PGT-A / PGT-M (Genetic Testing)
What’s the difference?
If you’re looking into IVF, you may have seen references to PGT-A and PGT-M. Both are types of genetic testing performed on cells from embryos in the embryology lab, but they have different purposes and screen for different genetic problems. Many people having fertility treatment will not need to have either of these types of testing done, but in some cases PGT-A or PGT-M may help your reproductive endocrinologist find healthy embryos to implant in your uterus during IVF treatment.
What is PGT-A and when is it used?
Preimplantation genetic screening, or PGT-A, is a type of genetic screening which determines if the cells in an embryo have the correct number of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormalities such as too many or too few chromosomes are among the most common reasons for failure of embryos to implant and of miscarriage, and are more likely to happen as a woman’s eggs get older. PGT-A does not test for a specific disease; however, Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 and PGT-A can detect that.
If you are 35 or older and are having IVF treatment with your own eggs or if you have had recurrent miscarriages, your fertility specialist may recommend PGT-A to increase the chances of transferring a healthy embryo. PGT-A can really be a game-changer because it permits the reproductive endocrinologist to transfer only the healthiest embryos, increasing the chances of successful IVF. Five or six embryos are needed for this test, which can be challenging, especially for older women with a decreased ovarian reserve. Some women may require more than one IVF cycle to grow enough embryos for testing.
What is PGT-M and when is it used?
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGT-M, is another type of genetic screening which detects the presence of genes for specific diseases. This test is important if you or your male partner have a history of genetic diseases in your family and you want to be sure you are not passing it on to a child. In some cases you may be a carrier for a disease without having the disease yourself. PGT-M tests for:
- Translocations of genes (exchange of chromosomal materials or other structural rearrangements), which can cause birth defects, mental retardation, or miscarriage
- Huntington disease
- Marfan syndrome
- Recessive genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs disease
- Genetic diseases carried on the X chromosome, such as hemophilia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Gender, which allows you to avoid an X-linked genetic disease (mostly boys have those)
- Abnormalities in the number of chromosomes
PGT-M, like PGT-A, is an extra step in the IVF treatment and is performed before an embryo or embryos are transferred.
PGT-M is a significantly more complex process than PGT-A since it examines for individual genes. The embryo biopsy is a delicate procedure, so it is important to choose a fertility center like SpringCreek with an experienced embryologist and a good track record in performing these tests. SpringCreek was one of the first fertility centers in the area to routinely offer PGT-A/PGT-M biopsies. Approximately 50% of our patients choose to utilize PGT-A/PGT-M.
PGT-A for recurrent loss:
PGT-A is helpful for patients with unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriages, unsuccessful IVF cycles, advanced maternal age, or male factor infertility. In those cases, the most likely cause is a chromosome abnormality.
PGT-A/PGT-M open doors for many couples wanting to have children who previously had nowhere to turn.
