IVF and Gender Selection: Worldwide IVF is used as technique that most couples use who are facing difficulties to conceive, about 2-5% of people are opting for IVF in developed counties. In many countries PGT (pre-implantation genetic testing) method is used to determine the gender and genetic disorders prevalent in a particular gender. Even though PGT is not a compulsory part of IVF specially in India it is not possible to determine the sex of the embryo as it’s strictly against the law. Let’s try to understand the science behind this.
Table of Contents
What is meant by sex selection by IVF?
It’s a method in which to be parents choose the sex of the child that can be either a girl (with XX chromosomes) or a boy (with XY chromosomes), this can be done by checking the embryos obtained with the help of IVF technique before inserting it into mother’s uterus.
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What is preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)?
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a test that can help with the identification of a particular sex of embryos before going for implantation process into the mother’s uterus. PGT aims to determine the embryos with genetic disorders particular to a specific sex. In this a cell is removed from the outer layer of embryo without causing any harm to it and tested for chromosomes by doing a biopsy. It has been found in research that out of the methods of sex selection 41% people prefer PGT.
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How does PGS/ PGD/ PST-A works?
Single gene disorders are tested in this process before the implantation of embryo into the mother’s uterus to determine genetic disorders. It checks embryo that all 46 chromosomes are well and fine with 22 chromosomes from each parent. As this test can us the sex of the child as it can configure the chromosomes in the embryos. Some common disorders that can be determined through PGS are Down syndrome, Edward syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome etc. and by PGD are cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Spinal muscular atrophy etc.
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What is the success rate of PGS/ PGD/ PST-A?
The success rate of these methods is 100%, accuracy level is way too high that it can help individuals to bring a heathy baby into this world. There are many techniques performed for sex determination, even sperm spinning in which sperms are divided in 2 categories i.e., X and Y chromosomes. This is the only method that provides 100% results as in this IVF is used with PGS/PST-A.
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What are the laws in India against sex determination through IVF?
There are very strict laws against gender selection in India as Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 strictly bans any type of technique either be ultrasound, IVF and some other ways that can determine the sex of the embryo. Government has put penalties for the bleaching of the law as well. This law was made looking at the Indian dynamics in terms of gender ratio and societal perspective towards the birth of a child with a particular sex.
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What can be reasons for sex selection?
For doctors. it can be checking for genetic disorders based on family history, for birth of a healthy baby. For parents, it can be the bias towards a particular sex because of family dynamics, as they might have a child of a particular sex amd and wants another for family balancing. In case of India, it’s societal pressure as well towards having a male child.
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What one needs to keep in mind before going for it?
In India, as it’s illegal to use sex determination methods, so even asking about it to the doctors is a crime. It should only be considered for medical reasons. People should use it illegally for their own biases towards a particular gender.
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What can be done with unused embryos?
In IVF women is given a certain injection because of which she produces multiple eggs and instead of 2. These eggs get fertilized with sperm to form embryos in IVF, these extra embryos can either be freeze for future use, as someone wants to have a baby later as well. If not freeze these embryos lose its life and get discarded.
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Is sex determination ethically any ways, correct?
In India, when we connect to people, especially women, their condition a lot depends whether they do have a child or not and of which sex. This societal pressure makes parents takes such biased discissions which are ethically wrong. People are passing on their trauma from generation to another of what they have faced earlier. Government is strictly against such basis and hence strict laws have been made. These biases are ethically incorrect and against the nature.
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A note from kamarth – IVF and Gender Selection
If technology is providing an option to choose any particular sex, it should be used only for the purpose of medication and for a healthy life form to born. The usage of IVF should not be done for any unethical reasons else it can lead to violation of law and strict penalty. Those who wish to use this technology for genuine medical purposes should consult their doctors as in India this technique is very limited.
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Some Additional Doubts
Question: What is difference between sex and gender?
Answer: Sex is something that is assigned at the time of birth because of genetics and gender is something that an individual can identify themselves as.
Question: Does success of PGT insures heathy child of either of the sex?
Answer: PGT just assures the sex and genital disorders that the embryo might have but that does not guarantee a successful IVF as that depends on several other factors.
Question: Can other traits can also be chosen along with the sex?
Answer: PGT is used for certain genetic conditions and choosing any other traits like, eyes, nose, height apart from it unethical and illegal. Selecting for non-medical traits (like eye colour or height) is typically restricted and may be considered unethical in many regions.
Question: What is the common sex amongst IVF babies?
Answer: IVF babies are generally males. It has been found that embryos of female babies do have lesser rate of survival than that of male.
Question: Is there any risk to the baby because of PGT?
Answer: Generally, the cell is taken from from the outer layer of embryo for testing and it’s considered to be safe but as it’s medical process there might be some risks attached to it, not all embryos can be chosen for PGT.
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Reference Links
https://www.pfcla.com/blog/ivf-gender-selection-how-does-it-work
https://sundayguardianlive.com/lifestyle/2327-contemporary-indian-society-still-favours-male-chil
https://www.eurocareivf.com/faq/gender-selection-faqs/how-successful-is-gender-selection/
https://dallasivf.com/fertility-treatments/ivf/sex-selection/#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20process%20of,past%20term%20of%20gender%20selection
Gender Selection With IVF: What To Know (health.com)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10504547/#:~:text=Recent%20US%20national%20data%20indicate,every%20100%20females%20(4)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028204031206
https://www.drpadmajaivf.com/blog/can-ivf-be-used-for-gender-selection-and-is-it-ethical/
https://smgwomenshealth.sg/news-articles/is-it-possible-to-choose-the-gender-of-an-ivf-baby/