Sex Selection for Embryo Adoption

Although the application of the technology for family balancing is available, there are several circumstances, especially when avoiding X-linked genetic defects that would require sex selection and/or CCS to ensure a healthy pregnancy, birth, and child. The following are notable circumstances in which using the advanced technology could prove extremely useful.  Adrenoleukodystrophy, Alport syndrome, Androgen insensitivity syndrome, Barth syndrome, Blue cone monochromacy, Centronuclear myopathy, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMTX2-3), Coffin–Lowry syndrome, Fabry disease, Hunter's Syndrome, Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia,, Kabuki syndrome;, Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Lowe Syndrome, Menkes disease, Nasodigitoacoustic syndrome, brachydactyly of the distal phalanges, Nonsyndromic deafness, X-linked nonsyndromic deafness, Norrie disease, Occipital horn syndrome, Ocular albinism, Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, Siderius X-linked mental retardation syndrome, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, Spinal muscular atrophy, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, X-linked sideroblastic anemia, X-linked mental retardation. Please, find a list of X-linked recessive disorders that we can test for and treat to avoid the birth of an affected child.

Controlled sex selection for family balancing gives parents more control of the composition of their family and simultaneously avoids the potential adversities (like a skewed sex ratio in society) caused by the unrestricted application of sex selection. However, the application should not jeopardize other generally accepted moral principles, like the principle of justice (as expressed in the equality of the sexes) and the principle of respect for the autonomy of the future person. Moreover, the parents do not choose the sex of a future child but a future child of the other sex.

Similar to the decision‐making concerning other matters in reproduction, the decision about the technique to be used should be discussed between fertility specialist and patient. The preference for a specific method will be influenced by the reproductive history of the patient. Depending on a number of characteristics such as age of the mother, desired family size and strength of the desire for the other sex, patients may opt for a more reliable method rather than for a less reliable but cheaper and less invasive method. The technique should be safe and performed according to the rules of good clinical practice. The application should be supported by clinical counseling to inform the parents of the different aspects of the treatment. This implies, for PGS, a thorough discussion of all possible scenarios including the possibility of not having embryos of the desired sex, not getting pregnant and misdiagnosis. The need to rely on PGS for non‐medical sexing will decrease if other methods reach a comparable level of reliability without the costs and efforts connected to this method.

If you are interested in Embryo Adoption, please feel free to contact us by calling (615) 321-8866.