has anyone gone through PGT-A?

[100_questions]

hello just looking to share stories with someone who may have gone through PGT-A as I’m currently going through this and have some concerns. Thank you

[Bimsie1310]

I did PGTA on my recent batch a few weeks ago, you can PM me if you like

[RekaV]

Hi, I had 4 natural miscarriages which is why we started IVF just over a year ago. We had to PGT-A test all of our embryos- we only had one euploid and one mosaic embryo after 3 egg collections and I’m currently 16 weeks pregnant with our euploid embryo. For us this was a life saver and we avoided having to go through any more miscarriages. X

[100_questions in reply to RekaV]

Congratulations! I just read about PGTA reducing rates of miscarriages - I had no idea. I wish you all the best with your pregnancy..

[RekaV in reply to 100_questions]

Thank you! Best of luck to you and your wife as well! Xx

[leo1980]

hello! We had PGTA on both successful rounds of IVF (I was 40 at the time) 44 now and due in about 10 days time.

Saying that I had negatives too with it during my journey however we really saw the benefits of PGTA when we reached our 12 week scans and NHS testing suggested we high risk for Downs etc. We were absolutely fine as embies were screened beforehand so we were good! I have a friend similar age to me who didn’t PGTA embryos and got a positive so is now waiting to hear if everything is ok! Best of luck

[Sja1981 in reply to leo1980]

What do you mean by got a positive?

[leo1980 in reply to Sja1981]

Her baby has Down syndrome. She did 2 tests so far.

[Loveelou in reply to leo1980]

Hi leo

Congrats on your imminent bundle of joy!

May I ask what tests your friend has done?

I did not PGTA because it was not offered but 26 weeks now and passed the NHS screening but constantly back of my mind should I have done NIPT.

[leo1980 in reply to Loveelou]

hey. Not sure I will ask. One was just the measurement of Fluid at the back of baby head at 12 weeks. She was a high probability. Then went back a week later for a blood test. She is now at the stage where they use a needle. I think if you are 26 weeks and all of tracking well on your scans etc you should be ok!

[100_questions in reply to leo1980]

Congratulations and all the best with your pregnancy!

[Toffeepudding99]

I’ve opted for PGTA on both of my cycles- one euploid on each batch test- first sadly ended in miscarriage, second currently 29 weeks. Was recommended for us as I’m 40. X

[100_questions in reply to Toffeepudding99]

I’m so sorry, my wife and I are 39 and have been through 2 rounds of IVF before and both times failed despite good embryo’s. Now PGTA has been recommended to us because I have a hereditary disease. Still in the very early stages. I hope you’re doing okay.

[Sja1981]

Yeah I did it in Spain in July and wish I never had.Do clarify how your clinic handles aneuploids as mine withheld information that they would be discarded. They also didn't prepare me for the fact they could be aneuploid. I was just given happy clappy be optimistic advice, even when I pushed to have a plan B. And was then told to move to donor eggs out of the blue with no warning.

Hence moves clinics to Greece and PGTA is not so widely used here.

I'm intrigued to know what percentage of profits a clinic gets for referring embryos for PGTA, as it's a lucrative business and some companies are making a shit ton of money from this test that isn't conclusive. Check the massive lawsuits underway right now in the US due to PGTA companies overstating the reliability of their tests in their Marketing. Its truly horrifying. As is the thought of discarding potentially viable embryos.

I'm 43 btw. At this age, if you're only producing 1-3 embryos, the thinking can be to get them back inside rather than have them potentially thrown away due to some inconclusive test.

[100_questions in reply to Sja1981]

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with it. I think I’ve got some research to do as I haven’t come across the term ‘aneuploids’ before. My wife and I are 39 and in the UK and have been recommended this because I have been diagnosed with a genetic disease. We’re still in the very early stages.

[Loveelou in reply to 100_questions]

Hi there,

Wishing you the best of luck,

If you have been diagnosed with a genetic disease then you are the type of patient PGTA was actually developed for. To screen potentially harmful genetic disease. Check out Robert Winston advice/website. I think he was one of the scientists that pioneered PGTA. Unfortunately now PGTA has become an expensive and very lucrative add on for clinics particularly in the US and frankly is not needed in every case.

The only thing is if you do the test and the embryo is aneuploid or “not viable” it’s highly likely that the embryo will be discarded. I would have a discussion with the clinic embryologist if you can. Or check out Emma the embryologist on instagram.

[Sja1981 in reply to 100_questions]

You need to check what the testing company considers abnormal/aneupliod, as this varies from one lab to the next. And secondly if the test of the biopsy says aneuploid, what the clinic does with it.

It was withheld from me that a) at my age, I could have aneuploids and v) that they refuse to transfer aneuploids and they will be discarded.

Another woman at my clinic had to hire a lawyer to get her embryos transported to her home country so she could transfer them.

A genetic test makes the PGTA testing more logical as you will need that extra detail to identify embryos not carrying the condition.

[Wishinandahopin]

I did it on both rounds. My two euploid transfers didn’t take (not necessarily embryo related) and I seemed to make a lot of mosaic embryos. I did a load of research into mosaic embryos and decided to transfer one (with lots of changes to the first rounds also) and it stuck and he’s 8 months and perfectly healthy and chromosomally normal etc which is what they are finding more and more about mosaics.

So basically only do it if your clinic will def transfer mosaics if needed.

Happy to answer any questions!

[Wishinandahopin in reply to Wishinandahopin]

Also one way it did really help me was to realise that there was something more going on in my body than just the embryos as to have two euploids in a row fail was only like a 12%chance so I knew I needed to look into implantation failure more. Checkout @emmatheembryologist on Instagram as she has some PGT-A q+as in her saved stories. Also Remembryo is a great website with lots of articles written by an embryologist summarising the studies there are etc.

Nowadays it’s rare for a true aneuploid to take but any clinic that won’t transfer mosaics is throwing away some perfectly healthy embryos.

So I don’t think it’s the be all and end all but certainly a good puzzle piece to have when doing IVF especially if over 38/39

[100_questions in reply to Wishinandahopin]

Thanks for all the information

[100_questions in reply to Wishinandahopin]

I didn’t even know that this was a thing, we’re not that far into the whole process yet. The whole euploid, aneuploid, mosaic embryo is all terminology I still need to get my head around! All the best with your pregnancy..

[Wishinandahopin in reply to 100_questions]

There is a lot to get your head around. I found the two sources I shared break it down quite well. So I hope you can get your head around it- feel free to shoot any questions over!

Thank you! I actually meant he’s 8 months old now- had him in Feb. But yes every inch of it all, every needle, every heartbreak, every pound spent was worth it. I really hope you can get to feel that way soon. Will keep everything crossed for you xx