PGT-A (formerly called PGS) is a genetic test performed on embryos to identify numerical chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy). This test is a genetic study of the embryo produced during IVF treatment and can help you have a healthy baby.
Aneuploidy can occur with any of the chromosome pairs. Most cases of aneuploidy result in failed embryo transfers or miscarriages. Therefore, the biggest advantage of PGT-A is to identify embryos with a higher likelihood of resulting in a successful and healthy pregnancy.
Although aneuploidy is a potential testing result it isn’t an inherited genetic trait but is instead related to the physical condition and quality of the biological mother’s eggs. Aneuploidy is linked to age. By the time a woman is 35 years old, about half her embryos are expected to be aneuploid. By age 40, this increases to about 80%.
PGT-A is especially recommended for patients with:
- Advanced maternal age: 35 years old and above
- Recurrent miscarriages: couples who have had two or more miscarriages
- IVF failures: two or more IVF failures
- Male factor infertility: a low quantity and/or quality of sperm
Why use PGT-A?
- Reduced miscarriage rates.
- Higher pregnancy rates per transfer.
- Fewer cycles of IVF treatment needed – reducing both the time and financial cost
- Greater chance of having a healthy child.
- Fewer wasted transfers (implantation failure).
- Optional Single Embryo Transfer (SET).
- Fewer ‘wasted’ transfers with aneuploid embryos that could never lead to a successful pregnancy
- Optional Single Embryo Transfer (SET) to significantly reduce the likelihood of a multiple-gestation pregnancy
Source: American Society for Reproductive Medicine – ASRM and Igenomix
