Genetics in reproductive medicine allows us to anticipate risks, prevent hereditary diseases, and offer safer, more personalized treatments.
At our clinic, we use genetic testing at different stages of the reproductive process—before conception, during fertility treatment, and during pregnancy.
Preconception
This is carried out before attempting to conceive and allows us to detect whether either of the future parents is a carrier of genetic diseases that could be transmitted to the baby.
During this process of communication between the geneticist and the patient(s), the interested party(ies) have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain information about genetic factors that could prevent pregnancy, put it at risk, or influence the health of the offspring.
Genetic studies of carriers and the most prevalent diseases, among others, will be considered.
Preimplantation
Performed in the laboratory and applied during in vitro fertilization treatment.
In this instance, the embryos are genetically analyzed before being transferred to the uterus, helping to select those with the highest chances of success and the lowest risk of genetic abnormalities.
To do so, an embryo biopsy must be performed, a procedure in which 3 to 5 cells are extracted from an embryo on its 5th or 6th day of development in order to analyze its DNA. The genetic study performed on the sample is called PGT, which stands for Preimplantation Genetic Testing. It is a preventive technique used to detect abnormalities in the genetic material of embryos and to help select the embryo to be transferred in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
There are different types of PGT, depending on what you want to study. Among the most common are PGTa (aneuploidy), PGTm (monogenic), and PGTsr (structural chromosomal abnormalities).
Prenatal care
Pregnant women are given advice on the genetic studies available to determine the health status of their baby. Among the tests performed are NT Plus, chorionic villus sampling, and Fish 13-18-21.
NT Plus is a clinical ultrasound test that allows for the early detection of diseases. It is performed taking into account the mother's medical history, her weight, height, and blood pressure measurements, clinical analysis (Papp-A and Free Beta HCG), and ultrasound.
Genetics allows us to understand and care for reproductive health from the very beginning.