Before
implantation, CCS allows us to
examine biopsied cells from an embryo to see whether there are any chromosomal
abnormalities. This is done to avoid implanting embryos that will either not
result in a healthy pregnancy or will result in miscarriage or diagnosis later
in the pregnancy. As a woman gets older, the types of chromosomal mistakes get
more complex and common. This explains why older women have lower pregnancy
rates and more miscarriages.
Since
all women and men have some chromosomally defective sperm and eggs, the likelihood
of chromosomal mistakes increases with age and the health history of the
parents, particularly the mother's age.
We
commonly uncover the cause of "unexplained infertility" in younger
women, those under 35 years old, using this technique.
When does it come into play?
Infertility
caused by advanced maternal age (more than 35 years), repeated miscarriage, low
ovarian capacity in younger women, embryo preservation in gender selection,
family building, or other failed reproductive therapies are all treated with comprehensive
chromosome screening. Many people may have CCS for personal reasons,
such as limiting the option of terminating a baby later in pregnancy due to a
chromosomal problem. Finally, a few patients choose CCS to maintain high
pregnancy rates while limiting the danger of multiple growth pregnancies by
transferring just one embryo at a time.
When Is It Actually Used?
Instead
of CCS, PGD may be advised for couples who have or are carriers of a known
genetic condition that may cause disability or disease in their children, such
as muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis; and also for translocations which
have been corrected.
Could
this therapy differentiate between unaffected and possible carrier embryos? It
may help a family to avoid passing on a specific mutation to future generations
by identifying unaffected non-carrier embryos.
Conclusion:
The
presented complete chromosomal screening technique overcomes many of the
difficulties that previously limited aneuploidy screening methods, and may finally
allow preimplantation genetic screening to achieve the theoretical benefits.
This
high embryo implantation rate achieved is very encouraging, and if confirmed in
future research, will be of enormous significance for IVF facilities attempting
to reduce the number of embryos transferred or adopt single embryo transfer.