A good preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) service must have the back up of a successful Assisted Conception Unit (ACU). Our results for fertility patients compare favourably with the national success rates for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), see the table below.
Success rates are published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)|. The HFEA licenses us to practice a variety of assisted conception techniques.
PGD success rates Sept 2009
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Total number of PGD cycles started
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714
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Number of cycles that resulted in embryo transfer
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488(68%)
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Chance of having a baby at the start of a PGD cycle
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22%
1 in 5
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Chance of having a baby after an embryo is transferred
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32%
1 in 3
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Our success rates and cycles started compared to other centres in the UK offering PGD |(PDF 34Kb).
Please note: not all couples that start a PGD cycle end up having suitable embryos for transfer. Therefore the further a couple progresses through a cycle the better the chance of having a baby.
We continually aim to improve our success rates through research and regular review of our service. However, we also feel that it is important to be honest and realistic and we acknowledge that sadly, we will not be able to achieve a pregnancy for many couples that undergo treatment with us. Whatever the outcome, we hope that the experience will be a positive one and we will try to give you as much support as possible both during and after your treatment.
Factors that affect the success rate of PGD
The most important factor that can affect the success rate of PGD is a woman's age. The chances of success decrease with age, especially over 39. See other factors that can affect the success of PGD|.
Chances of having a baby following PGD
Overall, the chance of a couple having a baby born following treatment is around 20% per cycle (one in five). Your chances increase if you progress successfully through each step of the treatment process. Your chances of a clinical pregnancy (pregnancy with a heartbeat seen on ultrasound scan) are:
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one in five, when you start a cycle
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one in three, if you have embryo(s) replaced.
Babies born between 1997 and September 2009
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Singletons
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122
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Twins
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67
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Triplets
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12
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Total
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201
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Transferring an embryo
Starting a treatment cycle is no guarantee that there will be suitable embryos to transfer. Sometimes we may be left with no embryos to transfer for one or more of several reasons:
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there may not be many eggs to collect;
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some eggs may not have fertilised;
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all embryos may have been affected;
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some embryos may not have survived the biopsy procedure.
If you have a positive pregnancy test, there is still a risk that you can miscarry (30%) or have an ectopic pregnancy (2%). Understandably, this can be disappointing and upsetting. As many couples requesting PGD are normally fertile, this may be one of the most difficult aspects of the treatment.
Factors that affect the chances of successfully becoming pregnant
There are four major factors that can affect your chances of a successful pregnancy: your weight, whether you smoke, how much you drink and your folic acid intake. See our FAQs page |for more information.
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