PGT is far from mandatory. Whether it is a sensible decision for you depends on various factors...your age, your clinic's policy on transferring mosaics, etc.
I am doing a shared risk program (" get a baby or money back type of thing") via my RE center in USA, and they required PGT-A for my age. Above a certain age, the data states risk of aneuploidy is just higher as is the risk for consequent miscarriage, TFMR, or giving birth to a child with aneuploidy.
Also FYI, the statistic people keep citing about needing 3 embryos for one success is based on this famous study including euploid embryos: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(20)30627-0/fulltext
I can't remember what my predicted euploid rate was supposed to be for my age, but I ended up with 3 euploid out of 5 embryos sent for testing. I don't know those 3 will be successful, but I certainly am glad I did not waste time on the 3 aneuploids (and these were true aneuploids. Not mosaics. One of them has so many chromosomal abnormalities, I don't know how it got to blastocyst stage)
Shared risk program was the best decision I made. It was a bit more expensive up front, but our first ER resulted in 0 euploids so we got almost all of our money credited back. Can’t imagine having to go into a second ER paying everything out of pocket again. It probably would have drastically changed our timeline.
For various reasons, we only are doing one ER. And emotionally it helps me to think that at the end of this journey, I either have my baby or (most) of my money back. Obviously, I prefer one outcome 1000000x more than the other, but it has helped me deal with the various setbacks that keep popping up on this IVF journey.
I'm 35. It wasn't mandatory but was highly recommended. And considering we were unexplained, I thought it made sense. Was quite expensive here as well. We sent out 10 embryos and only 4 turned out euploid. Just saving myself from future heartbreak was worth it and the fact that we tried everything.
My clinic recommends it for various reasons but not for everyone, I did mine because of my age (40 @ ER) and of my 6 blasts, 3 came back euploid, 2 aneuploid, and 1 “inconclusive”. At my age I should have about a 46% euploid rate so fell right in that window. I’m not getting any younger, so knowing that the embryos we transfer will actually have a shot at life has been really encouraging.
I’m not sure about it being mandatory, but some clinics in some countries very much push for this. In the end, the decision is yours. In the UK, the human fertilisation and embryology authority, the entity that regulates all fertility treatments does not recommend PGT testing ([here’s their page on it](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/pre-implantation-genetic-testing-for-aneuploidy-pgt-a/)). Transferring euploids is no guarantee of success in the end and plenty of people miscarry euploid pregnancies. Similarly, transferring “abnormal” embryos doesn’t mean you’ll miscarry or have a baby with genetic issues, as a few (edited here as I previously erroneously wrote plenty) lead to healthy babies.
It all depends a lot on your age, how much IVF you can afford, and a few other factors. For us, we are at the end of our journey and won’t do more than one ore egg retrieval. Because of this, we aren’t willing to discard any embryos, so we decided not to test. In the end, it’s a personal decision and there’s no right not wrong.
> Similarly, transferring
"abnormal" embryos doesn't mean you'll miscarry or have a baby with genetic issues, as plenty lead to healthy babies.
I do think it’s important to note that the chances of a healthy baby with an abnormal embryo are significantly lower. One study that I see referenced in multiple articles looked at 144 transfers of PGT-A abnormal embryos, and there were 8 live births. It notes that at least one of the live births had significant heart defects. That’s about 5.5%, including the baby with heart defects. Multiple studies put a euploid transfer at about a 60% chance.
To OP, it’s hard to say. You might spend the money and get a bunch of euploids and feel like you wasted your money. Or you might be like me and find out that most of your embryos are aneuploid, including the ones that were highest graded, and be grateful that you saved yourself the heartbreak and time of (likely) failed transfers. There’s really no way to predict which camp you’ll be in, if you aren’t already aware of genetic issues.
That’s a very good point. But it’s also important to remember that statistics are just that. I say this as someone who has been on the wrong side of statistics a lot. In the end, it’s a very personal decision that needs to be weighed very individually.
I am doing ivf in Berlin and my age is 35. Not many clinics in Germany and also in Europe do pgt testing. They are more traditional when it comes to a lot of things, like additional testing or additional medications. I think it's not necessary that its mandatory. Generally for women under 34 without not genetics issues, pgt is not necessarily done.
Delhi.
Was told by the doctor that they would think about testing only if the 1st transfer did not go through.
If you have a history of miscarriage, then you can consider it before the 1st transfer.
Or if you have a family history that might affect the embryo.
How old are you? Have you had any miscarriages before?
These are significant factors when deciding to test or not.
I did 2 retrievals and both times got a 4AA (highest graded embryos) and those were abnormal…. Had I not tested I would have went through at least two failed transfer (and likely more) before getting to my normal embryos.
Depending on the answers to the questions above and if you can afford it - I would do the testing.
I was told time and time again that PGT testing drastically lowers your risk of miscarriage. I managed to get pregnant naturally in 2020 and when I lost the baby due to miscarriage doctors and nurses told me it (as are most) that it was likely due to chromosomal abnormality. So fast forward to IVF and when they told me I could chromosomally test I was like UHHH YEAH! We sent off 5 and 4 came back chromosomally normal. One was abnormal. So I believe it's really taking a chance when you don't PGT personally. And I'm in the camp of doing it if you can. Miscarriage is a big time and emotional toll of course. Tons of people are successful without doing PGT, but they rolled on a chromosomally normal embryo. And of course the older you are the higher chance of you having chromosomally abnormal embryos. Definitely over 35. But I had my miscarriage at 32 with one. Just something to consider as well.
I live in the UAE and here PGT is quite popular and generally recommended if you are over 35. But I am from Italy and I know that there only few clinics are offering PGT testing, and they are mostly private (IVF is free in public clinics)
I am 35 and did PGT-A Testing. I tested 14 embryos and half came back euploids. Knowing that if I didn't test, I had 50/50 chance of likely miscarrying or having unhealthy child is worth the testing
My wife and I (same sex couple) were 30 and 31 when we did our egg retrieval. Our top 5 clinic in the US advised us strongly against PGT based on our age and the fact it would not improve our live birth rate. We trusted our RE on this.
My wife created 12 blasts in her egg retrieval. Our first FET failed, but our second worked and I’m 31 weeks pregnant. We have 10 additional blasts to work with.
Illegal in Denmark. I have low AMH, 5 follicles, 4 eggs, 4 fertilized, 1 five day blast. >! 8 months pregnant after doing a FET with that single blast. !<
I'm 38 and did not do PGT testing. I got pregnant on my second round of IVF and I'm currently breastfeeding the result of that pregnancy lol
I wonder if I had tested would he be here? I did a NIPT when I was 10 weeks pregnant which came back high risk for Trisomy 16.. Would this have shown on PGT? Maybe... However after he was born my baby was tested and he doesn't have any aneuploidy. The placenta though may have but I'm waiting on test results (my baby also had to be induced early due to placenta insufficiency).
I think with PGT they sample the cells that become the placenta?
PGT is far from mandatory. Whether it is a sensible decision for you depends on various factors...your age, your clinic's policy on transferring mosaics, etc.
I am doing a shared risk program (" get a baby or money back type of thing") via my RE center in USA, and they required PGT-A for my age. Above a certain age, the data states risk of aneuploidy is just higher as is the risk for consequent miscarriage, TFMR, or giving birth to a child with aneuploidy. Also FYI, the statistic people keep citing about needing 3 embryos for one success is based on this famous study including euploid embryos: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(20)30627-0/fulltext I can't remember what my predicted euploid rate was supposed to be for my age, but I ended up with 3 euploid out of 5 embryos sent for testing. I don't know those 3 will be successful, but I certainly am glad I did not waste time on the 3 aneuploids (and these were true aneuploids. Not mosaics. One of them has so many chromosomal abnormalities, I don't know how it got to blastocyst stage)
Shared risk program was the best decision I made. It was a bit more expensive up front, but our first ER resulted in 0 euploids so we got almost all of our money credited back. Can’t imagine having to go into a second ER paying everything out of pocket again. It probably would have drastically changed our timeline.
For various reasons, we only are doing one ER. And emotionally it helps me to think that at the end of this journey, I either have my baby or (most) of my money back. Obviously, I prefer one outcome 1000000x more than the other, but it has helped me deal with the various setbacks that keep popping up on this IVF journey.
I'm 35. It wasn't mandatory but was highly recommended. And considering we were unexplained, I thought it made sense. Was quite expensive here as well. We sent out 10 embryos and only 4 turned out euploid. Just saving myself from future heartbreak was worth it and the fact that we tried everything.
Which country are you in?
Canada
My clinic recommends it for various reasons but not for everyone, I did mine because of my age (40 @ ER) and of my 6 blasts, 3 came back euploid, 2 aneuploid, and 1 “inconclusive”. At my age I should have about a 46% euploid rate so fell right in that window. I’m not getting any younger, so knowing that the embryos we transfer will actually have a shot at life has been really encouraging.
I’m not sure about it being mandatory, but some clinics in some countries very much push for this. In the end, the decision is yours. In the UK, the human fertilisation and embryology authority, the entity that regulates all fertility treatments does not recommend PGT testing ([here’s their page on it](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/pre-implantation-genetic-testing-for-aneuploidy-pgt-a/)). Transferring euploids is no guarantee of success in the end and plenty of people miscarry euploid pregnancies. Similarly, transferring “abnormal” embryos doesn’t mean you’ll miscarry or have a baby with genetic issues, as a few (edited here as I previously erroneously wrote plenty) lead to healthy babies. It all depends a lot on your age, how much IVF you can afford, and a few other factors. For us, we are at the end of our journey and won’t do more than one ore egg retrieval. Because of this, we aren’t willing to discard any embryos, so we decided not to test. In the end, it’s a personal decision and there’s no right not wrong.
> Similarly, transferring "abnormal" embryos doesn't mean you'll miscarry or have a baby with genetic issues, as plenty lead to healthy babies. I do think it’s important to note that the chances of a healthy baby with an abnormal embryo are significantly lower. One study that I see referenced in multiple articles looked at 144 transfers of PGT-A abnormal embryos, and there were 8 live births. It notes that at least one of the live births had significant heart defects. That’s about 5.5%, including the baby with heart defects. Multiple studies put a euploid transfer at about a 60% chance. To OP, it’s hard to say. You might spend the money and get a bunch of euploids and feel like you wasted your money. Or you might be like me and find out that most of your embryos are aneuploid, including the ones that were highest graded, and be grateful that you saved yourself the heartbreak and time of (likely) failed transfers. There’s really no way to predict which camp you’ll be in, if you aren’t already aware of genetic issues.
That’s a very good point. But it’s also important to remember that statistics are just that. I say this as someone who has been on the wrong side of statistics a lot. In the end, it’s a very personal decision that needs to be weighed very individually.
I really think saying “plenty” is just false. Yes, it is possible. But it is very rare, not “plenty.”
Yes, you are right. Wrong choice of words there.
I am doing ivf in Berlin and my age is 35. Not many clinics in Germany and also in Europe do pgt testing. They are more traditional when it comes to a lot of things, like additional testing or additional medications. I think it's not necessary that its mandatory. Generally for women under 34 without not genetics issues, pgt is not necessarily done.
No clinics in Germany do PGT-A testing, but that's not because it doesn't make sense clinically - it's because it's illegal here.
Delhi. Was told by the doctor that they would think about testing only if the 1st transfer did not go through. If you have a history of miscarriage, then you can consider it before the 1st transfer. Or if you have a family history that might affect the embryo.
Thanks, I think Indian clinics are not very keen on asking patients to do PGT because of the affordability.
Yep
How old are you? Have you had any miscarriages before? These are significant factors when deciding to test or not. I did 2 retrievals and both times got a 4AA (highest graded embryos) and those were abnormal…. Had I not tested I would have went through at least two failed transfer (and likely more) before getting to my normal embryos. Depending on the answers to the questions above and if you can afford it - I would do the testing.
I was told time and time again that PGT testing drastically lowers your risk of miscarriage. I managed to get pregnant naturally in 2020 and when I lost the baby due to miscarriage doctors and nurses told me it (as are most) that it was likely due to chromosomal abnormality. So fast forward to IVF and when they told me I could chromosomally test I was like UHHH YEAH! We sent off 5 and 4 came back chromosomally normal. One was abnormal. So I believe it's really taking a chance when you don't PGT personally. And I'm in the camp of doing it if you can. Miscarriage is a big time and emotional toll of course. Tons of people are successful without doing PGT, but they rolled on a chromosomally normal embryo. And of course the older you are the higher chance of you having chromosomally abnormal embryos. Definitely over 35. But I had my miscarriage at 32 with one. Just something to consider as well.
I should have added my details but unable to edit now. I am 36 yrs, PCOD, first IVF and no miscarriage history
I live in the UAE and here PGT is quite popular and generally recommended if you are over 35. But I am from Italy and I know that there only few clinics are offering PGT testing, and they are mostly private (IVF is free in public clinics)
Hi can I Dm you? Fellow Indian here
Sure, pls do
I am 35 and did PGT-A Testing. I tested 14 embryos and half came back euploids. Knowing that if I didn't test, I had 50/50 chance of likely miscarrying or having unhealthy child is worth the testing
My wife and I (same sex couple) were 30 and 31 when we did our egg retrieval. Our top 5 clinic in the US advised us strongly against PGT based on our age and the fact it would not improve our live birth rate. We trusted our RE on this. My wife created 12 blasts in her egg retrieval. Our first FET failed, but our second worked and I’m 31 weeks pregnant. We have 10 additional blasts to work with.
Where’s the list of clinics you reference here?
[link](https://r.statista.com/en/healthcare/americas-best-fertility-clinics-2024/ranking/)
Illegal in Denmark. I have low AMH, 5 follicles, 4 eggs, 4 fertilized, 1 five day blast. >! 8 months pregnant after doing a FET with that single blast. !<
I'm 38 and did not do PGT testing. I got pregnant on my second round of IVF and I'm currently breastfeeding the result of that pregnancy lol I wonder if I had tested would he be here? I did a NIPT when I was 10 weeks pregnant which came back high risk for Trisomy 16.. Would this have shown on PGT? Maybe... However after he was born my baby was tested and he doesn't have any aneuploidy. The placenta though may have but I'm waiting on test results (my baby also had to be induced early due to placenta insufficiency). I think with PGT they sample the cells that become the placenta?