Did anyone see this? Fascinating new series about TTC with assistance. Last nights programme focused on the procedure PGD which is a type of IVF that allows embryos to be screened for chromosomal abnormalities. It followed 3 couples:
Couple A had a healthy four year old, but when their second child was born they found out they both carried a very rare gene that resulted in their baby girl suffering from Gauchers disease. (Fat cells grow on the brain and other organs, and the child will not live past two years of age, and will suffer for most of their short life.) They lost their little girl at 7 months, and were devasted. They had a one in four chance of any other child they conceived having this disease, and suffering in this way. They chose to go through IVF and have their embryos screened for the abnormal gene using PGD. They were sucessful first time around and she gave birth to a baby boy.
Couple B were not so lucky. They had a severely disabled 4 year old girl who had quite a poor quality of life. The abnormal gene was on the father's side, and they had already been through the PGD journey twice, and had decided this was their last try as it was consuming them. It showed her reading her pregnancy result, and the devastation they were feeling. They had such dignity....it was very moving.
Couple C were in a totally different league. Picture this: High maintenance woman in early forties....(you know the type, tanned, extensioned, nails like a cat). Extremely wealthy, has it all, including 4 healthy boys (18,17,2 &1), and a dosey husband who has never said the word "No" to her in her life. But God love her, there is a void in her life. She wants a girl, a mini-me, someone she can barbie-fy to within an inch of their life. It is illegal to use PGD for gender selection in the UK, but not in Cypress, so off they trot and spend 9,000 pounds sterling on trying to conceive a girl. They failed, but think they will try again.
As someone who has a sibling with Down's Syndrome, I was always against what the media portray as "Designer Babies", but as Robert Winston,who pioneered the PGD treatment pointed out last night, these are not designer babies. They are screened for only one very rare abnormality, and have as much chance of having any other illness (Spina Bifida, Downs Syndrome) as any other developing baby.
Sorry for length, but this programme was so interesting!
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