Reproductive Genetics

Reproductive genetics is a branch of science that deals with the genetic contribution to the reproductive process, both natural and assisted. Genetic factors play a huge role in infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, developmental abnormalities and cancer. Genetic screening and diagnosis provide the potential for parents to overcome those challenges and have a healthy child.

What is the use of Reproductive Genetics?

An estimated 10% of infertility issues or recurrent pregnancy loss in couples are due to genetic issues. These genetic causes can be chromosomal abnormalities, which have high incidence in women trying to conceive at an advanced reproductive age. In numerous cases, embryos with an incorrect number of chromosomes also fail to implant or miscarry during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Genetic screening tests performed on embryos created through IVF can increase pregnancy rates by up to 80%. These can either be screening tests (identifying embryos with the right number of chromosomes) or diagnostic tests (screening embryos for a particular inherited genetic disease).

Reproductive Genetics at CReATe Fertility London

CReATe Fertility London is the only clinic in Southern Ontario that has access to and support of one of Canada’s leading IVF centers and Pre-implantation Genetic Testing laboratory - CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto.

CReATe Fertility London is a partner clinic of CReATe Fertility Centre -Toronto and is the only clinic in Southern Ontario that includes genetic screening in its fertility treatment. The advanced tests include Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A), Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic or Single Gene Defects (PGT-M), Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangement (PGT-SR)

Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A)

PGT-A is an advanced genetic test performed on embryos to identify any chromosomal abnormality or aneuploidy (too few or too many chromosomes). This test is performed before the embryo(s) are transferred in the uterus. The test helps in identifying the euploid embryos (the ones with the right number of chromosomes) for selective transfer. This process helps increase the pregnancy rate and decrease miscarriage rates significantly. This test can also potentially save time and any extra costs of an additional IVF Cycle.

You should consider PGT-A if any of the given medical conditions apply to you:

Women who are at an advanced reproductive age, over 35 years, and are going through IVF
Women who have experienced repeated miscarriages
Women who have had repeated failed IVF cycles

If you are experiencing repeated miscarriages, get in touch with CReATe Fertility London, to schedule an appointment with our fertility expert.

Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic or Single Gene Defects (PGT-M)

PGT-M is a specific test to check the embryos for inheritable genetic disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia and certain types of muscular dystrophy. It helps couples who have a family history or those who have had a child affected with these disorders to have an unaffected child. This test is performed before the embryo transfer in the uterus and all the embryos are tested for monogenic disorders. Only unaffected or career embryos are transferred to have a disease-free child. This can also be combined with PGT-A to further improve success rates.

PGT-M is useful for individuals with a known genetic condition or carriers of a known genetic aberration, such as

Individuals who are affected by an autosomal dominant condition (i.e. Huntington's, Myotonic Dystrophy)
Couples or individuals who are carriers for a recessive condition (i.e. Sickle cell anemia, Cystic fibrosis)
Individuals who are carriers or are affected with X-linked conditions (i.e. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Haemophilia A)
Individuals who are carriers of mutations associated with hereditary cancer syndromes (i.e. BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome)
Individuals who are carriers of balanced chromosomal rearrangements (Robertsonian/reciprocal translocations or chromosomal inversions)
HLA matching

If you are suffering or have a family history of a genetic disorder, and are planning to start a family, get in touch with CReATe Fertility London and schedule an appointment with our fertility expert.

Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangement (PGT-SR)

PGT-SR tests the embryos formed during IVF fertilization for chromosome rearrangements. The tests analyze the structures that hold our genetic material for size and arrangement. Any embryo with an unbalanced chromosomal structure is not viable and can result in multiple miscarriages. This selective transfer of the embryos with the right chromosomal structure can increase pregnancy chances and the IVF success rate.

This test is highly recommended if both or any one of the partner is a carrier of any type of chromosomal rearrangement:

Reciprocal translocation
Robertsonian translocation
Balanced translocation
Unbalanced translocation
Inversion