Pre-implantation diagnostics

The Kinderwunschzentrum Niederrhein is one of twelve fertility centres in Germany that is authorised to carry out pre-implantation diagnostics (PGD).  

PGD is the genetic examination of the embryo in the course of out-of-body fertilisation (ICSI). Since 2010, this examination has been permitted in Germany if it has been approved by an ethics committee. Reasons for carrying out this examination are, for example, serious hereditary diseases in the couple wishing to have a child. 

If PGD has been approved by the responsible ethics committee, conventional fertility treatment is carried out first. This involves hormone treatment of the woman followed by egg collection and fertilisation of the eggs with the man's sperm by ICSI treatment. On day 5 of embryo development, a sample of the embryo's inner cell mass (known as a trophectoderm biopsy) is then taken. The embryo is then frozen and the sample is examined in a special genetic laboratory. After receiving the result, the embryo can be thawed in the natural or artificial cycle and implanted in the uterus (so-called embryo transfer) if the genetic findings are inconspicuous.