Consultancy corner: Pre-implantation Genetic Screening helps couples overcome the odds

The Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS), the procedural carried out on IVF embryos to find its genetic status before transfer. It is considered as an important tool for evaluating the genetic status of embryos and can help to have a healthy baby.

The PGS is specifically recommended for those of advanced maternal age — 35 years and above, those who have recurrent miscarriages, those who have had IVF failures and those who are considering a low quantity and quality of sperm.

It is performed on the embryo before it is transferred. It allows the identification and transfer of embryos free from aneuploidies to the mother and increases pregnancy rates per transfer. Besides, it reduces the time needed to achieve pregnancy.

This most preferential option is available for individuals or couples undergoing IVF. It helps improve the pregnancy rate and reduce the miscarriage rate for women with frequent recurrent miscarriage. It is beneficial for women of age 35 and over and is preferred for individuals or couples who had repeated failed in IVF cycles.

This involves understanding basic genetic testing of embryos. The only way to create embryos for PGS is through IVF or ICSI treatment. Healthy pregnancy begins with healthy embryo. Specific counselling would be given to couples undergoing treatment to create embryos.

One egg has 23 Chromosomes and so as one sperm. A fertilised egg has half of mother’s DNA and half of father’s DNA.

After fertilisation, a healthy egg begins to grow with 46 chromosomes. On this formation, there are chances of missing chromosomes, either one or many.

This leads to miscarriage or birth defect. The chances of such abnormality are around 40 – 50 per cent for both younger and older couples.

The results of this test usually take up to 4 weeks from the time of biopsy to process.

In addition, there are challenges for those who undergo IVF process with possibility of multiple attempts. This leads to high cost financially, bringing stress psychologically and physically. When there is a transfer of multiple embryos to improve the chances of pregnancy, the probability of twins and triplet increases.

While it increases the rates of implantation and childbirth, it can also reduce the time between IVF cycles and lower the risk of miscarriage and early pregnancy.

It helps to eliminate the chromosomal abnormality such as ‘Down Syndrome’, a genetic disorder that are caused by an additional copy of chromosome, reduce the risk and cause of multiple pregnancy and improve pregnancy rates.

The fertilised egg divides into two, four, eight and so on. On day 5, there are about 128 cells created. One cluster of cells becomes Fetus and the other Placenta.

During the process, the embryologist uses a small tool, 120th diameter thickness of a human hair to remove few cells from the cluster that will become Placenta. Then the sample undergoes genetic testing.