Genetic testing aims to avoid genetic defects, as the science of genetic research has recently achieved great progress to diagnose genetic defects in embryos and then avoid them.

Embryo Genetic Screening (PGS) Technology

The PGS is the latest scientific technique to raise the success rates of ICSI and avoid birth defects and genetic problems in embryos.

PGS is used when one or both couples have known genetic defects, or if they have previously had children with genetic defects, genetic testing of the embryos is done to see if the expected embryos carry these genetic defects or not.

PGD Technology

PGD is also used to find out if the fetus carries any of the genetic diseases that one or both parents have, as a biopsy of the embryo is taken three or five days after the eggs are withdrawn for laboratory testing.

Diagnosis of genetic diseases by genetic testing

In addition, genetic testing of embryos can diagnose many genetic diseases such as

• Klinefelter syndrome
• Turner’s disease.
• Down syndrome

Genetic testing of embryos also helps us determine the gender of the embryo within the testing.

How is genetic testing performed?

A genetic examination is performed as a diagnostic step within the steps of the ICSI process and is as follows:

1. The wife begins to take treatment to stimulate the ovaries, then she follows up the ovulation through the vaginal ultrasound until the oocyte reaches the required maturity stage, and the follicle containing the egg reaches a size of 18-22 mm.
2. The doctor prescribes the explosive injection at a specific time, and then the eggs are withdrawn about 36 hours after the injection is given.
3. A sample of the husband’s semen is taken on the same day as the egg retrieval process.
4. The process of fertilizing eggs with sperm using the latest technology under a microscope in the laboratory.
5. Genetic testing has been divided to diagnose any genetic defects in it so that only healthy embryos are transferred to the mother’s uterus.

When do we need to PGS?

We need genetic testing of embryos in several cases, namely

• The wife is over the age of 35 or 40 years.
• Having a relative relationship between husband and wife increases the chance of genetic diseases.
• If the couple is a carrier of a recessive genetic disease (25% fetal incidence of the disease) or a dominant genetic disease (50% fetal incidence of the disease)
• Recurrent miscarriages.
• ICSI fails more than once because the embryos are not implanted in the uterus, so genetic testing helps to solve such problems.