Family planning with a genetic disorder

If you or your partner carries a previously identified chromosome or genetic condition, we may be able to help you plan your family.

Prenatal diagnosis of your pregnancy, either from chorionic villus or amniotic fluid, can identify whether your baby has a chromosomal or genetic problem. Your doctor or ultrasound specialist can arrange chorionic villus or amniotic fluid sampling. You may wish to visit Sydney ultrasound for Women at www.sufw.com.au to arrange prenatal sampling.

Alternatively, you may have moral and/or ethical difficulties with terminating a pregnancy affected by a genetic disorder after prenatal diagnosis and therefore may wish to consider pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This involves creating embryos through IVF and then removing some cellular material to test, which can identify affected embryos. Non-affected embryos can then be used to establish a pregnancy. Your doctor or IVF specialist can arrange IVF and PGD. You may wish to visit Sydney IVF at www.sydneyivf.com.