GENESIS Network for Reproductive Health Awarded Grant to Study Use of PGD in Lowering Multiple Birth Rates in the United States

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2004

Study Designed to Offer Women New Data for Increased Chances for Pregnancy Success Without Associated Health and Financial Risks of Multiple Births

The GENESIS Network for Reproductive Health, an independent group of nationally noted fertility specialists, received a grant to study the role that Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) combined with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) plays in reducing multiple births.

Dr. Lawrence Werlin, the study's principal investigator and co-founder of GENESIS, announced the grant entitled "Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis as a Tool to Lower Multifetal Pregnancy Rates."

The study responds to research indicating that multiple births in the United States are alarmingly high with a noted increase of 59 percent in the last two decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an estimated two-thirds of triplet or higher births are the result of fertility-enhancing therapies. Research also indicates that the trend and rate increase will continue.

PGD is a therapeutic and genetic testing tool that aids in the IVF process by screening for abnormal chromosomes or genetic defects in embryos. A recent GENESIS study concluded that PGD combined with IVF can positively increase chances for pregnancy success for women in high-risk categories.

"We are speculating that PGD may be the antidote to minimizing IVF multiple births," Dr. Werlin said. "By using PGD to screen for the healthiest embryos, we intend to show that transferring two or less embryos to a woman can equally achieve pregnancy success while lowering the rate of multiple births."

According to Dr. Werlin, the study will also evaluate current data that suggests that limiting the number of embryos transferred in IVF can significantly reduce maternal and infant health risks associated with multiple births. The data collected and analyzed may also lead to other advances in reproductive medicine such as an increase in insurance coverage for fertility treatments.

Dr. Werlin is a leader in reproductive technology, research, education, and patient services and co-founder of GENESIS Network for Reproductive Health, a team of nationally noted fertility specialists. He is also director of Coastal Fertility Medical Center in Irvine.