Preimplantation genetic testing can boost IVF success rates
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a very successful fertility treatment,
but preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can make it even more effective. Women and men visit our Las Vegas fertility doctors for help bringing home a healthy baby as quickly, safely and affordably as possible. Combining PGT and IVF is one excellent way to accomplish this family-building goal.
We offer multiple types of preimplantation genetic testing
Preimplantation genetic testing refers to the genetic testing that professionals perform on IVF embryos in a genetics laboratory. PGT requires a safe embryo biopsy that occurs between the steps of fertilization in the lab and embryo transfer. The goal is to select the best embryo for transfer based on the information that genetic testing can provide. All of these genetic tests can also identify the sex of each embryo – male or female.
Patients who visit our Las Vegas fertility doctors can choose from multiple state-of-the-art PGT tests. Your fertility specialist will recommend which tests would be valuable in your specific situation.
- Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy – PGT-A Formerly called preimplantation genetic screening, or PGS, this test involves assessing the chromosomes in each IVF embryo. It can determine whether an embryo has too many or too few chromosomes, a condition known as aneuploidy.
At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, we offer two different types of PGT-A. In addition to the standard PGT-A test performed with next-generation sequencing (NGS), our patients have access to advanced PGT-A with LifeViewTM, which can detect aneuploidy as well as some other abnormalities, including polyploidy and uniparental disomy.
- Preimplantation genetic testing with origin of aneuploidy detection – LifeView PGT-A+
PGT-A+ supplements PGT-A, comparing an embryo’s single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profile to those of the sperm and egg sources. This not only confirms the embryo’s parental identity, but can determine if a chromosomal abnormality is coming from the mother or the father. This test can also identify true mitotic (embryo-derived) mosaicism, which occurs when an embryo contains both chromosomally normal and abnormal cells.
- Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic/single-gene disorders – PGT-M Formerly known as PGD, or preimplantation genetic diagnosis, this genetic test looks deeper than chromosomes, examining specific genes in an embryo’s DNA. This test looks for a specific mutation that causes a certain inheritable genetic illness. Parents who have or carry a known disorder, such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs disease, can avoid passing the illness to their children with PGT-M. PGT-M can be done alongside PGT-A.
- Preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements – PGT-SR
Another add-on test that can be combined with PGT-A, PGT-SR studies chromosomes to identify if an embryo is affected by chromosomal structural rearrangements. This test can detect if pieces of chromosomes are missing, duplicated or misplaced, creating conditions known as reciprocal translocations, Robertsonian translocations or chromosomal inversions.
- Embryo Health Score – LifeView PGT-P
PGT-P provides an Embryo Health Score that reveals each embryo’s risk of polygenic conditions, such as diabetes, cancers, schizophrenia or heart disease. It can help reduce the risk of a future child with these disorders, so you can make informed decisions about which embryo to transfer.
Who should consider preimplantation genetic testing?
Our Las Vegas fertility doctors may recommend preimplantation genetic testing as part of your IVF cycle, depending on your goals and medical history.
- PGT-A and PGT-A+ are often recommended for women older than 35, patients who have experienced multiple miscarriages or IVF cycle failures, or people who want to know the sex of an embryo before transfer.
- PGT-M is a good option for women and men who want to make sure their children don’t have or carry a specific genetic illness or hereditary cancer syndrome that affects them or runs in their families. Preconception genetic carrier screening can determine whether you or your partner are a carrier of an inheritable genetic illness.
- PGT-SR is recommended when a patient or partner is a known carrier of a structural rearrangement, has received an abnormal karyotype testing result, or has had a child with a chromosome rearrangement.
- PGT-P is a wise choice for people who are concerned about certain risks for polygenic conditions, based on a personal or family history of such disorders.
Preimplantation genetic testing can benefit many patients by helping our team select the embryo that is most likely to implant and grow into a healthy baby. If you have questions about whether PGT is right for you, our Las Vegas fertility doctors can help. Contact us to schedule an appointment and learn more about pairing IVF and PGT.
