iStock/ThinkstockBy DR. JENNIFER ASHTON, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor
A mutation in the BRCA gene is associated with an increased risk of not only breast cancer but also ovarian cancer. And some women freeze their eggs before removing their ovaries as a preventative measure.
But now, there’s also a procedure to help prevent passing that gene to future children. It’s called preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD.
After a woman undergoes an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, the resulting embryos can be tested for the BRCA gene mutation and the patient can then decide whether or not to implant that embryo.
The growing popularity of BRCA testing has led many young women to talk about their future fertility options. While definitely complex, the good news is that there are more fertility and reproductive health options for women than ever before.
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