MicroSort® Gender Selection
Technology
Separates the Boys from the Girls*
Daniel A. Potter, MD, FACOG
Board Certified, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Huntington
Reproductive Center
23961 Calle
de la Magdalena Suite 503,
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 472-9446 & (866) HRC-4IVF (472-4483)
(949) 472-9023 Fax
Microsort can help many couples who would desperately like to have a child of
one gender or the other. Perhaps a couple has one or
more children of one gender already and would like to
have another child --- but would only consider doing
so if the 50/50 odds could be shifted in favor of the
other gender. Or, perhaps a couple already seeking infertility treatment has one  child, and would prefer that the next
child is the other gender if possible. Yet another couple
may want to avoid passing a gender-linked genetic disease
to their child. (Our PGD Web site contains detailed information on gender selection using PGD.) Microsort has been shown to successfully increase the incidence of birth of the selected gender.
Microsort investigation began in the early 1990's by the
Huntington Reproductive Center, in partnership with
the Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax. These clinics are investigating Microsort as part of an ongoing FDA clinical trial. If a scientifically
proven method of gender selection existed, most of the
individuals described above would consider using it.
Microsort
technology is only available at these two locations.
However, other participating reproductive endocrinologists
can send sperm for Microsort gender selection to either Genetics and IVF or Huntington
Reproductive for processing. Preimplantation
genetic diagnosis, PGD, is the only other method
of gender selection with documented efficacy. (Please visit our PGD Web site for a detailed discussion of gender selection using PGD.)
When a sperm
with a Y chromosome fertilizes an egg, it makes a boy.
When an X chromosome bearing sperm fertilizes, it makes
a girl. Any given sperm sample contains an even (50/50)
amount of X (female) and Y (male) bearing sperm. MicroSort
uses a machine called a flow cytometer to sort sperm
such that the sorted sperm population is enriched in
either X (female) or Y (male) bearing sperm. Once the
sperm has been sorted using Microsort for gender
selection, it can be used in assisted reproductive
techniques to achieve a pregnancy. Since Microsort is in
a clinical trial, patients must be fully informed of
the potential risks and benefits.
How Does Microsort® Gender
Selection Technology Work?
Microsort separation of male and female sperm is based on the measurable difference in the
quantity of genetic material (DNA) they contain. The sperm absorbs a dye, which
attaches temporarily to the DNA, or genetic material, inside the individual sperm. When
exposed to laser light, the dye fluoresces. Since the X chromosome is larger than the Y,
there is more DNA for the dye to attach to and, consequently, the sperm with the X
chromosomes will fluoresce more brightly than those with Y chromosomes. The flow
cytometer is able to pick up these differences in brightness and separate the sperm as
they move through the machine one at a time.
Currently, MicroSort sperm sorting technology improves the chance of a female
pregnancy to 89.5%.
How Does a Couple Use the Microsort sorted Sperm to Become Pregnant?
Microsort sorted sperm obtained after the gender
selection technique is most commonly used with intrauterine insemination
(IUI). The woman is monitored carefully to establish
the time of ovulation. Some of this monitoring can occur
with her local physician and/or the use of ovulation
predictor kits. Insemination is performed very close
to the time of ovulation. On the day of ovulation the
husband produces a sperm sample, the sperm are sorted
for the desired gender, and the insemination with the
sorted sperm occurs later that same day.
For patients who need
additional assistance achieving pregnancy, sorted sperm
can be used with
IVF. Sperm can be sent frozen, then sorted and returned
to a local IVF center, allowing the couple to have IVF
close to home. Please refer to the MicroSort® Web
site www.microsort.com
for a full listing of physicians (collaborators) participating
as part of the clinical trial.
MicroSort
gender selection technology has accomplished more than
350 pregnancies. Based on the data so far, the likelihood
of having a normal, healthy baby is not different from
that of the general population.
Links to Additional Microsort
Information
*Caution:
This procedure uses an investigational device. Limited
by federal law to investigational use. |
