Gender Selection IVF

Can you choose gender with IVF? This is a commonly asked question by many of our patients. We were one of the first San Francisco Bay Area fertility clinics to offer Gender Selection IVF.

IVF for Gender Selection uses Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) procedure to identify the gender of each embryo. With this method, the prospective parents will know the gender of each embryo with 100% accuracy prior to their transfer into the uterus.

The Gender Selection IVF procedure requires the creation of embryos and therefore is an extension of In Vitro Fertilization. Please see the In Vitro Fertilization procedure for the process of creating the embryos.

IVF Gender Selection Procedure
Gender Selection is a complex treatment consisting of the following steps:

1. In Vitro Fertilization to create embryos
2. Extended embryo culture to blastocyst

   By the fifth to seventh day after the egg retrieval, the embryos should reach the blastocyst stage (80 or more cells).

3. Blastocyst trophectoderm biopsy

   An embryo biopsy is performed by creating an opening in the eggshell around the embryo. It is possible to safely remove six to eight cells through this opening using a special microscope with micromanipulators. The cells are taken from the trophectoderm only (future placenta cells, genetically identical to embryonic cells). The “inner mass” cells (embryonic cells) are not removed.

    

   

    

   So far, there is no evidence that embryonic biopsy results in an increased chance of abnormalities in the baby or that the risk of birth defects is higher when compared to conceptions that occur spontaneously without medical assistance (2% to 5%).

4. Blastocyst vitrification (cryopreservation)

   Since it takes several days to carry out the embryo genetic analysis, the blastocysts are cryopreserved immediately after their biopsy and stored in liquid nitrogen in our IVF laboratory.

5. Genetic analysis of the embryonic tissue

   The genetic analysis will determine the gender of each embryo, and it also checks for many of the most common genetic conditions. We will contact you as soon as the results are available (approximately one week).

6. Liquid nitrogen storage of the cryopreserved embryos

   Vitrified embryos can be stored for extended periods of time, but most Gender Selection patients will start an embryo transfer cycle with the onset of the first menstrual period after their IVF treatment.

7. Subsequent Frozen Embryo Transfer

   When you decide to conceive with your cryopreserved embryos, you will have one or two embryos of the desired gender thawed and transferred into your uterus. A large majority of the embryos will survive the vitrification and thawing process. The implantation rate of the thawed embryos should be the same as the "fresh" embryo implantation rate.

   If you are successful, your pregnancy becomes indistinguishable from conception through intercourse, and your obstetrical care should be no different than if you conceived without any treatment.