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Gene Matching

Gene matching is the process that compares the genes of the prospective mother with those of the sperm donor that was chosen, in order to determine whether they carry mutations in the same genes.

This procedure applies both in cases where donor oocytes are used as well as in cases where the prospective mother’s oocytes are used, in order to ensure that they are not carriers of the same recessive mutations before conception.

As a result, the risk of the future child inheriting genetic diseases is minimized.

Details of the procedure

The recipient undergoes genetic testing, in which hundreds of genes are analyzed for recessive diseases (e.g., thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, etc.). The test shows whether the recipient is a carrier of a disease (she does not have the disease herself, but can transmit it). The same analysis is performed for the donor, and then the genetic profile of the recipient is compared with that of the donor.

  • If both are carriers of the same disease, the combination is rejected because there is a 25% chance that the child will develop the disease.
  • If only one is a carrier, the combination is considered acceptable.

The Gene Matching service can also be used to compare genetic material with that of the egg donor or between the two partners in cases of both natural conception and IVF.

The benefits of genetic matching

What are the benefits for recipients (or couples)?

    • The risk of the child having a genetic disease is reduced.

 

    • Donor selection is specific for the recipient based on her genetic profile.

 

Screening for more than 300 diseases, including Phenylketonuria, Leiden thrombophilia (factor V), G6PD deficiency (hemolytic anemia), Tay–Sachs disease, X-linked intellectual disability, X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, and many others.

Does genetic matching completely rule out the possibility of the child having a disease?
Genetic testing can reduce the risk of a child developing a hereditary disease, but it cannot eliminate it completely. Although compatibility testing is performed between the recipient and the donor for known recessive genetic diseases, it is not possible to identify all possible mutations. There are genes that are not tested and mutations that may be unknown or occur randomly, so there will always be a small percentage of risk.

Do you already know that you are a carrier of a single gene disorder?

Single gene matching is available for you.

If you know that family members of yours have certain genetic diseases or that you yourself are a carrier of one and you want to reduce the chance of your child inheriting it, you can have a compatibility test with a donor.

In order to find a donor who is genetically compatible with you, you must first check the diseases for which you are a carrier. Based on this report, matching is done with donors who do not carry the same genes, in order to reduce the risk of transmission.

The solution of Single Gene Matching is also for you if you already know you’re a carrier of a recessive genetic disease and want to make sure your partner isn’t a carrier of a mutation in the same gene.