The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy is one of the few fertility clinics in the UK which offers genetic testing in house. For couples with a family history of chromosome problems, we are able to offer pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos to detect any inherited abnormalities and give you peace of mind. There are two options available:

Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS/PGT-A)

What is it?: Pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) involves detection of any numerical chromosome abnormalities in the embryo before its transfer to the uterus during an IVF/ICSI treatment.

What does it do?: This process avoids the transfer of abnormal embryos to the womb. Chromosome abnormalities can cause failure of embryos to implant (causing repeated unsuccessful cycles of IVF) and recurrent miscarriage.

There have been recent enhancements to this technique which have made possible the screening of all 23 pairs of chromosomes within an embryo. 

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD/PGT-M/SR)

What is it?: Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique for couples with a specific inherited condition who wish to avoid passing it on to their children.

What does it do?: This procedure involves checking the genes of embryos created during an IVF/ICSI treatment for this genetic condition, before transfer to the womb.

The HFEA’s view on genetic testing is available here.

Chromosome abnormalities such as aneuploidy (extra or missing chromosomes), translocations, inversion, insertion or ring chromosomes are responsible for a large portion of genetic diseases. Single gene disorders can also be transmitted from parents to their offspring. Using PGD, these structural chromosome abnormalities and single gene disorders can be detected in the embryo before its transfer to the uterus.