Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)

The DNA is the building block of life, and it dictates all the predispositions we’ll have since conception. It’s stored inside microscopic structures called the chromosome, and we all always inherit a pair: half from our fathers, and the other from our mothers.

Since we gain these from conception, if any irregularities occurred to our chromosomes, they would virtually be unrepairable: there are various genetic issues, such as Down syndrome (an excess of genetic material in chromosome 21) and Turner syndrome (lack of a single X chromosome on a female), all of which can only be treated therapeutically rather than cured.

This can be prevented by immediately recognizing genetic issues as they come. The method we offer for this is called PGS, pre-implantation genetic screening. Using the Next Generation Sequencing technology, we can pick up just a few cells from the blastocyst-phase embryo that we’ll be implanting into your womb and extract all chromosomal information from these cells. It’s only after the screening confirms that there is no genetic issues that we will proceed with the embryo transfer.

FAQ

When should I consider PGS?

PGS especially helps increase the chance for pregnancy, and reduces the chance of miscarriage, on mothers more than 35 years of age, couples with a previous history of failed IVF program, or parents with a previous history of repeated miscarriage of unclear causes. These conditions often exacerbate the chance of an embryo having chromosomal defects.

If you still have worries, don't hesitate to give us a call to arrange an appointment with one of our doctors. We'll be glad to offer you our assistance.

Is it possible to know or choose my baby's birth sex?

The baby's birth sex can be detected early by chromosome investigation, which is what PGS does. Choosing the baby's birth sex, however, while allowed, is a regulated process. Please book an appointment with our doctors to consult regarding this matter.

What are the risks associated with PGS?

Rather than risks during PGS, the risks are usually involved before and after the PGS process proper. For instance, in order to perform PGS, we require the embryo to have first reached the blastocyst phase. This occurs within 4 to 5 days of embryo development. In other words, should any development fail to happen due to one reason or another, or if there simply weren't many fertilized egg cells to begin developing the embryo to begin with, there will be no blastocyst to screen, and PGS will have to be cancelled.

Also, although PGS drastically reduces the risk, birth with chromosomal irregularity is still a persistent risk. This is often caused by what we call mosaicism: when the many cells within a single embryo separately contain different sets of chromosomes, and we were unlucky during the sample choosing. This is unlikely to occur, however, and PGS successfully reduces risk of births with chromosomal abnormality an overwhelming majority of the time.

There is also the chance of the embryo failing to survive during thawing, even after it has been handled with care and in strict accordance to the procedures. Like the above, however, this chance is very small, because in the first place, the procedures were specifically developed to minimize this risk to as little as humanly possible.

We understand that these risks may seem scary to you, so if you have further questions or a reassurance, don't hesitate to give us a call.

Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening (PGS)

FAQ

When should I consider PGS?

Is it possible to know or choose my baby's birth sex?

What are the risks associated with PGS?