PGS Testing, or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, is a diagnostic technique used to determine the risk of pregnancy with certain disorders or causes. It is also called DNA testing or molecular biology testing. Basically, preimplantation genetic testing is genetic profiling of embryonic cells before implantation, and even of ova prior to fertilization; however, it differs slightly from the latter in that only an embryo is tested. The testing is performed on cells taken from the cytoplasm of the Embryonic Egg, a fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovarian sack before conception. The ovum, a fluid-filled sac attached to the end of the follicle, is not tested.
Since many couples have difficulty conceiving, fertility doctors often perform PGS testing to help them make the best possible decision concerning conception and pregnancy. In general, the test provides significant and necessary information about a couple’s likely chances of pregnancy based on their age, race, ethnicity, health conditions, and the type of intercourse they normally have. This can be very helpful to both the couple and the doctor when making decisions about such things as medical procedures, insurance and financial support, and possibly even legal matters. Because of these valuable statistics, the success rates of couples trying to get pregnant with very low risk groups has increased significantly over the last two decades.
The process of getting an initial test for a pregnancy test, or for an embryo transfer test, is usually quick, convenient and confidential. Most health insurance policies cover some of the costs of PGS testing, which means that even very poor insurance holders can obtain this valuable information without worrying about whether they can afford the tests out of their own budgets. If a couple is interested in conceiving, but doesn’t yet want to wait for a positive result, they should consider IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization. This fertility treatment involves harvesting of eggs from the woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm from the man. After a series of hormone injections, the embryos are then transferred back into the woman’s body where they will continue to develop until a pregnancy is possible. The cost of this procedure is covered by most health insurance plans, so there are few financial obstacles to be had.
Many health insurance plans offer financing options for IVF, which makes it a very attractive option for the couple that may not be financially able to finance their own medical treatments. One advantage of PGS testing, however, is that it provides valuable and timely information about their own and their partner’s chances of pregnancy. PGS testing is done on a day-to-day basis at home and does not require any specialized equipment; thus, it is easy to do the test in the comfort of your own home without having to arrange a lengthy stay at the office. Women with a history of high cervical cancer can rest assured that they will not be tested for it while trying to become pregnant; however, any woman should check herself for any abnormal lumps that could be a possible sign of cancer, especially if she has not been treated for the cancer previously.
While IVF has provided a solution for many couples, it still has its share of critics. Some argue that the process is too expensive and too complicated, while others point out that thousands of healthy embryos are used in IVF procedures to make up for the embryos used in vitro fertilization procedures. Those who are against assisted reproductive technologies point out that there is no way to know whether the abnormal embryos used in these processes are truly harmless. For this reason, some couples choose to go about getting PGS testing instead.
When it comes to identifying normal and abnormal embryos, however, IVF remains the only method that accurately and effectively provides results. A positive PGS testing result indicates that either one or more of the fertilized embryos are normal, whereas a negative PGS results in the identification of aneuploid cells, which are irregular. A positive result also means that the embryo is Congenital-iarum and cannot be moved to prevent conception. A negative PGS result, on the other hand, indicates that the embryo is aneuploid.