Reporter: Doctor, welcome to the program. People now often talk about a desire to not only have a baby, but to have a healthy baby. From your clinical experience, how has this mindset influenced IVF practices?
Doctor Duong: IVF was never merely a tool to have a baby. From the very beginning, our goal with IVF has always been to achieve the best embryo possible, by choosing appropriate stimulation protocols, fine-tuning our embryo culture media, and monitoring our incubators to maintain the best environment. And recently, we have tools to look deeper into the genetic aspects of the embryo. Now we can consider the chromosomes and genes, and all of these help us make better decisions.
Reporter: Embryo screening is frequently mentioned in this context. How would you explain its role in supporting the goal of having a healthier baby?
Doctor Duong: When we perform genetic screening, we have a higher chance of having a healthy baby. Embryo screening is a term we use to describe genetic testing of the embryo before transferring it into the uterus. For families with no history of rare or inherited diseases, we use what we call PGT- A to rule out embryos that have an abnormal number of chromosomes. We can rule out conditions such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome. This type of PGT is appropriate for women who are of advanced maternal age, such as those over 35 years old, or those with a history of miscarriage, stillbirth, or related issues.
In other cases, we can perform PGT-M, which tests for rare genetic diseases in families where certain conditions run in the family, such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, hemophilia, Huntington’s disease, et cetera. We first identify the cause of the disease and check whether the parents, or the couple, carry these genes, and then identify which embryos do not carry them, so we can choose the appropriate embryo for transfer. It can stop the nightmare that haunts a family for generations.
Reporter: In your practice, how do you help couples decide whether embryo screening is necessary for them, rather than a routine step for everyone?
Doctor Duong: It shouldn't be a routine step for everyone. In our centers, we have trained geneticists to do all the screening for all patients seeking fertility care to find out which ones are high-risk cases. Only high-risk cases need to undergo genetic testing of embryos. Genetic testing should not be a routine practice in all cases, because it increases the cost and reduces the number of embryos available for transfer. It should be considered for high-risk cases, such as advanced maternal age, a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, or a history of having a baby with congenital malformations or genetic diseases.
Reporter: As embryo screening becomes more common, what is one important misunderstanding you think the public should be aware of when discussing the “healthy baby” trend?
Doctor Duong: There is a misconception that when we perform genetic testing on embryos, it guarantees a 100 percent healthy baby. That is not the case, because genetic factors are only one aspect that can affect a baby’s health. Other factors include parental lifestyle, maternal health conditions, systemic diseases in the mother such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes, as well as environmental factors like air quality and water quality. There are also factors related to the delivery process. Whether the baby is delivered normally or there are complications during childbirth can affect outcomes. All of these factors can influence a baby’s health, not just genetics.
Reporter: Finally, for couples who are still unsure whether to choose IVF with or without embryo screening, what guiding principle would you suggest they keep in mind?
Doctor Duong: My suggestion is that families should visit IVF centers with in-house genetic counselors and allow professionals, including geneticists, to provide proper consultation and guidance.
Reporter: IVF and embryo screening can open new possibilities for couples on their fertility journey, and as Dr. Duong has shared, understanding these options clearly can help families feel more informed and confident along the way.
Thank you, Dr. Nguyen Binh Duong, for joining us today and for offering clear and thoughtful perspectives on this topic. That brings us to the end of this edition of Doctor at Home. Thank you for listening. Goodbye, and see you next time.
Dr. Nguyen Binh Duong is Head of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Hong Ngoc–Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital. He earned his medical degree from Hanoi Medical University and holds a master’s degree in Genetic Biomedicine. He received specialized training in reproductive medicine at Charles University’s First Faculty of Medicine (Apolinar), Prague, where he also completed clinical internships in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Duong later undertook advanced training at IVF GENNET in Prague and IVF Ferticare Clinic in Karlovy Vary, two leading European centers for infertility treatment that operate under high clinical and laboratory standards.