Genetic Screening before Pregnancy

Prenatal testing, or genetic screening, is an option for couples who wish to improve their chances of carrying a pregnancy to full term. These tests can identify genetic markers in embryos prior to implantation, allowing only the implantation of healthy embryos devoid of debilitating genetic conditions such as Huntington's disease and Down's syndrome, and unaffected by genetic markers that may inhibit implantation in the uterus. Genetic screening does not pose risks for the patient and can provide reassurance and peace of mind during the pregnancy.

Benefits of Genetic Screening

Prenatal genetic screening is meant to increase the likelihood that parents will have a healthy baby. Genetic screening can provide parents with reassurance and peace of mind during pregnancy.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis substantially improves the chances of a successful pregnancy for women who may have been unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to full-term in the past. Women who have healthy, PGD-screened embryos implanted in the uterus during in-vitro fertilization are less likely to suffer miscarriage or pass on genetic diseases to their offspring.

PGD can help couples at risk for passing on any of the following genetic disorders:

• Huntington's disease
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Tay Sachs
• Hemophilia A
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Down's Syndrome
• Achondroplasia

Ethical Issues and Genetic Screening

Genetic screening can eradicate illness in a new - preemptive - way. In doing so, genetic screening has the potential to change society's fundamental attitudes toward:

• Parenting
• Sickness
• Social responsibility
• Childbirth
• Motherhood
• Medicine

Some people have expressed concern over preimplantation genetic diagnosis being used routinely for genetic screening. Though PGD is a reliable and proven method for identifying genetic abnormalities, ethical issues have been raised about this method of genetic screening, including concerns over the disposal of "unhealthy" embryos.