Polar Body Diagnostics (PBD)

Genetic screening in our fertility clinics

Polar Body Diagnostics is an investigation into the genetic material of the female egg cells. In particular, this helps women who suffer from recurrent miscarriages very early on in the pregnancy for no definite reason.

Similar to the Pre-implantation Diagnostics (PID), the Polar Body Diagnostics can identify (with high probability) problems with chromosomes and highlight specific hereditary diseases. This way the "best quality" eggs are detected and embryos with higher implantation chances are generated from these eggs.

Polar body diagnostics in Austria - the legal framework

The major advantage of Polar Body Diagnostics is that no cells from the embryo are needed for the examination, which is why it is permitted without restriction under the Reproductive Medicine Act in Austria. This procedure can detect serious chromosomal damage based on the position and form of the pronuclei. The main difference between pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and polar body diagnosis (PBD) lies in the timing of the examination. In PGD, embryos obtained by ICSI that have developed into a blastocyst after 5 days are examined.

Due to embryo protection laws, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is only permitted to a limited extent in some countries (for example, in Germany). Polar body diagnostics are carried out in the short time window between fertilisation of the egg and the fusion of the two cell nuclei. Fertilisation is then not yet complete. Thus, PBD is considered "prefertilisation diagnostics" and is therefore permitted in countries that prohibit PGD.

When are polar body diagnostics useful?

As a woman gets older, the number of chromosomal distribution disorders in eggs increases. PBD can therefore help to reduce the risk of miscarriage or maternal chromosomal maldistribution disorders prior to artificial insemination. In addition to frequently occurring maldistributions, there are other genetic abnormalities, such as monogenetic diseases or so-called translocations. These can also be examined with PBD after individual consultation.

The aim of polar body diagnostics is to detect chromosomal abnormalities at an early stage in order to select only the most suitable eggs for artificial insemination. Therefore, this examination is particularly recommended for patients with an increased risk of developmental disorders in the embryo:

• Women over 35 - 38 years of age

• Patients who have had several unsuccessful embryo transfers

• Women with repeated miscarriages

The PBD Procedure

In PBD, a small hole is made in the egg membrane with the help of a micro-laser. The polar bodies are then removed with a micropipette and genetically tested in the laboratory.

Costs

The costs for polar body diagnostics can only be determined individually, as they depend on how many eggs are examined. The experienced doctors at our fertility clinics will advise you on the basis of your situation whether PBD makes sense in your case.

Contact one of our clinics now - we look forward to hearing from you!