Preimplantation genetic testing is a specialised treatment for couples who carry an inherited genetic defect that could cause serious health risks for their children, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease or Huntington’s disease.
PGT involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then fertilised usually by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilised eggs are then allowed to develop for three (or sometimes five) days, before a few cells are removed from each embryo and the genetic material (DNA and chromosomes) are tested for the disorder. The fertilised embryos are immediately frozen until the test results are available and the patient is ready to proceed. Frozen embryo transfer would then be used to place the thawed embryo(s) which do not carry an inherited genetic condition back into the patient’s prepared womb.