PGS testing - is it safe or not ?

[janett2]

Good afternoon, we are in a dilemma to go for PGS testing or not for safety reasons ? It costs around 3k in our clinic. This is our first IVF cycle.

Our main concern is about the biopsy of the embryo. If the biopsy will damage the embryo ? We are worried if the procedure itself will cause any birth defects for the child ( since its invasive )

Any suggestions would be much helpful ? 🙏

bumping the thread

Hi, myself I know a woman with several failed IVF who got pregnant via IVF PGS. From what I know PGS is recommended in certain cases like pregnancy losses, failed IVFs, or implantation failure. Also, as with any laboratory procedure, there is also a small chance that your embryo could be damaged during the biopsy, but this risk varies according to the skill and experience of the embryologist (source: https://fertilityroad.com/mag/pgta-what-how-worth-the-cost/ Asking your clinic about their experience in the diagnostics could help you make an informed decision. Hope this helps. All the best.

Thanks @blacksnow :)

My main concern is about the safety of biopsy itself.

Hi OP

We did PGTA testing in our second cycle after our first cycle ended with a miscarriage. In our second cycle we got one embryo and tested it, it was normal and I now have a beautiful and healthy four month old.

I extensively researched any potential risks of PGTA testing before we took the decision to test. They usually biopsy on day 5 embryos so cells are only taken from the trophectoderm cells which will make the placenta, not from the cells that will form the baby.

Here is all my research, it has actually been found that where embryos are biopsied and survive, rather than the biopsy causing birth defects, it almost acts as a filter. So if the embryo survives and continues to grow after biopsy it actually means it is less likely to form a baby with birth defects.

PGTA adverse effects?

No significant risks in perinatal outcome
https://touroscholar.touro.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1247&context=sjlcas

No effect on cognitive ability of 5 year olds
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24993932/

No effect on cognitive dev. at 4yo followup
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236087331_The_effect_of_preimplantation_genetic_screening_on_neurological_cognitive_and_behavioural_development_in_4-year-old_children_Follow-up_of_a_RCT

Cleavage biopsy has no effect on 9 yo outcomes
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/33/1/147/4614539

No effect on 5yos
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028219300767#bib12

Summary of child outcomes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7463885/#!po=0.684932

References to PGT-A
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/659/htm#B121-ijms-23-00659

PGT-A decreases risk of birth defects
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1921737/v1/8f7a1211-3967-4ad2-83a1-0cd8d03a1fc3.pdf?c=1660231107

In horses, biopsy associated with reduced miscarriage rate
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432017303834

https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1921737/v1/6e3377e3-c5c2-41a2-bedb-595d2598737b.pdf?c=1670834682

Correct link for study showing PGTA decreases risk of birth defects

I did genetic testing. 3 out of 7 came back normal. For me, the risk of implanting embryos which could never work (and the money /
Time taken / stress mentally and physically) outweighed everything else x

@janett2 I did PGTA testing with my first cycle, due to age and lots of chemical pregnancies. Unfortunately 4 out of 4 were abnormal with no chance at all of viable pregnancy. Currently will start second cycle and if we get enough embryos will test too. It helps to avoid stress to go through chemicals or mc, and in my case it is recommended. There's always a tiny risk as with everything but positives outweigh them. I also didnt waste time to go through transfers that wouldn't work.
Good luck! It is not an easy decision xx