PGD facts and figures

Abstract

The first live birth after PGD Centre at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Hospital was in 1998 to avoid spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test. The programme has progressively grown over time and in 2012 undertook over 220 cycles per annum making it one of the most active PGD centres in Europe. Single-gene disorders represent 60 % of the current indications for PGD, with three quarters of cycles started reaching embryo transfer. About 40 % of PGD embryo transfers will result in a clinical pregnancy. Female age and ovarian reserve are strong predictors of PGD success. Single blastocyst transfer and cryopreservation of surplus blastocyst(s) is an effective strategy to reduce the multiple pregnancy rate in a PGD programme.