Alejandra Bernal
Education
ABB Certified Laboratory Supervisor, Andrology and Embryology, 2006–2026
About Alejandra Acerca de Alejandra
Having worked for more than 15 years with families facing reproductive challenges, Alejandra is deeply passionate about supporting individuals and families on their unique paths to parenthood. Her extensive background in reproductive medicine, as a senior IVF embryologist, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A and PGT-M) specialist, and andrology laboratory supervisor, gives her a comprehensive understanding of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
Throughout her work, she helps patients understand complex genetic information that other providers may not have the time to explain. Patients come to her navigating preconception counseling and carrier screening, recurrent pregnancy loss, decisions around sperm or egg donor selection, IUI, IVF, and ICSI, prenatal diagnosis, and questions about what results mean for their family-building journey. With empathy, patience, and clear communication, her goal is to educate patients and support informed decision-making.
Alejandra is an advocate for improving access to reproductive services. She has volunteered for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and focused her thesis research on the role of genetic counselors in fertility preservation. Her work, presented at the 2025 Oncofertility Conference, brings awareness about the reproductive needs of patients with cancer and hematological conditions like sickle cell disease.
She is also committed to expanding genetic counseling across diverse communities, including Latin America, and is a proud LGBTQ+ ally.
Alejandra cuenta con más de 15 años de experiencia trabajando con familias que enfrentan desafíos reproductivos y tiene una profunda vocación por apoyar a individuos y familias en su camino a ser padres. Su amplia trayectoria en medicina reproductiva, como embrióloga de FIV, especialista en PGT y supervisora de laboratorio de andrología, le brinda una comprensión integral de las tecnologías de reproducción asistida (ART).
En su práctica, ayuda a los pacientes a comprender información genética compleja que otros proveedores pueden no tener el tiempo de explicar. Ella puede ayudar a pacientes navegando asesoría pre-conceptional, tamizaje de portadores, pérdida recurrente del embarazo, selección de donantes de semen o de ovocitos, inseminación, FIV, ICSI, diagnóstico prenatal y respondiendo preguntas sobre resultados de exámenes genéticos. Con empatía, paciencia y una comunicación clara, su objetivo es educar a los pacientes y apoyar la toma de decisiones informadas.
Alejandra desea mejorar el acceso a servicios reproductivos: ha colaborado como voluntaria con RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association y centró su investigación de tesis en el papel de los asesores genéticos en la preservación de la fertilidad. Su trabajo fue presentado en el Congreso de Oncofertilidad 2025, contribuyendo a visibilizar las necesidades reproductivas de pacientes con cáncer y enfermedades hematológicas como la anemia de células falciformes.
También está dedicada a expandir el acceso a la asesoría genética, incluyendo en América Latina, y es una orgullosa aliada de la comunidad LGBTQ+.
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Exploring awareness of fertility preservation options in patients at risk of iatrogenic infertility. The role of Genetic Counselors. Bernal A, Grant H, Travis M, Durst A. 2025 Oncofertility Conference and NSGC 2025.
- Does ovarian stimulation protocol for IVF and number of oocytes retrieved affect embryos' aneuploidy rate? I. Tur-Kaspa, A. Bernal, N. Tkachenko, A. Kuliev, Z. Zlatopolsky, Y. Verlinsky. Fertility and Sterility, September 2008 (Vol. 90, Page S309).
- To PGD or not to PGD: is there a magic number of oocytes to start with? I. Tur-Kaspa, A. Bernal, N. Tkachenko, J. Pawlovska, S. Rechitsky, Y. Verlinsky. Fertility and Sterility, September 2007 (Vol. 88, Pages S231–S232).
- Multiple micromanipulations for preimplantation genetic diagnosis do not affect embryo development to the blastocyst stage. J. Cieslak-Janzen, I. Tur-Kaspa, Y. Ilkevitch, A. Bernal, R. Morris, Y. Verlinsky. Fertility and Sterility, June 2006 (Vol. 85, Issue 6, Pages 1826–1829).
- Preimplantation testing for chromosomal disorders improves reproductive outcome of poor-prognosis patients. Verlinsky Y, Tur-Kaspa I, Cieslak J, Bernal A, Morris R, Taranissi M, Kaplan B, Kuliev A. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 2005 Aug; 11(2):219–25.
- Developmental potential of embryos after 1 to 3 biopsy procedures for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Cieslak J, Ilkevitch Y, Bernal A, Rechitsky S, Tur-Kaspa I, Verlinsky Y. Fertility and Sterility, Sept 2004 (Vol. 82, Supplement 2, Page S30).
- Montoya JM, Bernal A, Borrero C. Diagnostics in assisted human reproduction. Reprod Biomed Online. 2002 Sep-Oct;5(2):198–210. doi
- Older publications upon request.
- Guest, Surviving Breast Cancer Podcast, episode 257. "What is Oncofertility? How To Navigate Genetics, Fertility and Cancer Care." May 4, 2025.