Sex Selection
Preimplantation genetic testing used to determine embryo sex before transfer, offered at Mother and Child Fountain of Life Specialist Hospital, Nnewi, as part of an IVF cycle and following detailed counselling.
Sex selection is carried out through preimplantation genetic testing during an IVF cycle. A small number of cells are taken from each embryo and analysed before transfer, allowing embryo sex to be identified.
The technique has an established clinical application in avoiding sex-linked genetic conditions - disorders such as haemophilia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy that affect one sex. It is also requested by some families for reasons of family balancing.
This is an area where law, professional guidance and personal ethics differ considerably between countries, and views within Nigeria are not uniform. We ask every couple considering it to attend detailed counselling covering the clinical process, its limits, and the wider implications. Testing is performed as part of a full IVF cycle; it cannot be offered on its own, and it does not guarantee a pregnancy.
What the process involves
- Consultation and counselling - Detailed discussion of indications, process, limitations and implications.
- IVF cycle - Stimulation, egg retrieval and fertilisation as in a standard cycle.
- Embryo biopsy - A few cells are removed from each embryo at the blastocyst stage.
- Genetic analysis - Samples are analysed to determine embryo sex and, where indicated, screen for specific conditions.
- Embryo transfer - A suitable embryo is transferred.
This treatment requires consultation and counselling. Legal and ethical frameworks in this area differ between countries and continue to develop in Nigeria. We provide it only after full assessment and discussion, and we require independent legal advice where an arrangement involves a third party.
Common questions
No. The embryo must be created and biopsied in the laboratory before transfer, so a full IVF cycle is required.
Preimplantation genetic testing is highly accurate for determining embryo sex, but no laboratory test is infallible, and a cycle may not produce a suitable embryo of either sex.
No. Sex selection does not increase the likelihood of pregnancy, and testing reduces the number of embryos available for transfer.