Embryo testing reduces IVF miscarriages

For women who have had recurrent miscarriages, in vitro fertilization followed by genetic testing of embryos before they're implanted reduces the risk of pregnancy loss. Most early pregnancy losses show chromosomal abnormalities, so transfer of only embryos with normal chromosomes should reduce the chances of miscarriage. Researchers from Reprogenetics, in Hoboken, New Jersey, studied the benefits of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in 58 women who had had several previous miscarriages. Thirty-seven of the women were 35 years or older. It was found that the observed loss rate after PGD was 17 percent compared with an expected loss rate of 36 percent. In the older age group, the loss rate was 12 percent, compared with 44 percent expected. For women younger than 35 years of age, PGD didn't affect the miscarriage rate significantly. The above findings indicate that PGD can be recommended for patients who are 35 years and older with a history of recurrent miscarriage with no clear cause. However, further research is required to identify the set of patients most likely to benefit from PGD.