The advantages and disadvantages of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) consists of studying chromosomal abnormalities and genetic abnormalities in the embryo prior to transfer to the mother. Its purpose is to ensure that children are healthy and put an end to the transmission of a specific condition.
There are two types of PGD: the PGD aimed at selecting embryos that are free of a genetic disorder affecting a single gene (PGD) and the PGD that analyses genetic diseases affecting one or more chromosomes (CCS or PGS). Their names are sometimes a cause for confusion. The post entitled Are PGD, PGS and CCS all one and the same? clarifies the differences between them. […]

By |2017-05-17T09:18:15+00:0019 de May de 2017|Assisted reproduction, Fertility, Genetics, Pregnancy, Women’s health, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More

You can avoid passing hereditary diseases on to your children by taking the GCT (Genetic Compatibility Test)

Our Genetic Compatibility Test (GCT) based on next-generation DNA sequencing analyses over 600 diseases.
For a person with an hereditary disease, eliminating the chance of passing that disease on to their children becomes a desire as well as the very best gift they could give them. Sometimes, parents don’t even know they are carriers of a disease. A person with an hereditary disease will pass it on to his or her children. Sufferers carry a heavy weight upon their shoulders because they are aware that they will pass on health issues to their children and that this will have a negative impact on their quality of life or lead to premature death. In most cases, we are carriers of one recessive disease or another, but our health is not affected by it. However, there is the possibility that we might pass that disease on to our children. […]

By |2017-05-08T18:20:07+00:0024 de February de 2017|Egg donation, Genetics, In vitro fertilisation (IVF), News, Pregnancy|0 Comments
Read More

What information does a FISH procedure on spermatozoa provide us with?

When a fertility analysis in the male partner is limited to a seminogram or spermiogram, we only get a partial view of semen quality. A seminogram only provides us with information on the number and characteristics of sperm in the ejaculate (mobility, morphology…). It does not, however, tell us anything about other aspects such as sperm DNA integrity […]

By |2017-01-20T14:03:48+00:0020 de January de 2017|Fertility, Genetics, Implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage, News, Urology|0 Comments
Read More

Premature menopause

We understand the menopause as a complete end to menstruation. It is a retrospective diagnosis (looking back) and, as such, the menopause is said to have taken place when a year has gone by since the last period and, during that time, there have been no instances of menstrual bleeding.

It generally takes place at around 50 years of age and is linked to the number of eggs in the ovary.

Depending on a woman’s age, it can be: […]

By |2016-12-20T13:14:10+00:0022 de December de 2016|Fertility, Genetics, Gynaecology, News, Pregnancy, Sterility, Women’s health, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More

Implantation failure and repeated miscarriage. Treatment options

Successfully treating implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss is undoubtedly a challenge for doctors and for patients.

It is an area on which we continuously focus research at Instituto Bernabeu and, whilst we are far from finding a solution to all problems, the number of couples we are able to successfully treat is forever increasing.

An approach which does not take all 3 parties into account – the female, the male and the embryo – is incomplete. When evaluation only takes the couple into account, the reason behind the issue is only determined in under 20% of all cases. […]

By |2016-11-15T18:25:49+00:0015 de November de 2016|Assisted reproduction, Fertility, Genetics, Gynaecology, Implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage, News, Women’s health, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More

Instituto Bernabeu discovers fertility genetic variants

Following years of research, the Poor Responder Unit at Instituto Bernabeu has, for the first time, discovered the genes that play a role in ovarian reserve. This makes choosing the most appropriate medication for the patient’s genetic make-up possible, thus optimising ovarian response.

[…]

By |2016-10-13T10:19:12+00:0014 de October de 2016|Genetics, Gynaecology, In vitro fertilisation (IVF), News, Women’s health, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More

Genetic compatibility in couples

When faced with fertility issues, many people believe that this is often due to the couple’s incompatibility. The reason behind this inability to fall pregnant is often unknown and quite simply a mystery due to some form of irresolvable  ‘genetic issue’. When faced with such circumstances, we can but give in and accept it and, as with all popular beliefs, there is some truth in it.
It’s estimated that around 20% of reproduction issues are down to genetics. In fact, many of the tests carried out as part of patient fertility analyses in our clinic, aim to determine if there is a genetic issue behind the couple’s difficulties falling pregnant. […]

By |2016-10-06T18:55:15+00:007 de October de 2016|Fertility, Genetics, Gynaecology, News, Pregnancy|0 Comments
Read More

A boy or a girl: can I choose my baby’s gender?

Whilst it is technically possible to choose a child’s gender using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, Spanish law prohibits selecting a baby’s sex, except with a view to avoiding the transmission of genetic diseases associated with the X chromosome. Such is the case, for example, of haemophilia A.
Law 14/2006 indicates that pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may only be used in order to detect serious genetic diseases or those which compromise the viability of an embryo. Therefore, this technique may not be used in order to select a future baby’s gender. Any other use of this technique is a serious offence which is punishable by law. […]

By |2016-09-16T14:11:21+00:0016 de September de 2016|Artificial insemination, Assisted reproduction, Fertility, Genetics, News, Pregnancy, Reproductive biology|0 Comments
Read More

The endometrial receptivity array (ERA) test

Embryo implantation is the least well known phase of reproduction within the field of reproductive medicine. This fact is of special relevance if we also take into account that the human embryo is not very efficient when compared to other closely-related species in the evolution timeline.
We currently know that pregnancy is based upon three basic pillars: the embryo, the endometrium and the tolerance of the mother’s immune system. Not only is it essential that all three function correctly, but there needs to be optimum interaction between them. We have already covered the role of the embryo and the immune system in detail. Therefore, we will now concentrate on the endometrium and, more specifically, on studying endometrial receptivity. […]

By |2016-09-09T13:43:04+00:009 de September de 2016|Assisted reproduction, Fertility, Genetics, Gynaecology, Implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage, In vitro fertilisation (IVF), News, Poor Ovarian Response Unit, Pregnancy, Women’s health, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More

Cytomegalovirus (CMV): What is it? How is it transmitted? What are its symptoms? How can it be treated?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus from the family Herpesviridae. We also find the chickenpox virus, herpes simplex and the mononucleosis virus in this family.
Infection with CMV is very common since it is present worldwide and can affect anyone. On the whole, it is an infection which does not usually cause any serious health issues. Once the virus has infected a person, it will remain in that person’s body for the remainder of his or her life. In fact, it is usually inactive or latent for a long time and it does not tend to reactivate unless the person’s defence system (immune system) is affected. Most people who are infected by the virus and who do not have serious health issues do not, on the whole, have any symptoms which might cause them to believe that they are infected with CMV. People who do develop some symptoms may suffer from a high temperature, swollen lymph glands, muscle pain or tiredness.
However, in the case of babies infected with the virus during pregnancy or childbirth and in people with a weak immune system, it is considered to be a significant public health problem since it can cause serious illnesses. […]

By |2016-09-02T09:39:14+00:002 de September de 2016|Artificial insemination, Assisted reproduction, Egg donation, Fertility, Genetics, In vitro fertilisation (IVF), News, Pregnancy, Reproductive biology, Women’s health|0 Comments
Read More