• PGS screens for a number of common embryonic chromosomal disorders, including a condition, called aneuploidy, where embryos have too few or too many chromosomes. The technique can help identify abnormalities that can cause implantation failure during IVF, as well as uncover conditions like Down syndrome
• Studies show that the overall rate of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos is about 50 percent. As women age, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases and so does the risk of miscarriage from these abnormalities. PGS can help improve the likelihood of a successful pregnancy by identifying the healthiest embryos prior to embryo transfer.

• Normal IVF steps.
• To perform the test, embryologist remove one or more cells from the embryo using a high-powered microscope. The biopsy process does not harm the embryo.
• The genetic team then screens the chromosomes to check for abnormalities, extra copies of chromosomes, or missing chromosomes. Only the healthy embryos showing normal chromosome pairs are transferred into the uterus.

PGS is commonly offered to couples who are experiencing repeat pregnancy loss or when the woman is of advanced maternal age and those with repeated implantation failures.

The following two types of PGS analyses are used in our clinic:

• Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) – used for aneuploidy screening; FISH screening analyzes some (not all) of the chromosomes.
• Microarray Comparative Genomic Hybridization (Array CGH) – used for aneuploidy screening; Array CGH analyzes all chromosomes.