Methods for Genetic Disease Prevention &
Gender Selection for Family Balancing

There are two methods currently available at the Genetics & IVF Institute for families interested in genetic disease prevention or gender selection for Family Balancing.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a form of prenatal diagnosis performed on early embryos prior to implantation in the uterus and initiation of pregnancy. Only embryos of the desired gender are returned to the uterus, which provides a nearly 100% accuracy rate if pregnancy is achieved.

MicroSort® is GIVF's exclusive preconception technology for sorting sperm to increase the likelihood of conceiving a child of a particular gender. Please note that MicroSort® is currently in clinical trial and participation in the clinical trial is limited to married couples with a documented history of gender-linked genetic disease.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Gender selection for Family Balancing can be safely accomplished using a proven scientific method called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). When PGD is used for Family Balancing, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is required in order to create embryos. From there, only embryos of the desired gender are transferred to the uterus. If pregnancy is achieved, the chances of having a child of the desired gender are nearly 100%.

The Genetics & IVF Institute is one of the few fertility clinics in the United States with an on-site PGD laboratory and pioneered many of the PGD techniques used today.  We also have experienced genetic counselors available to guide patients through the treatment process.

To learn more and to decide if gender selection for Family Balancing is right for you, contact us to schedule an appointment or receive more information.

MicroSort®*

Developed by GIVF, MicroSort® is GIVF’s exclusive preconception technology for sorting sperm to increase the likelihood of conceiving a child of a particular gender. Currently in clinical trial, participation in the clinical trial is limited to married couples with a documented history of gender-linked genetic disease.

*Please Note:  At this time, new enrollment in the clinical trial is limited to couples attempting to prevent sex-linked or sex-limited disease by using MicroSort® sorted sperm. If you are interested in genetic disease prevention using MicroSort®, click here for more information.

MicroSort®’s patented technology separates sperm into those that produce females and those that produce males. Sorted specimens enriched in male or female-producing sperm are then used for intrauterine insemination or for in-vitro fertilization. Study data so far indicate that patients who wish to have a girl are successful in conceiving a female baby 9 out of 10 times; those seeking a boy are successful approximately 3 out of 4 times.

The MicroSort® laboratory in Laguna Hills, California (MicroSort® West, LLC) is a joint venture between GIVF and the Huntington Reproductive Center (HRC). HRC is one of the largest infertility clinics in the Western United States. The MicroSort® West laboratory has the same capabilities as the MicroSort® laboratory in Fairfax, Virginia and is used primarily to serve clinical trial participants who receive their services through HRC or other collaborators on the West Coast.

IUI Option:
The majority of fertile, healthy couples use MicroSort® with intrauterine insemination (IUI). After all the necessary paperwork is completed, the couple must come to the MicroSort® Clinic in Fairfax, Virginia or Huntington Reproductive Center in Laguna Hills, California for the IUI procedure.

IUI procedures are only performed at these two facilities. Monitoring of your cycle for ovulation must occur to determine the best timing for IUI. Monitoring often can be performed using urinary ovulation prediction kits (OPK). Careful monitoring using blood hormone tests and pelvic ultrasound may be recommended to improve the timing of insemination (and pregnancy rate). Monitoring also can be completed with your local OB/GYN or local infertility physician, or directly with the Fairfax or Laguna Hills facilities.

On the scheduled day of the procedure, the husband will produce a specimen at one of our MicroSort® Laboratories (Fairfax or Laguna Hills) in the morning. The sperm then will be sorted and the woman will have an IUI performed later that same day.

IVF Option:
Option A - Virginia: The couple wants to use a MicroSort® sperm separated specimen during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) testing at the Genetics & IVF Institute (located in the same building as the MicroSort® lab in Fairfax, Virginia). If the female partner is over 39 or would otherwise not qualify for the clinical trial, sorted specimens can be used with Donor Egg IVF cycles if the egg donor is younger than 40 years of age. PGD can also be performed alone for gender selection if the couple does not qualify for participation in the MicroSort® clinical trial. Potential patients should contact GIVF to make an appointment with one of the infertility specialists.

Option B - California: The couple wants to use MicroSort® with IVF/ICSI or PGD at Huntington Reproductive Center (in the same building as the Laguna Hills, California MicroSort® lab). Potential patients should call Huntington Reproductive Center at 1-866-472-4483 to schedule an appointment.

Option C - United States and International sites: If the couple prefers to use a local collaborating infertility specialist for their IVF with ICSI cycle, please call their office directly to make a consultation appointment with that facility. MicroSort® will work with your local facility so that the semen specimen can be sorted frozen and shipped prior to the start of medication for the IVF cycle. (See using a Local Collaborating Physician)

Donor sperm with IUI or IVF Option:
Donor sperm may be utilized with MicroSort® sperm sorting if needed. Appropriately screened anonymous semen donor samples from Fairfax Cryobank (adjacent to the MicroSort® lab in Fairfax, Virginia) or Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc. (CLI) can be used. Multiple semen vials are usually required in order to obtain an adequate number of total motile sperm. The samples are thawed and the sorting then is performed. The sorted sample can be used for IUI at our Fairfax, Virginia or Laguna Hills, California sites. The sample can be refrozen and shipped for use with ICSI with MicroSort® collaborators.

*CAUTION - Investigational Device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use.