New testing added to IVF Treatment Helps Local Families

More couples than ever before are turning to an alternative way to get pregnant. While the numbers speak to the success of in vitro fertilization; some couples need a little extra help. A new test promises to do just that.

For newlyweds David and Kelly Edwards, their miracle of life was cut short way too soon.

"We tried naturally, got pregnant, and lost the baby at 10 weeks," said Kelly Edwards.

Kelly knew trying again would be difficult -- all because of her genes.

"She was a carrier essentially of a chromosome abnormality called a translocation," said Dr. Mark Trolice, M.D.

Dr. Trolice is the director of Fertility Care in Winter Park. He said the diagnosis means the embryo's chromosomes would be unbalanced -- a major cause of repeated miscarriages for many women.

"I began wondering if I would ever be able to have children," said Kelly Edwards.

Dr. Trolice recommended a developing technology called Pre-Implantation Genetic screening or PGS. In conjunction with in vitro fertilization, it allows doctors to screen embryos for any potential issues, and only implant the most viable embryos.

"The error rate is actually less than one-percent," said Dr. Trolice.

Still, Kelly expected the worse.

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New testing added to IVF Treatment Helps Local Families