Being a mother at 40. Genetic study before IVF

Search economic and job stability leads to delay motherhood, so it is increasingly common for women having their first child over 30 years. In addition, there is a false perception of the fertile period of women. Fertility decreases with increasing age, due to a reduction in the quantity and quality of oocytes. For these reasons, the age of women who consult centers of assisted reproduction is increasing.

Despite the advances in techniques, pregnancy rates achieved with IVF in women aged 40 are low because fewer embryos are obtained, lower quality and higher incidence of aneuploidy (abnormal number of chromosomes). The Preimplantation Genetic Screening (GSP) to detect such aneuploidy in embryos and selecting the right embryo for transfer to the womb.

The technique allows the study CGHarray the 24 chromosomes of the embryo. The use of this technique in older patients seems to increase pregnancy rates and reducing of abortion by allowing select the embryo without aneuploidy. But keep in mind that this screening can not "cure" the embryo; that is, if you have altered chromosomes can not be repaired, so if all embryos the couple are affected, the couple will not have any embryos to transfer.

Despite the progress, it is essential to know that the success of these techniques is reduced with age, increasing the number of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities. We must educate gynecologists and primary care physicians to inform their patients seeking pregnancy at an early age and not delay go to specialized centers to help them achieve their dream of parenthood.