The Fertility Center of Las Vegas

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy can help improve your odds of IVF success

In vitro fertilization (IVF) followed by embryo transfer is one of the most advanced and effective fertility treatments available. When patients want to increase the likelihood of having a successful embryo transfer, our Las Vegas fertility doctors may recommend preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or PGT-A.

Formerly known as PGS, this form of genetic testing is designed to determine whether an embryo is chromosomally normal. It can also determine, with high probability, whether an embryo is male or female.

How does preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy work?

When a patient decides they want to add PGT-A to their IVF cycle, embryologists in the lab will remove a few cells from the outer layer (trophectoderm) of a blastocyst (a Day 5 or Day 6 embryo). Geneticists will then evaluate the biopsied cells to assess the chromosome content.

If an embryo has the correct number of chromosomes, it is normal, or euploid. An embryo that has too many or too few chromosomes is aneuploid. About 5 days after the transfer of a euploid embryo with our Las Vegas fertility doctors, the patient returns to the clinic for a pregnancy test, which is usually positive.

Why do our embryologists biopsy blastocyst embryos?

Taking a biopsy of the embryo at a more advanced stage (blastocyst) increases the accuracy of the testing. It also minimizes potential damage that the biopsy can cause to earlier-stage embryos. The extracted cells are not taken from the inner part of the embryo that would become the baby, but from an outer layer called the trophectoderm.

Who should consider adding PGT-A to their IVF cycle?

Aneuploid embryos can lead to IVF cycle failure, miscarriage and, in rare cases, birth defects. In fact, 70% of early miscarriages are due to a chromosomal abnormality. Some studies suggest preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy can achieve higher implantation rates, fewer pregnancy losses and fewer birth defects.

As a result, several groups of patients can benefit from PGT-A.

  • Women 35 and over who are using their own eggs.
  • Women who have had repeated miscarriages.
  • Patients who have had multiple failed IVF cycles.

In addition to identifying chromosomally normal embryos, PGT-A can also determine the sex of the embryo. Gender selection can be elective or for medical reasons.

  • Elective gender selection is an option when the parents would like to have a child of a certain sex to balance their family.
  • Medical gender selection can be beneficial for patients who have a family history of a specific sex-linked disease.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy can be a great option if you’d like to improve your odds of having a healthy baby using IVF. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our Las Vegas fertility doctors.