PGD Test Fails to Deliver Accurate Results
A new fertility test is being touted as the lastest & greatest. But what many couples need to know before they spend an extra $5,000.00 is that the test is not needed and can be very inaccurate.
Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) March 4, 2005
For millions of Americans having a family is a life-long dream come true. But for Laguna Niguel resident Sian Shook, and her husband Paul, dreaming of one day raising a family of their own seemed to be just that, a dream. After trying to become pregnant for over a year, Sian 35, finally sought out guidance at a local fertility clinic. There, the doctor insisted that in addition to In Vitro Fertilization the ShookÂ’s spend an extra $5,000.00 to undergo Pre Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). PGD is a test where one cell is removed from an embryo and tested for its genetic contents prior to transfer back into the uterus.
“The Shook’s were misled into thinking that the PGD test was a necessity,” says Robert Anderson, M. D., founder and medical director of the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine. “What they (and millions of women) didn’t know was how inaccurate the PGD test really can be.”
According to Dr. Anderson PGD is used to detect genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities in early embryos. When used correctly, it can identify diseases such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Tay-Sachs, muscular dystrophy and many chromosomal abnormalities such as DownÂ’s Syndrom. Confusion arises, however, because doctors can only identify 9 out of the 23 chromosomes that comprise genetic make-up. That leaves14 chromosomes that may have abnormalities, that would be undetected. Recently it has been shown that as many as 50% of abnormalities come from these untested chromosomes. Additionally, research has show that up to 40% of embryos may have more than one genetic cell line, further adding to the confusion.
In Sian ShookÂ’s case, after having the PGD test the doctor told her that only 2 of her 9 eggs were viable and that she could not conceive without the use of an egg donor.
Sian decided to obtain a second opinion and sought out the expert advice of leading fertility specialist, Robert Anderson, M. D. After meeting with Dr. Anderson, he recommended that there was no indication for PGD and advised that to prevent potential damage to any normal embryos from the embryo biopsy procedure, the ShookÂ’s undergo InVitro Fertilization without PGD. After only one attempt of IVF, Sian became pregnant. Sian is now 15 weeks pregnant with her own healthy child and is due to deliver her baby in March 2005.
Dr. Anderson added that routinely using PGD is just another example of some doctorÂ’s using advancements in science in ways that are ethically questionable. Because of the inaccuracies in interpreting the test and the damage that can be done to otherwise normal embryos, he feels that PGD should not be used on a widespread basis. There are limited instances when he recommends patients to have the test. For example, when a woman continually has miscarriages caused by a demonstrated chromosomal abnormality or has a history of a certain genetically transmissible disease in the family, PGD may be of value.
“Although this test is helpful in some situations, the science behind it is still very premature,” commented Anderson. “Until we refine this test, I recommend most patients to spend the extra $5,000.00 on their newborn child!”
BIO: Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Robert Anderson, M. D. is the founder and director of the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Southern California Institute for Reproductive Sciences with locations in Newport Beach and Aliso Viejo, California. For over 16 years, Dr. Anderson has been helping couples with fertility problems realize their dreams of becoming a family. He has spent his career incorporating the latest and safest developments in reproductive medicine into his practice. Dr. Anderson is a leader in the field of reproductive endocrinology and fertility and has pioneered many techniques that are now common practice including; transferring embryos by transvaginal ultrasound, assisted hatching prior to the transfer of every embryo and blastocyst culturing. A graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Anderson also completed his Internship/Residency and Fellowship at the University of Chicago Hospitals and the University of Southern California respectively. Visit www. socalfertility. com
To interview Dr. Anderson and Sian Shook, contact The Professional Image, Inc. (949) 760-1522 or tpi4pr@theprofessionalimage. com.
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