As IVF and other reproductive technologies have become more commonplace, researchers are turning their attention to ways in which they may help couples who are not technically infertile but who have made a conscious decision not to have children for reasons of genetics. Such couples include those with a family history of genetic disorders, and older mothers who are more likely to conceive a child with genetic defects. Some are afraid of the possibility of passing the defective gene to their offspring. Others may already have an affected child and do not want to bear another one with the same abnormality. According to HELP-Health Education Library for People:

These couples are often faced with attempting a type of "Russian roulette" to have children, many times having to confront the difficult decision to terminate an affected pregnancy. Consider a...