What is Family Balancing?

Family balancing is gender selection that can be accomplished by preimplantation genetic diagnosis and/or MicroSort® sperm separation.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is available on-site at Genetics & IVF Institute, which has one of the world’s largest and most experienced PGD laboratories. PGD is a form of prenatal diagnosis performed on early embryos prior to implantation in the uterus and initiation of pregnancy. When using PGD, only embryos of the desired gender are returned to the uterus, giving a nearly 100% accuracy rate.  PGD can be used to prevent disease and for family-balancing.

MicroSort®

Developed by GIVF, MicroSort® is GIVF’s exclusive preconception technology for sorting sperm to increase the likelihood of conceiving a child of a particular gender. MicroSort® may be of particular  interest to patients with a family history of gender-linked genetic disease. Currently in clinical trial, MicroSort® is available only to patients who meet the requirements for clinical trial participation.  MicroSort®’s patented technology separates sperm into those that produce females and those that produce males. Sorted specimens enriched in male or female-producing sperm are then used for intrauterine insemination or for in-vitro fertilization. Study data so far indicate that patients who wish to have a girl are successful in conceiving a female baby 9 out of 10 times; those seeking a boy are successful approximately 3 out of 4 times.

Participation in the clinical trial is limited to married couples with a documented history of gender-linked disease or to those who meet the criteria for MicroSort®’s family balancing component.

The MicroSort® laboratory in Laguna Hills, California (MicroSort® West, LLC) is a joint venture between GIVF and the Huntington Reproductive Center (HRC). HRC is one of the largest infertility clinics in the Western United States. The MicroSort®-West laboratory has all of the same capabilities as the MicroSort® laboratory in Fairfax, Virginia and is used primarily to serve clinical trial participants who receive their services through HRC or other collaborators on the West Coast. Learn more about the MicroSort® family balancing policy.

(Caution: This process uses an investigational device. Limited by federal law to investigational use.)

Learn more about Methods for Family Balancing.