Sperm DNA testing and/or PGT?

[Jules0277]

Have you ladies and gents had experience of either or both and what results did you get? I’d like to know if it’s worth doing both or just going for PGT.

What number of embryos did you find were normal when doing PGT?

Thanks all.

[Ivfgotadream]

It depends on your reasons behind wanting to test really? If your husband has been on high dose really good preconception supplements like Proceive then dna fragmentation tests probably a waste of money. If he isn’t already on then maybe as well start taking them.

PGTA….if you’ve had several miscarriages and know you couldn’t go through another there is some benefit to testing….but if you only make a couple of embryos it’s not worth testing unless you have at least 5. I did PGTA aged 36 and didn’t get any normals. In thE U.K. not allowed to transferred abnormals so they have to be destroyed. I decided not to test the next embryos and had twins. PGTA doesn’t have a very high HFEAA rating because actually there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that it makes a difference to the outcome? That being said most people I know who transferred a “normal” did have a healthy baby

[Jules0277 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Thanks so much for the information, very helpful and interesting. The reason for considering PGTA and Sperm DNA testing is we’ve had 2 miscarriages (one blighted ovum and one Chemical, both with donor eggs) and the doctor after the first miscarriage suggested having some sperm tests if we had a second. Before we try again I wanted to consider if we should try anything different. I think you’re right regarding vitamins for sperm quality. I will ask the doctor if it’s worth testing the sperm DNA if my husband takes vitamins for at least 3 months. Seems pointless spending the money. It’s an interesting thought re PGTA, I will look into in more detail from a HFEA perspective and recent research to weigh up any benefits.

Thanks for replying. 😊

[Ivfgotadream in reply to Jules0277]

What is the age of your donor? Presumably she’s fairly young so I wouldn’t PGTA

[Ivfgotadream in reply to Jules0277]

Also given you are using a donor it’s more likely that there was no issues with the embryos themselves - I’d look at further testing on you first eg ERA, NK Cells etc

[Jules0277 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

All UK donors are below 35, we didn’t know the actual age. I had NK tests and have had intrelips (on first transfer) and also take prednisolone and blood thinner medication. I am going to ask regarding cycle transfer day as both have been on day 17 and I’ve read day 18 and 19 are supposed to be optimum. The only other tests we could have are sperm DNA etc.

[soccerkt6 in reply to Jules0277]

Hi lovely

Even if your husband has been taking vitamins it’s worth testing for DNA fragmentation. There are some things that cause DNA fragmentation - like varicoceles - that can’t be fixed with vitamins and require a procedure to correct. If your doctor has suggested testing for dna frag then I would definitely do it xx

[Jules0277 in reply to soccerkt6]

Ooh thank you I’ve never heard of varicoceles. Will definitely research. 😊

[Ranchu90]

Reading your replies I can understand that you are having IVF in UK. All I want to say is that in UK DNA fragmentation costs around £500 but in Spain (or in Europe in general) if I remember well we paid €160 or something in that region for a full sperm analysis not only DNA. Results were handed over to us on the same day. In regards to PGS testing, please be aware that we had 4 IVF cycles in total. We produced first 3 cycles only one embryo per cycle, even though my age was below 30 and my AMH was great 35. I anyway decided to do PGS testing for my 3rd and 4th cycle, as mentioned cycle 3 we had 1 embryo and we banked it and cycle number 4 we produced finally 4 embryos (despite all odds). We tested all 5 and 3 came back normal, 1 mosaic and 1 abnormal. We have now twins from 2 normal embryos, the other normal embryo (3rd one) ended up in chemical. If I look back now, I made the right decision PGS testing makes your journey shorter.

Good luck and take care of yourself 💕😚

[Jules0277 in reply to Ranchu90]

Thanks so much for your reply. Very interesting. I have also looked at HFEA website regarding PGS testing and surprisingly they don’t seem to rate it. It’s so difficult to decide when there are different opinions and varying outcomes.

PGS testing in UK is expensive. Did you have it done in Spain? Did the clinic say why you may have had a chemical for the 3rd normal embryo?

[Ranchu90 in reply to Jules0277]

I personally don't like HFEA and their advises, useless from my point of view. Every experience is different so for some people PGS is the only one solution for their problem or for others having steroids helps them to keep the pregnancy, just like my case. Where HFEA is also against steroids. I am a living proof that pregnancy can progress thanks to steroids after 3 chemicals and I am not the only proof. I prefer to go with my gut feelings and my history rather than looking at web sites and their advises. It is absolutely fine to search and read but following them is not my cup of tea... PGS is expensive everywhere, I had my treatment in Spain, but probably is worth paying 3000-4000£ to test them rather paying for each failed transfer the same money. Also you have to know if you are producing viable embryos as chemicals happen for 2 reasons mainly: either not a viable embryo or you body fails to keep a pregnancy (can be NK cells related or other) so I had to find out what is the reason for mines. We excluded viable embryo as we transferred a normal embryo 5AB, as this failed we moved to autoimmune testing, I been prescribed steroids and now we have 2 little angels 🥰💕.

[Jules0277 in reply to Ranchu90]

I’m on so much medication for each transfer, 20mg prednisolone, injections and pessaries for progesterone, blood thinners and previously iv intralipids and still have miscarried.Do you think it’s worth testing sperm as well as PGT testing? I don’t know whether to or just try again and think it was bad luck with the embryos we had to transfer. Of 6 x3 fertilised normally. 2 transferred and 1 frozen. We’ve just had a chemical with the frozen.

[Ranchu90 in reply to Jules0277]

I am not sure how much your clinic charges for DNA but you have think this way. If next cycle fails (hope not) would you do then DNA?! If so, than test it otherwise you will regret it. My clinic tests sperm on first appointment as they will advise if you need ICSI or other methods that are more "sophisticated" like IMSI. I did both tests and obviously after failed cycles I was ready to test everything I could. I have one import rule "test not guess". It will be great to have them all done. Do you have elevated NK cells as you had intralipids?