Reasons to Consider Gender Selection
Gender selection through preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) allows parents to choose the gender of the embryo they have placed during in vitro fertilization. Gender selection has many benefits, and there are many reasons why patients choose the sex of their embryo during an IVF cycle or subsequent egg transfer. Let’s explore how PGS works and the reasons why patients choose gender selection at the Los Angeles Reproductive Center, with offices in Encino, CA, and Bakersfield, CA.
What Is Gender Selection and How Does It Work?
Gender selection through PGS involves screening the embryos before they are transferred into the mother or surrogate’s uterus during IVF. Your doctor will look at the genetics of the embryo. Embryos containing the XX gene are female, while those with XY are male.
PGS is done not just to choose the desired gender of the embryo but to also screen for potential genetic disorders and abnormalities. Only healthy embryos are used during the IVF cycle. If additional embryos are available, they can also be frozen and preserved for future IVF cycles.
Why Would Patients Choose Gender Selection?
Gender selection is a deeply personal choice and performed for a variety of reasons. Reasons to consider gender selection include:
- Reduce Risk of Sex-Linked Disorders - Parents with sex-linked diseases can potentially pass along these issues to their children. This is especially true if both parents have a disease. These disorders include Haemophilia, color blindness, Fragile X syndrome, Alport syndrome, Rett syndrome, and more. PGS allows doctors to screen for these issues and further reduce the risk by allowing patients with identified sex-linked diseases to choose an embryo that is not at risk of passing this gene.
- Family Balancing - Family balancing is important to some parents. Gender selection helps parents balance their family by selecting the gender of their baby. For example, parents with all boys who desire a girl can choose to have only female embryos (those with XX chromosomes) inserted during the IVF cycle or egg transfer. At the Los Angeles Reproductive Center, we are dedicated to helping patients build the family they have dreamed about.
- Increase Chances of Successful Pregnancy - Genetic testing is performed before implantation, meaning the embryos are tested before they are even inserted into the uterus. This allows our fertility experts the ability to select only the healthiest embryos. The healthy embryos are more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Get Started Today
There are a variety of reasons patients undergo preimplantation genetic screening during the IVF process. These reasons are deeply personal, and often, PGS is performed to help reduce health issues linked to genetic conditions. No matter what your reasons, our goal at Los Angeles Reproductive Center is to help patients achieve a healthy pregnancy and baby.
If you would like more information about PGS or would like to discuss PGS with our fertility experts, contact us today to request a consultation with Dr. Marc Kalan and Dr. Nurit Winkler at our Encino or Bakersfield, CA, offices.
