Polar Body Biopsy or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGD)

To increase the chances of your infertility treatment you have the choice of arranging a polar body biopsy. With the help of this technique, embryos can be screened genetically.

General Information:
During maturation of the egg cell, the former homologous chromosomes are separated. One set of chromosomes stays in the egg cell and the other set of chromosomes is pulled out of the egg cell with the first polar body. The second phase starts after successful fertilisation and concludes in the splitting of the chromatides of a chromosome. One set of chromosomes again stays in the egg cell, the second set is pulled out of the egg cell with the second polar body. The polar bodies have no known function except to assist in cell division. During these two phases a translocation of the chromosomes can take place. Most of the chromosome translocations occur during the first phase of maturation (about 80%). The first polar body is extracted shortly after the egg cell is injected with the partner`s sperm cell. The second polar body is extracted the next morning (if possible). A small opening is made in the egg cell`s outer membrane (zona pellucida) with the help of a laser beam, and the polar body is extracted with a micropipette (see pictures above).