When it comes to PGD and PGS, there are a lot of experts around us. Our family, relatives, friend, colleagues, and acquaintances everyone seems to be an expert. Of course, you have your doctor as well to tell you about PGD And PGS. So, amongst all these “experts” around us, we gather a lot of wrong information about the subject and assume even more. Thus, it becomes difficult to distinguish between facts and fictions.
Several women research on their own to debunk all the misconceptions and contradictory advice. If you are facing infertility issues and experience failed conception, it is highly recommended to you to consult an expert in this field rather than depending on the myths and misconceptions.
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) are the most debatable and misunderstood subjects of infertility. These are screening methods to increase the chances of a healthy embryo implantation. PGS screens for the missing or extra copies of chromosomes. On the other hand, PGD screens for single-gene defects that might cause genetic disorders.
Here we have mentioned five common misconceptions about PGS and PGD testing:
1. PGS is for women who are at an advanced maternal age
It is a common belief that PGS is for all those women who have reached an advanced maternity age. As a matter of fact, women at an advanced Maternity age tend to suffer from infertility and require this treatment. However, we cannot deny the fact that women even in their young ages suffer from infertility issues and might require this screening. There is no certain age for a woman to suffer from infertility. They have the risk of having chromosomally abnormal embryos at every stage of their maternity age. So, it is not true that women at an advance maternity age only needs a PGS screening.
2. PGS Screening Is Only Done to Identify Chromosome Abnormalities

PGS screening is important for the couples suffering from chromosomal abnormalities. Apart from this fact, couples can go through PGS to detect and prepare themselves for Down’s syndrome. As a matter of fact, a couple experiencing multiple failed pregnancies or IVF transfers also needs a PGS screening to find out the real reason behind search failures. They can thus ascertain why their embryos either aren’t implanting or are resulting in early losses until after genetic testing. Couples experiencing unexplained infertility very much need the PGS screening to get the much-needed answers.
3. PGD Is Acting to Be God
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is one controversy procedure. The process is applied in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) with an objective to detect genetic disorders in the gene. This is a proven method 2 find out early signs of genetic disorders. Because of this, many have termed this to be an act of being a God. However, the fact is that there can be hundreds of other reasons that can cause genetic disorder in the baby and cannot be detected through PGD. From preventative medications to C-sections and even to ventilators, there can be a lot many reasons for genetic disorders in a baby those might remain undiscovered in Preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
4. PGD Is Applied to Individual Carriers of Single-Gene Disorders
It is a common misconception that PGD is recommended to a couple who have had a family history of single-gene disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia. As a matter of fact, most couples are not at risk for single-gene disorders. Individuals may be carriers of four to six different genetic diseases but it is not necessary that their partner is also a carrier for the same genetic disease. It is important to know that, in the case of most single-gene disorders where PGD is recommended and applied, both parents need to be carriers for there to be a risk to the child.
5. Low-Grade Embryo Leads to Unsuccessful Pregnancy
When it comes to transfer, embryos are labeled as per its qualities and the best of the lot is picked. Embryos labeled as “low grade” also has the potential to lead to a successful pregnancy. The low-grade embryo does not have chromosome abnormalities. This is a common misconception that we must come out of. There is no necessary correlation between a low-quality egg and an egg with chromosomal abnormalities. Many couples conduct PGS screening on the low-quality eggs to detect the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in it. As we have discussed there is no connection of proven chromosomal abnormalities in a low-quality egg and it does not require a compulsory PCS screening.
Ending Words
We always emphasize the fact that when you are researching on a sensitive thing, you must consider the guidance of an expert. We mean a real expert and not everybody around you. You can read books on it, browse the Internet to read more about it and talk to a doctor about your queries. It is not wise to assume things and make the situation even more difficult for you.