Considering IVF? Why You Should Get Genetic Screening First
As an issue that thousands of couple has to deal with every day, infertility is one of the most difficult. The desire to have children is ingrained in all of us and the fears and frustrations of us that have problems having children are things that about 1 in 10 couples have to deal with. As a part of the fertility treatment process, a surgical procedure known as IVF or in vitro fertilization can be used to place a fertilized egg directly into the uterus. However, if the reasons for the infertility are related to genetics, a genetic screening should be done to eliminate possible future problems.
In vitro fertilization is a technique where an egg is fertilized with spermatozoa and then implanted in the uterus. There’s a lot more to it than that, but that is a quick synopsis of the process which does entail at least one surgery which, while not dangerous in and of itself, still poses the inherent dangers in any surgery. Not only that, but the IVF process is expensive and while the process can almost guarantee a pregnancy, the expense may be more than can be afforded. Insurance companies do not pay for many fertility treatments including IVF and genetic screening so the expense is all on the prospective parents.
If the screening test shows that there is a genetic defect, the odds are usually fairly high that the defect will be passed on to the potential child if the parent’s genes are used. Also, a genetic test will reveal any other defects as well which can impact the thinking process as well. If a defect is found, the odds are high that the defect could be passed to the child.
To see if there are any other genetically based issues or illnesses in the immediate family, is another good reason to preform genetic testing. Those circumstances coupled with the expense and the danger of a surgery may be more than a couple is prepared to deal with.
If IVF is a viable option then there is a pretty good chance of success. The drawbacks with the financial strain on a family and the ultimate results may not be something a family unit can cope with. If the doctor at the fertility center states that in vitro fertilization may be the only option left then having a genetic screening done to verify or eliminate other factors is definitely your next step.
Getting pre-implantation genetic screening is a good idea if you are thinking of seeing an infertility doctor. When Beverly Westerfall and her husband were having problems starting a family, she found a fertility clinic in Houston that could get them on the path to start a family.
Author: Beverly Westerfall
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