PGT testing of embryo’s -is it worth it ?

[hopefullsosbry]

Hi

we are thinking of doing PGT genetic testing with out next round of IVF and wondered if anyone has done this, do you think it is worth it ? Can it determine whether any abnormal chromosomes found are from the mother or fathers cells?

thanks

It depends on your circumstances. I’m 38 with a history of recurrent miscarriage, at least one loss due to a genetic abnormality and my partner had male factor issues. Totally worth it for us as 3/7 embryos were normal and those that were abnormal had complex issues. We also had karyotyping to analyse our own chromosomes. The whole process gave us peace of mind but then we were also ideal candidates for it.

Hi, thanks for sharing your story, we haven’t had luck with ivf or natural, ends in miscarriages. no obvious sign of infertility reason apart from my partner having slightly low morphology sperm parameters, we are just looking for answers as to
why it’s not working basically and thought it must be abnormal chromosomes?? Did you have the 3 healthy embryos transferred if you don’t mind me asking ? Can they identify if it’s my eggs or my partners sperm that’s abnormal do you know?

thanks

How much testing have you had? Has your partner seen a urologist such as Jonathan Ramsay to be checked for varicocele and have a sperm dna test and urine culture? My partner had “perfect” sperm based on his basic sample but when closely investigated there was a hidden infection which was affecting the dna in his sperm.

And have you had an endometrio? Any immune testing?

This is my first time trying IVF. All previous pregnancies were natural. And I’m having first FET in a few days.

The only way of knowing if there’s an egg quality issue is to go through the process of IVF really. But I’d be looking more closely at your partner first.

I’ve been through a lot of unnecessary testing and treatment and wish I’d done this sooner.

I did 1 egg collection without it - 2 failed transfers. Had a history of recurrent miscarriages anyway before IVF. Decided to do it on 2nd egg collection - I was age 36. Only 2 blastocysts to test. Both came back abnormal.

Decided not to test again but changed protocol and had twins on next egg collection/ transfer

It's very personal to your circumstances. In the UK cannot transfer abnormals so could end up with nothing from your cycle. I decided if it was a choice between going through another miscarriage or giving an embryo a chance then I'd rather do that

@MyEasterEggs thanks so much for reply. Just to explain where we are .. after two naturally pregnancy miscarriage and over two years of trying we decided to go for IVF as my age.. in the middle of an IVF cycle just now. I had ovarian scan and thyroids checks, all seems fine, (I have a child to my ex, that was 20 years ago when I was 19 .. I am now 39) partner (no other kids) got sperm parameters checked but not DNA fragmentation, we did enquire about this but the IVF doc didn’t recommend as said it’s usually only associated with low count? His morphology was low but everything else above average ?

We got 11 eggs - all mature and all 11fertilised then went on to have 5 blastocyst. Had 3 single embryos transfered so far, one fresh done nothing, one frozen don’t nothing then this last one implanted but came away. We still have two frozen but just planning ahead incase these two don’t work we want to get on the waiting list of a different clinic and thought about the PGT.

Partner never had urine culture or checked for varicocele or seen anyone but the doc at the fertility clinic, but I shall be looking into these now thanks so much .. my lining all seems good and think seemliny, never been recommended to take extra meds for lining etc .. just would like to understand why it keeps coming away, the 1st miscarriage went 11 weeks and at out 1st scan there was no heart beat and baby measured 5 weeks but my placenta kept growing then came away naturally, never had any bleeding through the 11 weeks till it all came away? So I know I have carry etc but we just think it must be DNA /genetic abnormalities?!
@anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled thanks for sharing, I think I would also feel the same way as you and risk the chance of miscarriage than not have any viable, I have also read that embryos can ‘fix’ themselves sometimes and expel any ‘duff’ cells to makee red the placenta and keep the cells with DNA to make the fetus ?

will try these other two frozen we have and hope one works and if not then will get the extra testing you taking about @MyEasterEggs .

Thanks xx

@anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled when you got your test results was it clear where the abnormalities were ? Can they tell if it’s a treat from mother or father side ? Thanks

@anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled Trait ** not treat. Sorry

@hopefullsosbry

You should get a report from the genetic testing company - the clinics all pretty much use the same one - Cooper Genomics - that will detail out whether it's a segmental, mosaic (low or high) and also if it's an abnormal or complex abnormal and also the chromosomes impacted. Some clinics will agree to transfer a mosaic of only one chromosome affected (I was allowed to transfer a monosomy 11 but was a BFN)

It doesn't tell you whether it's come from you or your husband - you'd need to have karyotyping done on you and your DH to see if you have any balanced/unbalanced translocations

You'll be offered genetic counselling to discuss your results - I declined as was pretty well read going into it

Anything involving downs / edwards / pateus chromosomes a clinic just won't agree to transfer

Read up on the science as much as you can. They basically only biopsy 5 cells from what would become a placenta out of a possible 100 or more which might be present on day 5. The margin for error is very high - pick a totally different 5 cells you'd likely get a totally different result

My partner had a high count so that wasn’t the case for us. If he does decide to get checked out do see Jonathan Ramsay. He works with a lot of the clinics and he is brilliant.

As far as future testing goes, as PP says it’s very personal. After 6 losses including a stillbirth in the second trimester I’m firmly in the testing camp and wouldn’t risk another loss. And I’m happy to have these three chances and draw a line after that.

With your upcoming transfers, what I will say is that two of our lowest graded embryos came back normal. So there’s hope for your remaining two and you have a plan if it doesn’t work out 💛

We pgta tested our embryos from 3 rounds (5 - only 1 normal and 1 transferable
mosaic from round 2, round 1 and 3 made 3 abnormals). Our 4th round I decided not to test as doing a whole stims round only to be told all embryos are abnormal is mentally tough and I just couldn’t bear the finality. clinically, it’s a good thing to do to limit miscarriages especially if you get lots of embryos (we only ever get 2 from 10-12 eggs).

As a pp said above, I’d rather risk the miscarriage now (I’ve lost 10 natural
pregnancies anyhow) by transferring untested. It feels like you have more hope that way.

@MyEasterEggs thanks so much for advise, my partner is getting bloods for hormone levels checked tomorrow at doc and checked for varicocele also, we wouldn’t have thought of that if you hadn’t suggested so thank you 🙏.. you just never know what can go unmissed, or at lest it just be something else to rule out if it isn’t that, we are also planning the sperm DNA fragmentation test with next cycle if these two last ones don’t work. I am so sorry to hear about your loss😔 it must be so hard but your an amazingly strong woman, you have kept going, and stayed hopefully, wishing you all the luck in the world for your last 3 and your up coming FET! Prayers and positive vibes your way 🥰.. we have just filled out the paper work etc and wait now to start our FET with next cycle which will be about 3 weeks time 🤞🏽

@anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled thanks so much for the info, I have been reading up as much as I can (can prob get a degree in fertility testing now) haha .. The margin for errors as you say does seem quite high, i guess we still have a few months to decide so will know duets best at the time, congratulations on your twins ! That’s amazing news .. was that from two embryo transfers at same time it was that just by chance?
@Phrenologistsfinger Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear you have had so much loss .. must be so hard and challenging to try stay so positive, you have been though so much 😔.. I really hope, if you do more in the future that this works for you.

it’s so hard when infertility seems to be ‘unexplained’ it’s defo the most frustrating thing, thanks all for sharing and giving me so much advise I really appreciate ☺️Xx

@hopefullsosbry wishing you all the best with your upcoming appointments. I had my FET yesterday and all went well so fingers crossed for a happy outcome. Come join us if you’re headed for FET soon:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/infertility/4609736-fet-in-septemberoctober?page=10&reply=120378406

Please could you share the name of the test that identified the hidden infection @MyEasterEggs?

He had a urine culture at TDL @Decaffe it was organised by Jonathan Ramsay.

@MyEasterEggs Does that just show up for any bacteria that may be present ? Thanks

Yes @hopefullsosbry in our case it was bacterial vaginosis. He had no symptoms but tested positive, I was having recurring UTIs but tested negative, so it was a bit strange. Assuming we’ve been passing it back and forward for the last few years. I went on antibiotics, probiotics and probiotics to support my microbiome and that made all the difference for me. He had antibiotics plus some probiotic support while he took them.

@MyEasterEggs thanks for the add to the group, I will be staying next transfer with my next cycle which will start end of this month with my period so prob mid November I get the transfer. Ah that’s good you got your partner tested for that, will defo get my partner to get a urine culture also. Thanks so much, you have been really helpful 🙂 xx