Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Center

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure that enables individuals with a genetic disease in their family to avoid passing the disease to their children and to give birth to healthy offspring.

The process involves utilizing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conduct tests on early-stage fetuses. These tests aim to identify known genetic or chromosomal changes that may have been inherited from the parents or grandparents. 

PGD can be done for nearly any disease in which the genetic alteration causing the disease is recognized and identified. The list of diseases keeps growing by the day, thanks to the advancements in genetic diagnosis.

Alternatives to the PGD procedure include: 1. Spontaneous pregnancy. This involves waiting for week 11-13 and performing a placental cyst test or waiting until week 17-22 and performing amniocentesis to detect the disease. If the fetus is found to be sick, the couple can choose to terminate the pregnancy. 2. Egg donation or sperm donation. 3. Adoption.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) significantly reduces the chances of a child inheriting a family disease. It also spares families from the anxiety of waiting for amniocentesis or genetic tests during pregnancy, as well as the emotional and physical toll of potential pregnancy termination.

Who is eligible for a PGD diagnosis?

As per the Ministry of Health circular, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is considered eligible in the following scenarios:

Both partners carry a serious genetic disease that manifests in early life, such as Tay Sachs, Fragile X, or Cystic Fibrosis.

The diseases in this group include: A. Recessive diseases that are inherited from two healthy parents. In such cases, there is a 25% risk of the offspring suffering from the disease. B. Dominant diseases carry a 50% risk of a sick offspring. C. Diseases related to the X chromosome, where the risk of a sick male fetus is 25%.

One of the parents carries a chromosomal alteration (translocation or inversion) that may cause a severe illness in the offspring.

A family history of a severe genetic disease, even if the parents have not undergone genetic testing (e.g., Huntington's disease).

Diagnosis is conducted to determine tissue compatibility for hereditary or cancer conditions in a previous child where no suitable donor was found. In certain instances, the healthy sibling can potentially donate blood or bone marrow to the sick sibling.

There is a risk that the fetus may carry genes that cause incurable diseases which manifest in old age, such as genes that increase cancer risk.

Selecting the gender of the newborn, based on the criteria set by the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health acknowledges that there are circumstances warranting PGD and requires exceptional cases to be discussed within the hospital.