Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

I guess that's the whole point of this thread, right? If they think you are asking to do PGS only because of wanting to select the sex and there are no other medical indications, it sounds like some clinics do say no to this. A separate, but related, issue is whether IF you do PGS for a true medical reason, will the clinic divulge sex of the embryos and let you choose.

OP has a medical reason for doing the testing. She is 40 (or over 40?) so presumably all 9 are not genetically normal. Transferring each embryo and hoping it will be normal would be expensive and time-consuming (not to mention emotionally draining should there be multiple miscarriages). I would think the reason to do this is to choose a genetically normal embryo at the outset. But, yes, you'd have to ask the clinic beforehand if they will disclose the sex. I would think that would be as simple as a phone call or setting up a consult with the RE.

I've been out of the IVF game for a bit now, but way back in 2013, PGS was not considered standard protocol (by my RE at least) just because you were AMA. That may have changed though. When I was in the thick of it, they did not recommend it unless you had some known genetic issues or multiple unexplained miscarriages.

I was actually annoyed at SG for not recommending this back in 2013 when doing a fresh IVF cycle at AMA ... only found out about it after the fact. Took 5 embryos before I got a BFP... with 4 frozen ones remaining, when I went back in to discuss options recently, they actually suggested PGS! And posters are correct, SG will NOT divulge sex, you can find out only after you get a positive test result. It is expensive (cost was essentially equivalent to a FET cycle), but I would have preferred to pay at outset and only transferred the ones that were chromosomally normal to begin with. Woudl have been a net savings in the end.

We transferred without PGS during our first cycle at SG. It didn't work. I am AMA and was unwilling to keep transferring without knowing whether the embryos even had a chance. Good we did PGS. We have only one normal embryo out of the remaining 6 blasts that were frozen. It would have been pointless for us to have continued without this information.

OP, RMA in New Jersey will thaw previously frozen embryos, biopsy for testing, and refreeze. You can transfer your embryos there from SG. I know someone who did it and one of the refrozen embryos is due in June.

Most clinics withhold the gender information. I know for a fact SG does, as does CCRM. That is a choice the clinic makes, and your lab will not release the information to you, but to your clinic.

As for ethics--in a country like India or China I can see this being a problem with couples selecting for boys--not so much here, and the numbers would be too small to skew the sex ratio of society--in India people are doing this via ultrasound and abortion anyway, so even there, forbidding preimplantation gender selection it would just mean less abortions, not an even ratio of girls and boys in society.

However, while I think clinics should let us do it here in the U.S., it's not something I'd be willing to fight for--I wouldn't do it myself, as hard as it's been just to get A healthy child.

In short, OP, you can do it but you'll have to transfer your embryos. I'd line up a few clinics and call to see that they allow this, then arrange for the transfer and testing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

I guess that's the whole point of this thread, right? If they think you are asking to do PGS only because of wanting to select the sex and there are no other medical indications, it sounds like some clinics do say no to this. A separate, but related, issue is whether IF you do PGS for a true medical reason, will the clinic divulge sex of the embryos and let you choose.

OP has a medical reason for doing the testing. She is 40 (or over 40?) so presumably all 9 are not genetically normal. Transferring each embryo and hoping it will be normal would be expensive and time-consuming (not to mention emotionally draining should there be multiple miscarriages). I would think the reason to do this is to choose a genetically normal embryo at the outset. But, yes, you'd have to ask the clinic beforehand if they will disclose the sex. I would think that would be as simple as a phone call or setting up a consult with the RE.

I've been out of the IVF game for a bit now, but way back in 2013, PGS was not considered standard protocol (by my RE at least) just because you were AMA. That may have changed though. When I was in the thick of it, they did not recommend it unless you had some known genetic issues or multiple unexplained miscarriages.

It hasn't changed, still experimental, and out of pocket. It's neither recommended nor discouraged when you start on IVF ( I am at SGF). When I said I'd like to do it because of AMA I was referred to the genetic counselor of the company they use for PGS. Basically, what she told me is that statistically at my age (41) 76% of embryos have abnormalities. The odds are not stacked in AMA favor. So you could try IVF to see if you get lucky, or, if you keep getting unlucky after 2+ cycles then you can get it "recommended" to you. I'd rather front load the risk management instead of potentially wasting money and precious time on non-PGS cycles. But it's a personal choice. Some people don't want to do any fetal screenings down the line - it's what's best for them.

On the gender selection issue - if it's gender balancing (you have 1 or more children of the opposite gender), from the point of view of the current medical ethics it's OK, that's why GW and CFA do it. Some other clinics choose not to do it, but not because it's out of ethics or law compliance - it 's just their choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

I guess that's the whole point of this thread, right? If they think you are asking to do PGS only because of wanting to select the sex and there are no other medical indications, it sounds like some clinics do say no to this. A separate, but related, issue is whether IF you do PGS for a true medical reason, will the clinic divulge sex of the embryos and let you choose.

OP has a medical reason for doing the testing. She is 40 (or over 40?) so presumably all 9 are not genetically normal. Transferring each embryo and hoping it will be normal would be expensive and time-consuming (not to mention emotionally draining should there be multiple miscarriages). I would think the reason to do this is to choose a genetically normal embryo at the outset. But, yes, you'd have to ask the clinic beforehand if they will disclose the sex. I would think that would be as simple as a phone call or setting up a consult with the RE.

I've been out of the IVF game for a bit now, but way back in 2013, PGS was not considered standard protocol (by my RE at least) just because you were AMA. That may have changed though. When I was in the thick of it, they did not recommend it unless you had some known genetic issues or multiple unexplained miscarriages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

I guess that's the whole point of this thread, right? If they think you are asking to do PGS only because of wanting to select the sex and there are no other medical indications, it sounds like some clinics do say no to this. A separate, but related, issue is whether IF you do PGS for a true medical reason, will the clinic divulge sex of the embryos and let you choose.

OP has a medical reason for doing the testing. She is 40 (or over 40?) so presumably all 9 are not genetically normal. Transferring each embryo and hoping it will be normal would be expensive and time-consuming (not to mention emotionally draining should there be multiple miscarriages). I would think the reason to do this is to choose a genetically normal embryo at the outset. But, yes, you'd have to ask the clinic beforehand if they will disclose the sex. I would think that would be as simple as a phone call or setting up a consult with the RE.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

I guess that's the whole point of this thread, right? If they think you are asking to do PGS only because of wanting to select the sex and there are no other medical indications, it sounds like some clinics do say no to this. A separate, but related, issue is whether IF you do PGS for a true medical reason, will the clinic divulge sex of the embryos and let you choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

SG did PGS at our request. We had concerns due to our age. However it is a service you pay(handsomely) for. If you have the embryos and you are willing to pay I don't see why anyone would refuse to do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was able to choose sex at GW. I have posted this experience before. I had multiple miscarriages and did PGS testing to attempt to have a second child. As a side benefit, I was given the opportunity to choose the sex when I had normal embryos of both sexes. No one acted like it was a big deal and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time. I have zero regret or guilt over doing this and I have not wasted one second worrying about the ethics of the matter. I went through hell and back to have my kids and this was one very small cherry on top of a massive shit pie. I don't feel bad about it in the least given my circumstances.

Good luck OP.

I should have been clear that GW did not do this just so that I could choose sex. They just did not withhold the information once the testing was completed. I don't know their position on doing PGS just to know the sex.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Of course, this wouldn't be just for the sex. This would be for a full karyotype, including gender. Did you test fresh or frozen? If frozen, did they all survive the defrost/biopsy/refreeze/defrost?

GW poster again here. I know you would test for everything and not just sex, but I think the issue may be whether this testing is viewed as medically necessary in your particular case. I genuinely don't know if GW (or other places) will do PGS just because you want to do it or if they apply some sort of standard to when they do the testing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. For the most part, I agree with most of the others here saying that OP should essentially be content with her healthy embryos and leave it at that (though I do also see the other side). But for those you of you talking about the ethical slippery slope and the repercussions in countries with infanticide problems like China and India -- do you really think enabling those parents to choose the sex of their children is ethically worse than those who ultimately kill or abandon their baby girls?

No not the same. But the point is opening the door to gender selection is opening the door to gender selection for those without infertility---which does happen--- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2601563/I-love-girls-Joe-Francis-girlfriend-IVF-pick-sex-twins.html. So once you open that door, you end up on the slippery slope of gender selection for vanity...which could easily become used in place of infanticide. And then what else do people select for?

Without denying OP's right to do this--I've posted many times above to say I am not saying OP should not, or that I might not---we have to admit these are tough ethical questions and we hope doctors proceed carefully here. And I don't think there is anything inconsistent with having infertility--a medical condition--and wanting AFT to remain medically focused.

The thing is, how do you define infertility? By nature of the ART treatment, you may end up with more than one healthy embryos. The fact that you have more than one does not negate the fact that you needed reproductive technologies to make them. You are still technically infertile without them. So even with a medical focus, there is an issue of "here's ten, choose one".