More couples using “Embryo Screening” for family balancing and to prevent genetic diseases

Pre-implantation genetic screening and diagnosis during IVF treatment is the key to a number of fertility-related concerns, say Bourn Hall Fertility Centre doctors

The Centre has recorded 53 percent increase in the number of family balancing cases, compared to last year

Dubai, UAE, September 28, 2016:  An increasing number of couples in the UAE who are undergoing In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) want their embryos screened for both gender selection and to prevent genetic diseases, say doctors at Bourn Hall Fertility Centre, Dubai, which has seen 53 percent increase in the number of family balancing cases, compared to last year. Family balancing through assisted reproductive techniques has led many parents to complete their families, courtesy Pre-genetic implantation screening (PGS), a technique that not only ensures that embryo will be free of most genetic diseases and disorders, but also gives parents the luxury of choosing the gender of the baby.

Commenting on the rising trend of gender selection in the UAE, Dr Carol Coughlan, Specialist in Reproductive Medicine at Bourn Hall Fertility Centre, Dubai, said: “Over a short few years, gender selection has become quite popular among couples. It’s only natural that parents want children of both sexes, and when this procedure is on offer, people like to avail it. At Bourn Hall Fertility Centre, Dubai, we’ve found that the trend is more popular among the local population, even though a sizeable number of expats also request gender selection, particularly in their second or third pregnancies”.

Amin Neghabat, Group CEO for Bourn Hall International added: “While the PGS and PGD –Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis – procedures are an added expense to IVF, we are seeing a number of organisations in the UAE that cover the cost, making it easier for most couples to opt for them. In Abu Dhabi, for example, among 2000 cycles, 80 to 90 percent of couples ask for gender selection, possibly because we have a convenience, such as Daman Insurance, which gives a 100% financial reimbursement for assisted reproductive techniques. As more such offers come up, we can safely claim that more people will opt for screening, both for the sake of choosing the sex of their baby, as well to ensure that they are free of any numerical chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy)”.  

PGS is also particularly effective for couples who share the same family medical background, have suffered recurrent pregnancy loss, implantation failures, unexplained infertility, or if the women are of advanced age. Pre-implantation genetic screening facilitates the transfer of chromosomally normal embryos, and significantly improves the success rate of IVF. Through proper screening via PGS or PGD, couples can ensure that the embryo is free of any ‘medically faulty’ gene, which either of the parents may possess. 

Bourn Hall Fertility Centre, the Dubai arm of Bourn Hall, UK, is the only stand-alone fertility centre in the Middle East to receive the Gold Seal of Approval from JCI International, reflecting its commitment to world-class fertility care and in-depth experience. It specialises in providing solutions related to fertility and is a focal point for a number of couples seeking treatment. The Centre has also been instrumental is raising awareness regarding fertility issues among the UAE population.