Custom Kids

This month's Southwest Spirit magazine ran an article on IVF and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis which is enabling couples to pick the sex of their child.

IVF is a technique in which the egg cells are fertilized outside the woman's body. From the resultant zygotes, the healthiest ones are selected for implantation in the patient's uterus to establish a successful pregnancy. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is carried out by extracting one cell from the zygote, and has been used to weed out the genetically defective zygotes.

Now, however, some clinics offer Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis & IVF treatment to otherwise fertile couples who want to select the sex of their child. Assisted Reproductive Technology is a huge business, and they are now targeting the fertile population as well.