Screening embryos may affect pregnancy chance

WOMEN may be worsening their already slim chances of getting pregnant by having embryos screened for genetic defects before implantation, new research suggests.

Up to now, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), normally reserved for older women hoping to start a family, was thought to improve their chances of getting pregnant.

PGS involves extracting cells from early-stage embryos and screening them for chromosomal abnormalities that can prevent pregnancy.