Gender Selection

We were one of the first San Francisco Bay Area fertility clinics to offer Gender Selection. This treatment uses Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) procedure to identify the gender of each embryo. With this method, the prospective parents will know the gender of each embryo prior to its transfer into the uterus.

 

The Gender Selection procedure requires creation of embryos, and therefore is an extension of In Vitro Fertilization. Please see the In Vitro Fertilization description for the process of creating the embryos.
 
Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis consists of the following three steps:

1. Removal of Embryonic Cells

    

   Once embryos reach the 5 to 8 cell stage (three days after egg retrieval), an embryo biopsy is performed by creating an opening in the egg shell around the embryo.

    

   At this stage any cell inside the embryo has full developmental potential. It is possible to safely remove a single cell through this opening using a micropipette for genetic testing. The procedure is performed under a special microscope with micromanipulators.

    

   

    

2. Embryonic Chromosomal Analysis

    

   The biopsied cell's chromosomes are analyzed, the results of the PGD analysis are obtained and only embryo(s) of the desired gender is/are transferred in the uterus.

    

3. Extended Embryo Culture

    

   The genetic analysis takes approximately one to two days. The embryos will be typically transferred at the morula (day 4) or blastocyst (day 5) stage.

    

   There is no evidence that PGD embryos result in an increased chance of abnormalities in the baby or that the risk of birth defects is higher than the usual (2% to 5%) when compared to conceptions that occur spontaneously without medical assistance.

For additional information, please see Gender Selection Protocol, Pregnancy Probability, Gender Selection Cost and Gender Selection Prerequisites.

 

If you have any questions regarding Gender Selection or to request an appointment, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500, via email at care@BayIVF.com, or use the Contact Bay IVF Center form on this page.