Family Balancing
IHR provides effective family balancing/gender selection treatment.

Even though each pregnancy has a 50% chance to be male and a 50% chance to be female, some families have more children of one gender. Gender selection for Family balancing can help these couples have a child of the underrepresented gender in their family. IHR's expertise in gender selection lies in our willingness and ability to individualize our approach to best suit each and every one of our patients. If you have any questions as you review the material on gender selection, please contact us for a FREE Family Balancing E-Mail Consultation.

Gender Selection is being requested by our patients with increasing frequency. IHR offers two methods for gender selection, which also happen to be the two methods with the highest rates for successfully determining gender. The first is is called Sperm Gender Selection; the second is called Microsort Gender Selection.

Gender is determined by our sex chromosomes. PGD testing is different than most genetic testing, since it is done on only one or two embryonic cells and must be completed within 48 hours to allow embryo transfer by day five. Since standard chromosome analysis takes several days, a different method called fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) is performed.

Each chromosome has unique areas of DNA present only on that chromosome. A small DNA probe is used to recognize these unique patterns and fluoresce, or light up, when it attaches to the chromosome. Each probe shines light in a different color, allowing several chromosomes to be tested at the same time. This technique is called FISH.

FISH probes for X and Y are used to determine the gender of each embryo. The presence of these chromosomes are viewed simultaneously. A normal cell should show two FISH signals (or lights) for the numbered chromosome, and either two X signals for a female or one X and one Y signal for a male.

The above treatments are used in conjunction with a procedure known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD is used to genetically assess embryos prior to implantation. The genetic assessment is what makes PGD useful for Gender Selection. However this technology is also used to screen for genetic anomolies, which makes PGD invaluable to couples who may be at risk of passing on certain genetic conditions.

IHR has treatments for a variety of conditions, including gender selection, unexplained infertility, ovulatory dysfunctions, endometriosis, immunological infertility and many others. Perhaps less known is our work with individuals and couples who are considering assisted reproduction, but who are uncertain of their next step. We encourage anyone, before they make a decision, to consult with us. Currently, we are offering a FREE Family Balancing E-Mail Consultation.