Two New Studies Cite Fertility Diagnosis Benefits for
Women of Advanced Maternal Age and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2004--Lawrence B. Werlin,
a leader in fertility and reproductive medicine, recently unveiled two new fertility
studies at the annual American Society of Reproductive Medicine conference (ASRM).
Werlin's breakthrough fertility studies focused on the use of Preimplantation
Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) for women of advanced maternal age (over 38) and those
in high-risk categories.
PGD is a process whereby a single cell from an 8-cell embryo is removed and
subjected to a number of DNA probes. Using PGD, reproductive scientists can
now determine if an embryo has an abnormal chromosome count.
Werlin's presentation titled "Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
as a Beneficial Tool in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Advanced Maternal
Age" concludes that PGD is an effective means of determining embryos with
aneuploidy--a condition where an organism has extra or missing chromosomes.
PGD is a genetic testing tool that allows for the analysis and transfer of healthy
embryos back to the uterus.
The GENESIS study looks at the chromosomal make-up of an embryo
before implanting it into the uterus. Since in vitro fertilization (IVF) is
an expensive, exacting procedure, the new study provides the tool needed to
select only those embryos with the highest likelihood for success.
Werlin's second ASRM presentation, "Are Specific Types of
Aneuploidy More Common in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Preimplantation Genetic
Diagnosis?" was equally significant. His presentation described the expanded
study that reconfirmed PGD helped facilitate successful pregnancy for women
considered to be high-risk because they suffered from recurrent pregnancy loss,
and/or were over age 38. PGD helped them avoid repeated, expensive and frustrating
IVF procedures that had little likelihood of success due to latent chromosomal
imbalances.
Werlin's findings showed that approximately 75 percent of the
embryos studied in the high-risk group had two or more chromosome abnormalities.
Werlin is a leader in reproductive technology, research, and education
and patient services. He is founder and director of Coastal Fertility Medical
Center, with offices in Irvine and Aliso Viejo, Calif. He recently served as
the Western regional representative at the international medical conference,
ESHRE, in Berlin, Germany.
