Motherhood has changed a lot over the last few years.It’s becoming more and more common to seek pregnancy in our 30’s and even closer to 40. Usually this isfor social reasons such as the search for job stability.
Although this is an increasingly normal fact, the truth is that as age advances the chances of getting pregnant naturally are lower. As the years go by, both the quality and the quantity of women’s eggs begin to decline.
In this regard, genetic research has evolved rapidly in recent years.
Today, preimplantation genetic testing has improved the pregnancy rates of patients undergoing assisted reproduction treatment, especially after the age of 35. In addition, based on recent statistics, the probability of miscarriage is reduced by 30 to 40%.
How can PGT-A developed by Igenomix help to achieve pregnancy?
Genetic screening prior to embryo implantation is performed during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments and helps to determine which embryos are “euploid”, i.e. those with a normal number of 46 chromosomes. In this sense, we must differentiate between “aneuploid” embryos, which are those that have too many or too few chromosomes and are not suitable for transfer to the maternal uterus because the probability of pregnancy is low, and “euploid” embryos. The identification of the latter can contribute to significantly improve the chances of the pregnancy reaching term.
Test results from the PGT-A, developed by Igenomix, show that older women can successfully achieve pregnancy. Studies developed by Igenomix indicate that women aged 38 to 42 have a live birth rate similar to those of women aged 37 or younger in cases where a euploid embryo has been transferred.
Even in cases where frozen embryo transfer has been performed, the live birth rates were very similar for both groups: a live birth rate of 60% for women 38 to 42 years old and a live birth rate of 64% for women under 38 years old.
How is the PGT-A test performed?
For the correct analysis of embryos, an embryo biopsy must be performed on day 5, 6 or 7, when the embryo is in the blastocyst stage.
For this, a small sample of the embryo is taken and analyzed chromosomally to determine those that do not show any chromosomal alteration before transferring the healthy embryo.
What are the benefits of PGT-A?
- Reduced miscarriage rates.
- Higher pregnancy rates per transfer.
- Fewer IVF treatment cycles needed (less time and investment).
- Greater chance of having a healthy baby.
- Fewer transfers to achieve pregnancy.
Who is the PGT-A test recommended for?
The PGT-A test is recommended especially in the following cases:
- Advanced maternal age: 35 years or older
- Repeated miscarriages: women who have suffered two or more miscarriages
- Several failed IVF cycles: two or more failed IVF cycles
- Male infertility: low sperm quantity and/or quality
- Couples with previous pregnancy with chromosomal abnormality
- Recurrent implantation failures: the egg is successfully fertilized but is not able to implant in the uterus
