PGDlab : For Physicians : What is PGD : Q & A

X-linked diseases are carried by women, but generally appear only in males. Women have two X chromosomes and can carry a mutation on one X chromosome that can be passed on to their children. Half of their sons will inherit the mutation and be affected with the disease. Half of their daughters will inherit the mutation and thus be carriers like their mother. Carrier females have no clinical symptoms for most, but not all, X-linked genetic diseases. Since only boys are affected for most X-linked genetic diseases, couples can elect PGD for gender determination to have a female, thus reducing the chance of having a child with an X-linked genetic condition.

I want learn more about PGD for gender selection.

Please click on another question for more information.

• Is your patient a woman over 35?
• Has your patient experienced several miscarriages?
• Has your patient had a prior pregnancy with a chromosome abnormality?
• Has your patient experienced several failed IVF cycles?
• Has conceiving a pregnancy been difficult for your patient due to a low sperm count?
• Does your patient or patient's partner carry a balanced structural chromosome rearrangement?
• Does your patient have a family history of Huntington disease?
• Does your patient or patient's partner carry a recessive genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis?
• Does your patient or patient's partner carry an X-linked genetic disease such as hemophilia or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
• Does your patient want to balance the gender in your family?

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