New Embryonic screening

It brings hope to detect genetic disorder.

- Rajendra Kumar Rai

When Sameera (38) had experienced multiple in vitro fertilisation (IVF) failures, her gynaecologist advised the couple to opt for IVF along with PGD. In fact, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is being used increasingly at the fertility institutes to improve and maximise the chance of a successful IVF pregnancy, especially among couples where prior IVF failures have remained unexplained. It has been estimated that over half of all IVF failures are blamed on the poor embryo "quality".

But what exactly is PGD and how is it different from standard IVF? IVF expert at Indira IVF Clinic and Test Tube Baby Centre Dr Kshitiz Murdia explains: "PGD is a sophisticated scientific technique to determine any genetic or chromosomal disorders present in embryos produced through in vitro fertilisation. The only difference is that during the PGD, embryos are screened before they are transferred to the uterus so that couples can decide accordingly about their next step in the IVF process.