Chromosomal Screening 101

Chromosomal Screening
What is chromosomal screening? Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CCS) is a way to test the embryos before using them for an embryo transfer to try and rule out any unhealthy cells or embryos. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis or PGD also offers the opportunity to screen an embryo’s chromosomes for errors prior to implantation. Women who have passed the peak of their fertility have fewer eggs and these often give rise to chromosomal abnormalities. Embryos that develop with chromosomal errors almost always result in early miscarriage since few defects involving chromosomes are compatible with life.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis improves the chance that any embryos used in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have a normal chromosome count and that there are no errors in the combination of chromosomes. Gender selection can be done at the same time if desired. The screening process is almost 100% accurate for identifying healthy, normal embryos. It is not intended to be a guarantee against birth defects since most defects that result in live birth are caused by other factors during the pregnancy. Instead, the purpose of PGD is to ensure that an embryo is viable and likely to thrive upon implantation. This significantly increases the chances of successful In Vitro Fertilization treatment.

If you have any questions about CCS, PGD or genetic diagnostics and fertility, feel free to call our office anytime with questions – we are always happy to help!