Genetic Screening of Embryo

PGT-A or Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies is the process of screening IVF embryos for chromosome abnormalities prior to transfer. Our goal is to increase the likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy. This allows us to test your embryos before one is transferred to your uterus to ensure your baby won’t have any chromosomal irregularities. Embryos are either euploid (normal) or aneuploid (abnormal), and we will only transfer normal embryos. PGT-A has come a long way in the past couple of decades and is one of the most incredible advances in assisted reproductive technology.

If you plan on testing your embryos, we will have to freeze those embryos prior to transfer while we wait for results from the genetic lab. Mate partners with Igenomix, the best genetic lab in the country, which also offers free counseling for all Mate patients. Speak to your local clinic to set up this session. This process is called embryo banking. After your results come back, we will thaw a normal embryo and transfer that one in a procedure called FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer).

The carrier screening test during your fertility assessment will also let us know if you and your partner are both carriers for certain hereditary genetic diseases. If this test comes back that both you and your partner are carriers for a disease, your baby has a high chance of being affected. If both parents are carriers, their chance of having an affected child is 25%. If one parent has the disease, their chance of having an affected child is 50%. This will require further testing and evaluation to ensure only embryos without the disease are transferred. During PGT-A, all your embryos will be biopsied and screened for any chromosomal abnormality.

PGT-A is a preventative measure used to identify chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, even if there’s no known evidence of an abnormality in either parent. The procedure screens for chromosomal abnormalities such as deletions or translocations; defects caused when an individual’s chromosomes are rearranged.

Each cell should contain 23 pairs of chromosomes, or 46 chromosomes in total. PGT-A testing assesses all 23 pairs of chromosomes, including the two sex chromosomes (X and Y) that determine the embryo’s sex. PGT-A testing can determine if there are any extra or missing copies of chromosomes in each embryo. Chromosome abnormalities are responsible for 60% of miscarriages.

Your age plays a critical role in the health of your eggs, and the health of your embryos is largely determined by chromosome abnormalities. Abnormalities are unlikely to implant and usually result in miscarriage or disorders. By the time you reach 35, 50% of your eggs have normal chromosomes, and by 40, only 10-15% of your eggs have normal chromosomes. We highly recommend PGT-A screening for any women above 35.

PGT-A has been shown to increase success rates of pregnancy, lower miscarriage rates, and avoid abnormalities. After your embryos are tested, the doctor will perform an FET or Frozen Embryo Transfer. This will usually be a few weeks after your egg retrieval, and we will need to prepare your body with hormones the week before to prepare your uterus for an embryo. We want the conditions to be just right for that embryo to stick.

Mate Fertility’s Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single Gene Defects (PGT-M), a cutting-edge technology that offers unparalleled insights into your future family’s genetic health. PGT-M is a sophisticated genetic screening method designed to identify specific genetic mutations or defects associated with inherited diseases before embryo implantation during IVF treatment.

Through PGT-M, our expert embryologists will biopsy your embryos and send that biopsy to our genetic lab for deeper inspection to identify those free of genetic abnormalities, allowing us to select and transfer only the healthiest embryos for implantation. This advanced screening technology provides invaluable information to individuals or couples at risk of passing on a known genetic disorder to their offspring, empowering them to make informed decisions about their family’s future.

At Mate Fertility, we understand the emotional and ethical complexities surrounding genetic testing. That’s why our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and genetic counseling throughout the entire PGT-M process, from initial consultation to embryo transfer. We are committed to helping you build the healthy family you’ve always dreamed of.