Genetic Screening Via IVF

Natural Fertility — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:12:04 +0000

A young British couple recently underwent in vitro fertilization and are now 14 weeks pregnant. What makes them different from every other IVF couple is that they are perfectly fertile. They underwent IVF to conceive a fetus guaranteed not to carry a specific breast cancer gene. While the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 genes only account for 5% of breast cancers, women who carry the gene have a 50-80% chance of developing breast cancer. The husband family has a devastating history with breast cancer because of the gene in question and the couple took steps to make sure their daughter wouldn’t suffer the same fate. Five of the eleven embryos were free of the breast cancer gene, two were implanted and one developed into a fetus. Two of the other embryos were frozen for later use. This has been heralded a success by the medical community but naturally raises ethical questions such as where this will lead and if couples will be choosing designer babies rather than letting things happen naturally. Read more at ctv.ca

Is Infertility Hereditary?

Natural Fertility — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:09:55 +0000

A Danish Study found that men of parents who were diagnosed with subfertility levels, had lower sperm counts and fewer normal looking sperm. The study authors concluded that at least some causes of infertility are hereditary. 311 Danish men were studied, ages 18-21 and those with parents who took longer than one year to conceive were more likely to have sperm issues. It could be a combination of lifestyle factors, such as nutritional and fitness factors that are passed from generation rather than simple physical hereditary factors. Visit Keithconnectsthedots to learn more.

Natural Fertility » Genetic Factors

Genetic Screening Via IVF

Is Infertility Hereditary?