Screening the Single Euploid Embryo

Intended for readers with a background in fertility medicine as well as beginners who are less familiar with IVF, this comprehensive volume presents a current picture of preimplantation genetic testing in the context of the advanced reproductive technologies, as specifically applied to enable single embryo transfer with IVF, discussing the full range of embryo testing to determine chromosomal competency during in vitro culture. An international cast of contributors explains each step of treatment, from ovulation induction to embryo transfer, with a view to place only one euploid embryo in utero. The book also includes chapters fully detailing the molecular techniques used for embryo evaluation, focusing on the strengths and limitations of each. Expert commentary is also provided on a wide range of ethical and regulatory issues associated with in vitro human embryo testing, with special emphasis on the status of the non-transferred embryo. Because single embryo transfer lowers the multiple birth and pre-term delivery rate, the traditionally high twin & triplet rates with IVF is corrected. The chapter on economic modeling persuasively depicts the inefficiency of conventional IVF, where no embryo genetic testing is done and multiple embryos are selected for transfer based on morphology only. Given the current climate of interest in healthcare reform and explorations of new ways to reduce national health expenditure, this annotated and fully illustrated volume has special relevance among economists, bioethicists and legislators alike.