Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
During an IVF procedure, embryos are created; however, not all embryos can be implanted. In such situations, PGT or Preimplantation Genetic Testing comes to the rescue. In simple sentences, it is a medical procedure that is used to sort out the good embryos out of the genetically abnormal embryos. The embryos selected via Preimplantation Genetic Testing have higher chances of successful implantation and development into healthy babies.
What are the Types of Preimplantation Genetic Testing?
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A): This test checks for the correct number of chromosomes in an embryo. Having the right number of chromosomes is crucial for healthy development.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single-Gene Disorders (PGT-M): This test is used when one or both parents carry a gene for a specific inherited disease. It helps identify embryos that are free from the disease.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Structural Chromosome Rearrangements (PGT-SR): This test is for couples with known chromosomal abnormalities, such as translocations or inversions. It helps select embryos without these abnormalities.
How Does Preimplantation Genetic Testing Work?
In the very first place, eggs are extracted from the woman’s ovaries and are later fertilized with the partner’s sperm in a laboratory to create embryos. Once the embryos are developed, a few cells from each of them are removed and sent for genetic testing. Thereafter, professional Preimplantation Genetic Testing experts analyze the cells for genetic conditions, chromosomal abnormalities, or sex-linked disorders.
What Are The Benefits Of Preimplantation Genetic Testing?
The top advantage of Preimplantation Genetic Testing is its ability to wipe out the risk of chromosomal issues. Picking embryos with healthy genes boosts the chances of a pregnancy that goes well and results in a healthy baby. Also, by selecting the embryos most likely to survive, PGT can cut down on the number of IVF rounds needed to get pregnant.
Frequently Asked Questions
PGT has a good safety record. Yet, like other medical procedures, it carries a small chance of problems such as harm to the embryo. You should talk about possible risks with your fertility doctor.
PGT may be recommended for:
- Couples with recurrent miscarriages
- Women of advanced maternal age
- Couples with a family history of genetic disorders
- Couples with previous failed IVF cycles
PGT's success rate depends on many things. These include the kind of test, the lab doing the work, and how many cells they take from the embryo. In general, PGT proves reliable to find genetic problems.
PGT boosts the odds of having a healthy baby, but it can't promise one. Even with PGT, there's still a chance of miscarriage, birth defects, or other health problems.
PGT can figure out the sex of the embryo, but doctors don't use it for this. Sex selection is allowed in some countries but often faces ethical and legal limits.