Beyond Baby’s Gender.

Beyond Baby’s Gender: The Medical Benefits of PGT for Aneuploidy Testing.

Unlock the true medical potential of preimplantation genetic testing beyond gender selection.

When most people hear about preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in IVF, they initially think of gender selection. However, the most significant medical advances lie in PGT for aneuploidy (PGT-A), which identifies chromosomal abnormalities that impact embryo viability and pregnancy success.

At Medical Art Center, we want to shift the conversation from social gender selection to the profound medical benefits that comprehensive genetic testing offers couples struggling with infertility. Understanding these benefits can help you make more informed decisions on your journey to parenthood.

What Exactly is PGT-A?

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) is an advanced screening method used during IVF to examine embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. Aneuploidy refers to embryos with an missing or extra chromosomes, which is a leading cause of implantation failure, miscarriage, and certain genetic disorders.

It’s crucial to distinguish PGT-A from PGT-M (for monogenic disorders), which tests for specific inherited conditions, and PGT-SR (for structural rearrangements), which addresses chromosomal rearrangements in parents. PGT-A specifically screens for the wrong number of chromosomes, which typically occurs randomly rather than being inherited.

How Does PGT-A Testing Actually Work?

The PGT-A process integrates seamlessly into your IVF cycle:

1. Embryo Development: embryos are cultured in the laboratory for 5-6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage

2. Trophectoderm Biopsy: a highly skilled embryologist gently removes a few cells from the part of the embryo that will become the placenta (not the baby itself)

3. Genetic Analysis: the biopsied cells are sent to a specialized genetics laboratory where techniques like next-generation sequencing examine all 24 chromosomes

4. Euploid Embryo Identification: based on results, embryos are classified as euploid (normal chromosome count), aneuploid (abnormal count), or mosaic (mixed normal/abnormal cells)

5. Informed Transfer Decision: only euploid embryos are recommended for transfer, giving you the highest chance of success

Modern PGT-A has evolved significantly from earlier methods that used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which could only screen a limited number of chromosomes. Today’s comprehensive chromosome screening technologies provide a complete picture of your embryos’ chromosomal health.

Table: Comparing PGT-A Testing Methods

The Transformative Medical Benefits of PGT-A

1. Significantly Higher Pregnancy Success Rates

The most compelling benefit of PGT-A is the dramatic improvement in IVF success rates. When you transfer a genetically normal (euploid) embryo, your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy increase substantially, regardless of age.

Research demonstrates that single euploid embryo transfer achieves high implantation and live birth rates that remain consistent across all age groups once a chromosomally normal embryo is identified. This means that with PGT-A, your prognosis depends more on having at least one normal embryo than on your biological age alone.

2. Reduced Miscarriage Risk

The heartbreak of pregnancy loss is both emotionally devastating and physically taxing. Since chromosomal abnormalities cause approximately 50% of all early pregnancy losses, selecting euploid embryos through PGT-A dramatically reduces this risk.

By identifying and transferring only chromosomally normal embryos, PGT-A decreases the likelihood of miscarriage from aneuploidy, providing greater reassurance throughout your pregnancy journey.

3. Enabling Safe Single Embryo Transfer

Before PGT-A, many IVF providers transferred multiple embryos to increase the chances of success. This practice led to unacceptably high rates of multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets), which carry significantly greater health risks for both mothers and babies, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and pregnancy complications.

With the confidence of knowing an embryo is chromosomally normal, clinics can now recommend single embryo transfer (SET) without compromising success rates. This approach has transformed IVF safety, drastically reducing multiple pregnancy rates while maintaining or even improving live birth outcomes.

4. Answers for Unexplained IVF Failure and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

For couples who have experienced repeated IVF failures or recurrent miscarriages without clear explanation, PGT-A can provide crucial answers. Many of these cases result from transferring embryos that appear healthy morphologically but contain chromosomal abnormalities incompatible with development.

One clinical study noted that “the transfer of embryos selected by morphology alone has proven unsatisfactory” because chromosomal abnormalities can be present even in beautifully developing embryos. PGT-A helps solve this mystery by ensuring only chromosomally normal embryos are selected for transfer.

5. Reduced Time to Successful Pregnancy

Without PGT-A, the journey to a successful pregnancy can involve multiple embryo transfers, possibly resulting in failed cycles or miscarriages before achieving a live birth. Each failed attempt means months of emotional distress, physical demands, and financial cost.

By identifying viable embryos upfront, PGT-A helps you avoid transferring embryos that have no chance of developing, potentially shortening your path to parenthood and reducing overall treatment costs.

Who Are the Ideal Candidates for PGT-A?

While PGT-A can benefit many IVF patients, it’s particularly recommended for:

• Advanced maternal age (women over 35, with increasing value after 37)

• History of recurrent pregnancy loss (two or more miscarriages)

• Previous IVF failures (especially multiple failed transfers)

• Severe male factor infertility

• Patients concerned about aneuploidy regardless of their medical history

• Couples pursuing single embryo transfer to maximize success while minimizing multiple birth risks

It’s worth noting that even young women produce a significant percentage of aneuploid embryos (approximately 30% at age 30), making PGT-A valuable across age groups.

Implementing PGT-A in Your Treatment: What to Expect

Adding PGT-A to your IVF cycle involves:

1. Standard ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval

2. Fertilization via ICSI (to prevent sperm DNA from contaminating the biopsy sample)

3. Embryo culture to blastocyst stage (5-6 days)

4. Embryo biopsy and vitrification (freezing) while awaiting results

5. Genetic analysis (typically 1-2 weeks)

6. Frozen euploid embryo transfer in a subsequent cycle

The “freeze-all” approach with subsequent frozen embryo transfer has been shown to produce better outcomes than fresh transfers, as it allows your body to recover from ovarian stimulation and creates a more natural uterine environment for implantation.

The Future of PGT-A and Genetic Testing

As technology advances, PGT-A continues to evolve. Emerging developments include:

• Improved detection capabilities for mosaic embryos (those with both normal and abnormal cells)

• Non-invasive PGT-A using spent embryo culture media instead of biopsy

• Comprehensive genetic assessment combining aneuploidy screening with genetic disorder testing

• Artificial intelligence integration to enhance embryo selection

These innovations promise to make genetic testing even more accurate, accessible, and informative for patients pursuing IVF.

Embracing the Full Potential of PGT at Medical Art Center

At Medical Art Center, we believe in harnessing the full potential of reproductive technologies to give every couple their best chance at building a healthy family. While gender selection may capture public imagination, the true revolution in fertility treatment lies in PGT-A’s ability to identify viable embryos and prevent heartbreaking losses.

Our comprehensive PGT-A program combines state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, experienced embryologists, and personalized treatment plans to optimize your chances of success. We’re committed to using these advanced technologies not for social selection, but for their proven medical benefits in creating healthy pregnancies and babies.

If you’re considering IVF or have experienced previous treatment failures, we invite you to learn more about how PGT-A could transform your journey to parenthood. Contact Medical Art Center today to schedule a consultation with our fertility specialists and discover whether this groundbreaking technology is right for you.

Take the next step toward a successful pregnancy with confidence, supported by the latest advances in reproductive genetics.