The Most Accurate Method of Gender Selection for IVF Pregnancy

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Also known as Preimplantation Genetic Screening, there are several methods for analyzing the chromosomal makeup of an embryo prior to transferring it to a woman's uterus during IVF treatment.  The most common is a method known as Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) that screens 8-12 pairs of chromosomes - including the gender chromosomes.  This is what enables gender selection via PGD.  After the egg is fertilized and progresses to the embryo stage, a cell is removed from each embryo to be tested.  This cell is then analyzed via the FISH process and any extra or missing chromosomes are revealed (an extra or missing chromosome is referred to as Aneuploidy). 

The shortcoming of FISH as a method of PGD is in the fact that it only screens 8-12 pairs of an embryo's 23 pairs of chromosomes, so it is far from 100% accurate.  Until recently, FISH was virtually the only way to screen embryos for Aneuploidy prior to IVF embryo transfer.  A new method refined by Sher Institutes known as Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) checks all 23 pairs of chromosomes for a far more comprehensive analysis.  CGH is available at only a handful of clinics throughout the country, primarily SIRM offices.  Extensive information on this remarkable breakthrough is available by clicking here.