Is Genetic Testing for IVF Worth It?
UPDATED ON 29 MAR. 2022
AUTHOR
Dr Jay Mehta
Scientific Director & IVF Specialist with 10+ years of experience
TREATMENT
CONDITION
GET IN TOUCH ON
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common and successful reproductive treatment. During an IVF, the mother’s eggs are fertilized with the father’s sperm outside the body in a lab to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy. In addition, the embryos formed with IVF develop stronger, as a result, increasing their chances of implantation in the uterus.
But did you know that genetic testing is a prerequisite step before IVF? Making babies isn’t as simple as it once was. Besides the traditional methods, prospective parents now have various options for dealing with reproductive issues. For some, they’re worried about passing on any genetic or chromosomal abnormalities to their future offspring.
We may now evaluate the genes and chromosomes of an embryo through a method known as preimplantation genetic diagnostics. Here’s a quick rundown on the subject.
What is genetic testing?
To confirm or rule out suspected genetic diseases. This test also examines changes/abnormalities in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. Blood, amniotic fluid, and body tissue samples are the three types of samples. The typical duration for this testing is 5-60 minutes. Within a week, the results will be accessible.
It’s vital to remember that genetic testing requires the embryo to be generated through in-vitro fertilization. In other words, embryos are tested in a lab before being placed into a uterus. Therefore, even if someone can get pregnant without IVF, if they want to undertake this testing, the embryo must be generated outside the body so that testing and diagnosis can take place. As a result, the process will almost certainly be costly.
Types of Genetic Testing
PGT was also known as PGS (preimplantation genetic screening) or PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) (preimplantation genetic diagnosis). Genetic testing is divided into two types: PGS and PGD.
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) determines whether an embryo has the correct number of chromosomes before it is implanted. Aneuploidy occurs when an embryo does not have the correct quality of chromosomes.
Another sort of genetic screening is PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis), which detects the presence of genes for specific disorders.
Benefits of Genetic Testing for IVF
There are various reasons to get your embryos genetically tested:
1. When there are multiple embryos to choose from, you can easily choose your best ones –
The quantity of eggs retrieved by a woman fluctuates and can sometimes result in a significant number of embryos. The most suitable embryos for transfer might be picked based on their appearance or growth pace. Genetic testing can also assist in selecting a highly capable embryo, allowing for a single embryo transfer with a high possibility of implantation.
2. Reduce the odds of an embryo with a genetic defect –
The number of genetically competent embryos decreases as women age. This can lead to fewer pregnancies, more miscarriages, and a higher risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities. PGT cannot erase these worries, but it can help increase the chances of success.
3. Unexplained infertility regularly –
Around 15% of people trying for a baby experience unexplained infertility. When you test your embryos, you might be able to figure out what’s causing the problem. The number of genetically competent embryos for those women may be lower than predicted for their age, and testing can help locate the embryo with the best probability of conception.
4. Avoid passing on a specific genetic disease to your children –
PGT could be used to determine the total number of chromosomes and their location, known as PGT-a (where “a” refers to “abnormal-chromosome status”), or to detect a specific abnormal gene, known as PGT-m (where “m” refers to “monosomy” or “monogenic”). If you have a genetic disease that you don’t want to pass down to your children, PGT-M can be utilized to erase the problem for your family’s future generations.
The ultimate benefit of PGS is that it may help IVF patients get pregnant faster and require fewer IVF cycles in the future if they have it and transfer chromosomally normal embryos. This alleviates tension while also saving money. PGS may not guarantee a live birth on its own, but it does provide couples with a sense of security and control. As a result, many people will be happy to pay for it.
Conclusion
Whether or not to undertake genetic testing on embryos is a highly personal decision you and your doctor should make together. However, knowing all the facts will enable you to make the most informed decision possible.
If you’re still not sure if genetic testing is right for you, schedule a free consultation with doctors to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of IVF genetic testing.
Reach out to us and connect with Our IVF Specialists in Mumbai Dr. Jay Mehta at Shree IVF Clinic is highly qualified and experienced. No matter what type of Infertility Problem you have, we offer expert advice and consultation. Contact today!
AUTHOR
Dr Jay Mehta
Scientific Director & IVF Specialist with 10+ years of experience
TREATMENT
CONDITION
CALL US 24/7 FOR ANY HELP
GET IN TOUCH ON
Share Article on
Recommended Reading
How Accurate is Preimplantation Genetic Screening?
Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) offers 97% accuracy, identifying normal vs. abnormal chromosomes. An advanced technology for reliable IVF results
Is PGS necessary in IVF?
When one is planning for an IVF treatment, it is very important to get Genetic Testing completed. The trying couples may have some medical conditions that would affect their children later. Not to mention, they may pass on their condition to their offspring, as some disorders are hereditary in nature. And IVF treatment is performed when regular conception is not working. Thus, Genetic Testing would also ensure that one has a safe pregnancy through IVF.