Leading Centre for world class Assisted Reproductive Services in Nigeria.

PGD/PGS

PGD/PGS

Genetic Screening/Diagnosis at Nordica

At Nordica Fertility Center, our mission is to fulfil dreams of parenthood through the delivery of healthy babies. To achieve this mission, our genetics laboratory is equipped with the newest technologies, capable of performing the most up to date genetic testing. Our genetic testing services include Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS).

What is PGD/PGS?

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) refers specifically to a diagnostic method that allows intending parents to avoid the risk of passing on a known genetic disease to their child/children. PGD is also used for family balancing, a technique that allows intending parents choose the gender of their baby. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) on the other hand, is the screening of embryos for chromosomal abnormalities with the aim of increasing the pregnancy rate and reducing the risk of miscarriage for specific women.

Who is PGD/PGS for?

At Nordica, PGD is used when:

  • Couples don’t want to pass an inheritable disease to their child. Some of these diseases include:
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Albinism
    • Inheritable cancer pre-dispositions
    • Down Syndrome
    • Muscular dystrophies
  • Couples are interested in choosing the gender of their unborn child.
  • Couples have frequent miscarriages due to a genetic disease.

For more information about our genetic testing service: 

The Process of PGD/PGS

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis requires a number of steps before embryos can be tested for specific genetic conditions. Understanding the various steps involved makes it easy for expectant parents to go through PGD. These steps include:

Step 1

Ovarian Stimulation and Monitoring:
In a normal cycle, a single egg is released from the ovary every month. However, to maximize the chances of successful fertilization with each IVF attempt, your ovaries will be stimulated to produce multiple mature egg. The growth and development of the eggs are closely monitored by repeated ultrasound and or blood tests. Based on information obtained from these tests, we can determine when ovulation will take place. Release of eggs from the ovary is then achieved by administering an injection called HCG or Buserelin depending on the response. You will then be ready for egg collection.

Step 2

Egg collection:
Egg collection is performed at our clinic via a transvaginal route under conscious sedation and local anaesthesia.

Step 3

Fertilization:
The collected eggs are then fertilized separately in the clinic laboratory. This is done usually through a procedure where a specialist injects a single healthy sperm into each egg. This is the Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection technique 24 hours fertilization is expected to take place

Step 4

Biopsy:
The fertilized eggs are then kept in the clinic lab for a few days. Development of the embryo is monitored in the lab, and when the embryo must have reached their blastocyst stage, the embryologist proceeds to remove cells from the embryo. These cells are placed in a test tube and are taken to the clinic lab to test for specific genetic disease.

Step 5

Embryo Transfer:
Embryo transfer is the procedure by which the embryos will be returned to the womb. It is a painless & simple procedure. The embryos are placed in a special catheter and are transferred into the womb. You will be given a progesterone hormone (vaginal suppository) after the procedure, which you should insert daily for two weeks after embryo transfer.

Step 6

Pregnancy:
After the embryo transfer procedure, the patient will be asked to conduct a pregnancy test after 2 weeks. With a positive test, the implantation was successful.

Genetic Counseling

Our genetic counselling program gives you the opportunity to talk to an in-house genetic counsellor about the questions or concerns you may have, and how it may affect you or your family.

Start your family with us today.

Visit our Appointments page, fill out the contact form and a member of the team will be in touch