The detectable risk for genetic conditions associated with altered genes is constant throughout the female reproductive lifespan. Some people may be at risk of having a child with a recessive condition, such as Cystic Fibrosis if both the egg and sperm provider are carriers of alterations in the same gene. This risk can be reduced by preconception carrier screening. Some people are known to have a genetic condition themselves and can pass this on to a child. For people who are at risk preimplantation genetic testing of embryos can be an option for finding healthy embryos for pregnancy. 
 
The risk for genetic conditions associated with the chromosome balance or number (chromosomes are the structures in our cells where genes are located) increase with maternal age. chromosomes may occur in eggs and subsequently embryos due to the natural ageing process. This is known as "aneuploidy', and these embryos could result in a child with abnormalities; in particular, extra copies of chromosomes 13 (Patau's syndrome), 18 (Edwards Syndrome), 21 (Down's syndrome), X (Turner Syndrome) and XXY (Klinefelter Syndrome). Preimplantation genetic testing of embryos can be an option for finding healthy embryos for pregnancy. 
 
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