Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
A pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis is also an option for couples who know that they are both carriers of sickle anemia, but they do not want to give birth to a child with sickle cell anemia.
PIGD is similar to in vitro fertilization that is a method of infertile couples to conceive surgically by removing an egg from the woman’s ovaries and fertilizing it with the man’s sperm. The procedure takes place in the laboratory.
In the process of in-vitro fertilization, PIGD involves removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries. The eggs are fertilized by using sperm taken from the partner. The fertilized embryo is also tested for sickle cell anemia. If the test results of an embryo are negative, it will be implanted into the woman’s womb.
Keep in mind that with other types of IVF, there is no guarantee that PIGD will lead to a successful pregnancy. The chance of a couple having a baby born with PIGD is around one in five. However, PIGD is a new procedure that is available at several specialist sickle cell centers.