genetic Screening is performed

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 30 September, 2017:  Selinah, 31, longed to become a mother but feared it in equal measure. She watched her sister-in-law, Aydah battle Spinal Muscular Dystrophies (SMA) - caused by a single gene disorder and was terrified of passing the same fate onto her children. However, using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) - a ground-breaking in-vitro fertilization (IVF) technique used at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, Selinah is now a mother to a 7 month old baby girl.

PGD and pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) involves screening the embryo before implantation and is highly recommended to patients to achieve a healthy pregnancy via IVF treatment. While PGD helps couples with a known inherited condition caused via a single gene disorder in their family to avoid passing it on to their children, PGS is another form of treatment that screens embryos for numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Abnormal number of chromosomes has been shown to be the cause of most unexplained miscarriages.

PGD evaluates genetic diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Fragile X Syndrome whereas PGS rules out chromosomal problems in the embryos like Down Syndrome and Edwards Syndrome. 

“When we perform a test on the embryos these tests enable us to rule out any chromosomal or genetic problems. These tests are performed before transferring the embryos to the uterus i.e. before the pregnancy (pre-implantation) to avoid a baby born with any chromosomal or genetic problems. Embryos found to be clear are implanted into the uterus, which serves as a blessing for couples known to have genetic problems. We believe that only healthy embryos lead to healthy pregnancies,” said Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi, Subspecialist Reproductive Medicine & Reproductive Surgery, Medical Director, IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic. 

While PGD can test more than 600 genetic diseases and can be performed on the same embryo during the same IVF treatment, 46 chromosomes can be tested when PGS is performed. IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic has ruled out over 60 embryo transfers in the first half of 2017 to ensure successful pregnancies.

“Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis prevents pregnancies with chromosomal or genetic diseases, and reduces the possibilities to have a miscarriage during the first weeks of pregnancy. On the other hand, it also helps to choose the best embryo to be transferred to the uterus, increasing the success rates with the first treatment itself. It is this unique approach at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic that enables us to deliver the highest success rates in the region with a 1.1 embryo transfer,” said Dr. Laura Melado, IVF Specialist, IVI Fertility Clinic, Abu Dhabi.

PGD and PGS are performed during the days that the embryos are in the lab. When a patient is undergoing an IVF treatment, an ovarian stimulation helps the doctors at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic pick the required number of eggs for testing. On the same day the eggs are collected, and are fertilized with the sperm of the husband. The embryologist evaluates the embryo development during five-six days and the genetic testing is done during those days itself. At IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, special care is taken to ensure that the results come fast and the right decision is taken before transferring the embryo to the uterus. The entire process, including the ovarian stimulation, the genetic tests and the embryo transfer takes around three weeks.

The success rates of fertility treatments as reported by IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic through the implementation of PGD and PGS has risen to over 70 per cent. This is higher than the international rate of 35 to 40 per cent. The clinic also reported over 350 PGD and PGS cases during 2016 with a success rate nearing 70 per cent.

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic is the world leader in delivering fertility treatments with 71 clinics and 160,000 babies born worldwide. It offers a comprehensive range of infertility treatments, including genetic testing, backed by world’s most advanced technology and a team of highly experienced specialists. The friendly patient care staff ensures that couples seeking IVF treatments are walked through all possible details on their treatment and expected results.