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.
Two types of preimplantation genetic testing
Preimplantation genetic testing is a general term. It refers to the genetic testing that professionals perform on IVF embryos in the 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 with the information that genetic testing can provide.
Patients who visit our Las Vegas fertility doctors can choose from two types of PGT, including preimplantation genetic screening and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
- Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS or PGT-A) involves assessing the chromosomes in each IVF embryo. This type of testing can determine whether an embryo has too many or too few chromosomes or has a translocation. A translocation is when part of a chromosome breaks off and reattaches somewhere else. PGS can also determine whether an embryo is female or male.
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD or PGT-M) also involves looking at the chromosomal makeup of an embryo. However, it requires a geneticist to look for a specific mutation that causes a certain inheritable genetic illness. Parents who have or carry a known disorder like sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs disease can avoid passing the illness to their children with PGD. PGD can be done alongside PGS and can also identify the gender of the embryo, either male or female.
Who should consider preimplantation genetic testing?
Our Las Vegas fertility doctors may recommend preimplantation genetic testing to certain groups of patients, depending on their goals and medical history.
- They may recommend PGD to women and men who want to make sure their children don’t have or carry a specific genetic illness. Preconception genetic carrier screening can determine whether you or your partner are a carrier of an inheritable genetic illness.
- As for PGS, our doctors may recommend it to a wider group of patients. These include women over age 35, patients who have experienced multiple miscarriages or IVF cycle failures, or women and men who want to know the sex of the embryo before transfer.
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.
