Being affected by a health problem and witnessing your child suffering from it can be quite distressing. Everyone wants a healthy child in their life. But sometimes a child can get birth defects and chronic diseases from the parents due to genetic mutations. These couples with a genetic condition are hesitant to plan a pregnancy for fear of passing a life-threatening or life-threatening disease to the fetus.
Genetic disorders:
A genetic disease can result from any irregularity in a person’s genetic makeup. It can be mild to severe depending on the basic DNA mutation of a single gene or chromosomal abnormalities or a set of chromosomes.
Some genetic abnormalities can be acquired spontaneously as a result of mutations or changes in a single gene or a combination of genes, or they can be inherited from parents as they are passed down families from generation to generation. It can be caused by other factors such as the environment, pollutants, exposure to specific chemicals, radiation, etc. the descendants
Some common genetic disorders are Down syndrome, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, etc.
IVF: a ray of hope
Individuals/couples with serious genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, etc. are at high risk of transmitting the disease to their children. Thousands of those couples now have hope, thanks to the IVF process.
For couples who are at high risk of transferring fatal disorders to the fetus, IVF is a remarkable treatment. For example, if both parents have significant thalassemia, their child is more likely to develop the condition. However, if they undergo IVF, it is feasible to determine whether the child will be affected by the condition or not. You can decrease the chance of passing genetic disorders to the child by using only healthy chromosomes at fertilization.
How is it possible?
Through a technique called ‘Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis of Embryos’, the genetic profile can be achieved and it is easier to take the corresponding measures. An embryo produced through IVF is screened for genetic abnormalities, prior to implantation into the uterus during an IVF cycle, with the help of Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), which screens embryos for abnormalities chromosomal and single gene.
The generated embryos can be screened for a certain genetic mutation after a few days, and only the unaffected embryos can be placed in the uterus. PGD not only decreases the chances of passing on a genetic disease, it also increases the chances of a successful pregnancy. In addition, PGD avoids the need to terminate or abort fetuses with significant problems.
Takeaway message:
We get a decent number of patients who are interested in IVF procedures to have a healthy baby out of fear that they may pass the genetic problem on to their baby. However, there is still a certain population that needs to be made aware of IVF + PGT and its potential benefits.
For a healthy pregnancy, consult your doctor before planning a pregnancy if any of the diseases are hereditary. We suggest that these couples undergo pregenetic testing to assess the risk of transmitting the disease to the child. Also, regular prenatal testing is very important when it comes to diagnosing genetic problems at the right stage. That’s why we encourage couples to visit their gynecologist on their assigned dates to stay on top of the baby’s healthy growth.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed above are those of the author.
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