The Use of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) to Detect and Avoid Sickle Cell Anemia at the Fertility Institutes

ATTENTION: FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER REDUCED COST ON A SICKLE CELL SCREENING AND SEX SELECTION COMBINATION CYCLE TO COUPLES WHERE BOTH PARTNERS ARE KNOWN SICKLE CELL CARRIERS OR WHO HAVE A CHILD WITH SICKLE DISEASE. THIS WILL LOWER THE COST OF THIS IMPORTANT TESTING TO APPROXIMATELY 25% LESS THAN THE STANDARD COST AND PROVIDE 99.99% GENDER SELECTION AS WELL. THIS IS A SUBSIDIZED PROCEDURE AND ITS AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED. PARTICIPATION REQUIRES STANDARD IN VITRO FERTILIZATION WHICH WE WILL ALSO OFFER AT A REDUCED FEE. THIS OFFER IS LIMITED AND HAS BEEN MET WITH MUCH INTEREST. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUINTY TO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY U.S STANDARD CARE AT GREATLY REDUCED FEES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED BEFORE. FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW OR CALL OR EMAIL US AT OUR LOS ANGELES OR NEW YORK FACILITIES. THIS OFFER NOT VALID AT OUR GUADALAJARA OFFICE AND NOT VALID UNLESS PARENTS OR CHILD ARE KNOWN SICKLE CELL PATIENTS OR CARRIERS.

THE ONLY TECHNOLOGY ABLE TO GUARANTEE A SICKLE CELL FREE BABY

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease of the red blood cells which can cause attacks of pain and damage to vital organs which can lead to premature death. The genetic basis of sickle cell inheritance has been known for many years. It is just recently however that this genetic knowledge has become useful in helping those families known to carry the sickle cell gene avoid the birth of infants affected with the sickle cell disease disorder. The sickle cell prevention PGD program at the Fertility Institutes in Los Angeles and New York approaches 100% certainty in helping couples assure that a pregnancy will not result in the birth of a baby with sickle cell disease.

The sickle cell disorder is known to occur when a person inherits two sickle cell genes (one from each parent) or a combination of one sickle cell gene from one parent and any one of several other abnormal hemoglobin genes from the other. The sickle cell disorder may be the world's most commonly inherited disorder and is clearly the most common genetic affliction seen in African infants. 1% to 2% of babies born on the African continent are afflicted with sickle cell disorder or one of its variants.

The genes for the sickle related disorders arose in the evolution of mankind as a result of gene mutation. Because of the partial protective effects of sickle genes against the dangers of falciparium malaria, these gene abnormalities proliferated in areas where there was or is a high incidence of malaria. Currently, the Bantus in African countries north of the Zambesi River have a high incidence of sickle cell disorder, with the prevalence varying but significant in all other parts of the African continent.

The inheritance of a sickle cell related disorder occurs at the moment of conception. As a human egg carrying a sickle trait is initially fertilized by a sperm carrying a similar disorder, the resulting new embryo is irreversibly imprinted with the genetic blueprint that will ultimately and inevitably appear as a sickle cell related disorder in the newborn.

This early imprinting of the embryo allows the physicians and scientists at the Fertility Institutes the opportunity to analyze the newly formed embryos in search of the genetic codes responsible for both normal and abnormal hemoglobin production, sickle cell and non sickle cell embryos. Prior to this analysis, the future mother and father will have had blood studies carried out by the Fertility Institutes to identify and characterize the nature of the sickle related genetic disorder that is carried. This information is then used to aid in the identification of both normal embryos resulting from the new fertilization as well as those embryos destined to exhibit a sickle cell related disorder. The embryos being examined remain in the safe confines of the embryo growth and development incubators at the world renown Fertility Institutes. Within a few short days of the production of the embryos, the genetic teams associated with the Fertility Institutes will have studied the embryos and identified those both disease free as well as those carrying the sickle cell related disorder. This vital genetic information is then shared by the physicians with the parents allowing parents the opportunity to avoid with near certainty the chance of a pregnancy carrying a predefined sickle related disorder.

Entering the Sickle Cell and / or Gender Selection Screening Programs at the Fertility Institutes

Those interested in utilizing the services of the Fertility Institutes may begin by simply contacting our offices. From Nigeria, the phone number is 009 1 818 728 4600. From other nations on the African continent, the International dialing code for the United States should be used followed by our 7 digit direct line of 818-728-4600. For an immediate conversation with one of our International Coordinators, please call from 9AM to 4PM Pacific time. Calls at other times will be answered and a request for a return contact telephone number will be taken and you will be called the next business day.

The Genetic Screening Program at the Fertility Institutes

The Fertility Institutes have been providing advanced genetic analysis of embryos to avoid serious genetic diseases for well over a decade. As one of the worlds largest providers of PGD genetic screening to the International community, the physicians and scientists at the Fertility Institutes have unmatched experience in coordinating, accommodating and facilitating the complex medical procedures involved in advanced genetic screening of human embryos. You could not choose a more dedicated, experienced group of physicians and scientists than those at the Fertility Institutes. Once you contact us, you will receive detailed instructions for providing our Doctors with the important details of your or your family's history with sickle cell disorder. The Doctors will request additional preliminary testing and you will be sent special kits to have your blood collected and shipped to our laboratories in the United States. In most instances, arrangements for treatment can be carried out within 30-60 days of your initial contact with us.

Financial Considerations

Total costs for PGD genetic screening for sickle cell disorders will vary slightly depending upon the nature of the genetics being studied. Average costs for the medical and genetic portions of the service provided by the Fertility Institutes approach $27,000 U.S. Travel, lodging and the medical fees to the local African center assisting in your preparation will be extra. All services are provided at both our Los Angeles and New York locations.

If you or a family member are living with a sickle cell related disorder and you have an interest in assuring a non-affected pregnancy, we invite you to contact us by phone, by email at Sickle Cell Inquiry or by filling out the following contact inquiry form. You will be contacted shortly by one of our experienced staff members. Thank you for you interest in the Sickle Related Disorders PGD Screening Program at the Fertility Institutes.

Contact Inquiry

*Required

*First Name
*Last Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip	StateAKALARAZCACOCTDCDEFLGAHIIAIDILINKSKYLAMAMDMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENHNJNMNVNYOHOKORPAPRRISCSDTNTXUTVAVIVTWAWIWVWY
Country
*Telephone
*Email
*Confirm Email
Contact Me By:	Email Telephone
Please Check All Appropriate Boxes	I have sickle cell disorder My partner has sickle cell disorder I am a sickle trait carrier My partner is a sickle trait carrier I/We have a child with sickle cell disorder I have undertaken genetic screening My partner has undertaken genetic screening
*Enter Security Code	-->
Find out more about PGD screening

Gender Selection

Procedure Fees