Pregnancy is a joyful feeling. Nonetheless, it would be wise to take every necessary precaution and screening to ensure your pregnancy is smooth and your baby is healthy. Genetic screening is all about evaluating embryos to implant the most viable. If you seek genetic screening in Newport Beach, contact the experts at OC Fertility to have your needs met by a skillful, compassionate practitioner.
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What is Genetic Screening?
Genetic screening at OC Fertility entails several different aspects. Genetic screening can happen at three different time points in the fertility process.
OC Fertility specialists conduct the following tests:
- Embryo Genetic Testing
- Genetic Carrier Screening
- Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
Before treatment, your OC Fertility specialist might recommend that you and your partner undergo genetic carrier screening to disqualify any potentially fatal diseases getting inherited by your children in the future.
For patients going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, the option for embryo genetic testing is viable. This occurs when a few cells from the embryo are extracted to gather information concerning its health. This activity typically happens 5-7 days following egg fertilization.
These removed cells undergo analysis in a lab to identify whether the embryo contains the correct number of chromosomes. With these tests, you can select a viable embryo before IVF, whether via surrogate or uterus implantation.
As soon as you become prgnant, your OC Fertility specialists thoroughly watch over you and your pregnancy throughout the entire first trimester. During this period, Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) can screen the pregnancy for any chromosomal abnormalities. Additionally, it reveals information about the gender of the pregnancy if you desire to know.
What are Chromosomal Abnormalities?
When an embryo lacks 23 pairs of chromosomes, it can inhibit the embryo’s implantation, lead to miscarriages or development syndromes such as Down syndrome. With age, a woman’s exposure to abnormal chromosomal numbers rises.
What are Comprehensive Chromosome screening and Preimplantation Genetic Testing?
CCS/PGT allows the analysis of biopsied cells from an embryo to identify whether there are chromosomal errors before implanting the embryo to the uterus. This testing can help in preventing miscarriage or diagnosing a life-threatening disease later during pregnancy.
Occasionally, CCS/PGT can expose the cause of unexplained infertility in women below 35 years. Women who can benefit from CCS/PGT include:
- Younger women with poor ovarian function
- Individuals who experience recurrent miscarriage
- Women older than 35 living with infertility
- Those desiring gender selection
- Those who have undergone several failed fertility treatments
When is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Applicable?
PGD or preimplantation genetic diagnosis is done for known familial hereditary conditions or gene mutations picked up by the genetic carrier. Your OC Fertility specialist conducts this procedure before commencing treatment.
OC Fertility specialists might recommend PGD for carriers of an identifiable genetic disorder, such as muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis, aiming to identify the afflicted embryos and select healthy embryos during IVF. They then implant the healthiest embryo without the disorder.
Other Services
In addition to genetic screening, the OC Fertility providers also offer various other top-notch services, including:
- Artificial insemination
- Miscarriage help
- Egg freezing
- Donor egg
- Female infertility
- Donor sperm
- Ovulation induction
If you are looking for efficient genetic testing services, look no further than OC Fertility for the best services. Call or schedule your appointment online today.
