Exploring Advanced Preimplantation Genetic Testing in IVF

Conceiving a healthy child can be a challenging journey for many couples. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), only 40-60% of normally healthy couples under the age of 30 can conceive within the first three months of trying.

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has emerged as a critical tool in addressing these challenges. PGT allows for the detection of genetic abnormalities in embryos before implantation, significantly increasing the chances of a successful and healthy pregnancy. This advanced testing method helps prevent diseases, miscarriages, failed IVF cycles, and other complications, ensuring a safer and more reliable path to parenthood.

Advanced PGT Testing in IVF

The purpose of PGT is to detect any type of genetic abnormalities or hereditary disease and not transmit them to the offspring. It restricts transferring embryos that are incapable of pregnancy. Preimplantation Genetic Testing is an intrinsic part of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). It stops genetic or chromosomal defects before they transfer to the uterus.

Chromosomes are present inside each cell to keep all genetic information of DNA and genes etc. A normal human being has 23 pairs of chromosomes, each parent puts up one chromosome from each pair by the time the egg gets fertilized by a sperm cell

There are two types of chromosomal abnormalities

Numerical chromosomal abnormalities: An excess or missing chromosome.

Structural chromosomal abnormalities: A part of one chromosome gets bigger, inverted, missing, or transferred onto another chromosome.

Types of PGT Testing

The PGT Testing has three major types:

PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for aneuploidy):

This type of PGT testing identifies numerical abnormalities in embryos. It is an analysis of an embryo cell to ensure that it has a sufficient amount of chromosomes. PGT-A is performed by embryologists who firstly remove a cell from the embryo then it is further tested for no. of chromosomes. Aneuploid embryos are embryos with excess or missing chromosomes, under such conditions embryos have less possibility of developing a child.

PGT-M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for monogenic (single-gene) disorders):

It is known to detect common to specific disorders like anaemia and muscular dystrophy. Not every patient needs PGT-M but it has become an essential service for those who are carriers of genetic disease. That is why parents who have serious inherited diseases running from one generation to another generation prefer PGT-M testing. The Limitation of PGT-M testing is it can misdiagnose the result, especially for dominant disorders. Even though the accuracy rate of the PGT-M test is 97%, everything depends on genes, mutation, who is tested, and what disorder is diagnosed.

PGT-SR (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangements):

PGT-SR is a test in which the identified chromosomal abnormalities are found in parental genomes. PGT-SR testing is for Patients with chromosomal rearrangement as they have more chances of having an unsuccessful pregnancy. Chromosomal rearrangement leads to producing an incorrect number of embryos. The Limitation of PGT-SR is, that it can only be done when there are unbalanced forms of a rearrangement, and such tests are costly per cycle.

Role of IVF Genetic Testing

To address infertility, the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique is used. In this process, eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and transferred to a laboratory for fertilization and nourishment.

In today’s world, couples invest considerable time and money in family planning to achieve a healthy and happy future for their children. One of the key advancements in this field is IVF genetic testing, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and success of pregnancies achieved through IVF.

IVF genetic testing involves screening embryos for genetic abnormalities before they are implanted into the uterus. This testing helps identify embryos with the correct number of chromosomes and free from specific genetic disorders. By selecting the healthiest embryos, IVF genetic testing increases the chances of a successful pregnancy and reduces the risk of miscarriage and genetic diseases in the child.

This technology has made it possible for many families to successfully conceive and fulfill their dream of having a child. It has helped women of various age groups realize their lifelong dream of getting pregnant. Additionally, IVF genetic testing ensures that children are less likely to inherit genetic defects in their DNA, promoting healthier future generations.

Success Rates of Preimplantation Genetic Screening

Preimplantation genetic screening is a cutting-edge technology to detect genetic defects in human embryos with in vitro fertilization (IVF). The first thing that comes to mind is the success rates of such methods. There is a 60 to 65% probability of success per genetically normal embryo.

Let's talk about the critical aspect of preimplantation of genetic screening:

Age factor:

Women of age 30-35 got better results than women of age 40-44.

Body Capacity:

Women who have better Immunity and body weight have more capacity and fertility rate than women with weak immunity.

Will Power:

The mental strength of a woman can surpass any restriction she makes on a physical level.

Conclusion:

Advanced preimplantation genetic testing in IVF offers hope to many couples struggling with infertility, providing a safer and more reliable path to parenthood. By detecting genetic abnormalities early, PGT ensures healthier pregnancies and reduces the risk of genetic disorders. For those considering IVF, advanced PGT testing can significantly enhance the chances of a successful outcome.

If you're on the journey to conceive and seeking expert care, consider Matrika Hospital. Their dedicated team specializes in IVF and advanced genetic testing, offering personalized support to help you achieve your dream of having a healthy child.