Deconstructing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Abstract

In recent years, infertility rates have been on the rise, with 19% of women aged 15-49 having difficulties getting pregnant and 26% of women having difficulties carrying such fetuses to term (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). This statistic also comes in concert with recent research suggesting a rise in congenital defects and abnormalities in neonates (Silesh et al., 2021). In association with these troubling trends, however, are developments in reproductive technologies and assessments. One such of these technologies is preimplantation genetic testing, otherwise abbreviated PGD. This technique uniquely allows for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities and congenital defects and, used in conjunction with IVF treatments, has seen implementation in around 5 percent of all U.S. IVF cycles (“A Microdeletion, They Called It.,” 2015). Despite the hope that the testing method allows for families around the world, PGD is not without its limitations. This paper first explores PGD, determining the testing process and pinpointing its applications' current extent. It then transitions to analyzing the current methods of sampling and analysis housed in PGD, determining their benefits as well as their detriments. It finally contrasts present methods with the many proposed advances, analyzes the feasibility of such advances, and compares the benefits and limitations of these new treatment plans to conclude the best combination of developments is Blastocyst biopsy and Next Generation Sequencing for the advancement of PGD as a diagnostic procedure.