Upstate New York's First Genetically Selected Baby Born

Dr. Robert J. Kiltz, director of CNY Fertility Center, announces the birth of Upstate New York's first baby born after the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). A healthy baby girl was born early in June of 2004.

PGD is a technology used to screen embryos created from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for genetic diseases, before they are transferred back to the female's uterus.  PGD is used to screen embryos for single gene defects such as Tay-Sachs, Huntington Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis. It can also test embryos for chromosomal disorders such as Down's Syndrome and for X-linked diseases like Hemophilia. PGD may also be used for women who suffer recurrent pregnancy loss from chromosomal abnormalities and advanced maternal age. Screening and transferring only unaffected embryos helps to alleviate the decision to terminate a pregnancy due to a genetic defect.

"We used PGD to screen for Cystic Fibrosis in this couple's embryos. The parents are both carriers for Cystic Fibrosis. Carriers are not affected by the disease, however their resulting offspring run a risky 25% chance that they will have Cystic Fibrosis," explains Dr. Kiltz.

Embryos are created from a couple's sperm and eggs in the laboratory. They are cultured for three days while they grow to become an eight-celled embryo. Each embryo then undergoes a biopsy of one cell, which is stained, processed, and analyzed for genetic information. The embryo generally survives the biopsy because the cells are in constant division, and have not differentiated yet. The laboratory can then tell which embryos are unaffected by the disease for which they're being screened. Only those unaffected embryos are transferred back to the uterus in hopes of creating a pregnancy.

"We are excited to offer couples in Upstate New York the newest technology available," says Dr. Kiltz. "It allows us to help create healthy babies for couples that may or may not be infertile, but have an increased risk that their offspring would otherwise suffer from a genetic disease."

Dr. Kiltz is a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist with fourteen years of experience in infertility. He established Central New York's first advanced comprehensive fertility center in 1997. We offer In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Assisted Hatching (AH) Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), Ovulation Induction, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Semen Analysis, Semen Freezing, Egg Donation Program. CNY Fertility Center holds a NY State Tissue Bank License and is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART).

The mission at CNY Fertility Center is to provide comprehensive reproductive services in a compassionate, honest and friendly environment. For more information on PGD or any fertility services, contact CNY Fertility Center at 1.800.539.9870, 315.469.8700, or visit www.cnyfertility.com.