Contents
Why I chose the preimplantation diagnosis (PGD)
I have a rare genetic disease, neurofibromatose. I have the lightest form which is manifested by spots, and benign tumors on the body. I always knew it would be hard to have a baby. The characteristic of this pathology, is, that I can transmit it to my baby when pregnant and that we cannot know at what stage he will contract it. However, it is a disease which can be very serious and very disabling. It was out of the question for me to take this risk, and ruin the life of my future child.
DPI: my journey to the other end of France
When it came time to have a baby, I inquired about the preimplantation diagnosis. I met a geneticist in Marseille who put me in touch with a center in Strasbourg. There are only four in France who practice DPI, and it was in Strasbourg that they knew best about my illness. So we crossed France with my husband and met specialists to learn more about this technique. It was early 2010.
The first gynecologist who received us was frankly odiousdry and pessimistic. I was extremely shocked at his attitude. It was hard enough to start this process, so if the medical staff put a strain on us on top of that, we weren’t going to get there. We were then able to meet Professor Viville, he was very attentive. He immediately warned us, telling us that we had to be prepared for this to fail. The chances of success are very slim. The psychologist with whom we spoke afterwards also made us aware of this possibility. All of this didn’t mar our resolve, we wanted this baby. The steps to make a preimplantation diagnosis are long. I withdrew a file in 2007. Several commissions examined it. The experts had to recognize that the severity of my disease justifies that I can resort to PGD.
DPI: implementation process
Once our application was accepted, we went through a whole bunch of long and demanding exams. The big day has arrived. I was made a ovarian puncture. It was very painful. I returned to the hospital the following Monday and received theimplantation. Out of the four follicles, there was only one healthy. Two weeks later, I took a pregnancy test, I was pregnant. When I realized, an immense joy immediately invaded me. It was indescribable. It had worked! On the first try, which is very rare, my doctor even told me: “You are extremely infertile but enormously fertile”.
Ma pregnancy then went well. Today I have an eight month old baby girl and every time I look at her I realize how lucky I am.
Preimplantation diagnosis: a difficult test despite everything
I would like to tell the couples who are going to embark on this protocol, that the preimplantation diagnosis remains a very difficult psychological test and thatyou have to be well surrounded. Physically, too, we don’t give you a gift. Hormonal treatments are painful. I gained weight and mood swings were frequent. A review of horns particularly marked me: the hysterosalpingography. We feel like an electric shock. This is also why I believe that I would not do DPI again for my next child. I prefer a biopsy you trophoblasts, an examination that takes place early in pregnancy. 5 years ago, no one in my area performed this test. It’s no longer the case now.