Previous IVF with bad PGT results. Spontaneous pregnancy would you do the Harmony Test

[Nickynackynoo2024]

Hi all,

A bit about me - I have a history of unexplained Infertility and miscarriages. Since 2019 - I have had 4 chemical pregnancies (Aug 19, Jul 20, Jul 21 and Jun 22. 1 of these chemical pg was from ART the rest were spontaneous Pg's.

I had IVF/ICSI w PGT in Sept 23. I had 3 embryos (5AA, 4AB, 4BA) but all of them came back aneuploid. To say me and DH were gutted would be an understatement. Especially after getting such good grading. Fast forward to December and I get a shock BFP test. Of course I am over the moon but full of anxiety. I am, for the first time, pregnant and made it past 6 weeks. My question is if anyone has had previous bad PGT results but then went on to have a healthy and genetically normal baby? Did you do any NIPTs? Would you do the Harmony or Panorama tests? I know I am going to be deemed high risk as I am 40 yo. I am coming up to 10wks so I guess now is the time to think seriously about what tests to go for.

Any advice/help please?

I don’t have the same experience, but the nhs will test you (if you opt for it) and if you’re high risk they’ll do the NIPT for free. So if you’re already 10 weeks I’d probably just wait for that. If you’re not high risk, that may settle your nerves and if not you could always do the NIPT then yourself. You’ll also get a sense at the 12 week scan if everything seems ok.
congratulations!

I would wait for the standard NHS 12 week tests to be carried out, these check for the likelihood of Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome.
I was unable to have these as my scan was booked for 13+2 weeks but baby was measuring 3 days ahead which apparently took me to the deadline of 13+5 weeks. As he was a wriggler they were unable to get the measurements needed that day and as I had hit the deadline they couldn't do the tests at a later date. I was absolutely beside myself with worry, they advised me to pay privately for an NIPT test.
I did book one privately and went to the appointment that afternoon to be told that they didn't have the tests needed on site. I didn't go back.
The NHS carried out a Quad test at 20 weeks which confirmed I was low risk for Downs (the other 2 weren't tested).
Maybe wait until your 12 week scan, see how it goes then if still unsure book additional tests. I'm sure you can have the NIPT until maybe 32 weeks so there is no deadline on having those if wanted.
I'm also high risk as 40 and had IVF but currently 30 weeks pregnant with a healthy little boy.
Wishing you all the best in your pregnancy :)

@Chaiandtoast that is sound advice. Thank you for taking the time to reply and thank you.

@SH998 Aww congratulations to you. That's encouraging to hear that baby boy is healthy and cooking nicely.

I have a scan booked in a couple of week which will make me 12w + 2 days so well within the timeframe. Fingers crossed. I am thinking I have received a miracle after all the heartache so trying to remain positive.

Wishing you and your family all the best 🤗💐

I had 7 miscarriages, I had tissue tested from 2 and they were both trisomies. I had one embryo PGT’d when we did IVF and that was aneuploid (Pataus)

I got pregnant again and had the Panorama test (aged 42) with all the bells and whistles (I paid privately) and it came back low risk for everything, all scans normal and I finally had a healthy baby.

It really depends on what you’re going to do with the results. We had already decided to TFMR if it came back with bad results so the sooner we knew what was going on, the better.

I’d always get the NIPT test. It’s the best screening test there is and you can accurately find out the sex. If you’re in the UK though I wouldn’t do Panorama as unless something’s changed since I had DS bloods have to go to California so it can be a longer wait for results vs Harmony etc

Honestly with your history, I'd be getting a NIPT. At 40, your background risk of T21 is 1:100 so your first trimester screen has a good chance of coming back high risk. If want to minimise any delays so I'd jump straight for a NIPT.

@Pollywoddles I'm so 😞 sorry. Miscarriages suck. But that's amazing news that you now have a healthy happy baby in your arms. I am going to go for the NIPT and most probably the panorama test as I want to be sure that this baby is healthy as early as possible.

@InTheRainOnATrain yes it is the same, I called the Birthing Company in London and they said its sent to California and takes about 7 - 10 days.

@ZuliKyanLarsFoz you're right. I am 100% going to get the tests and asap.

I have absolutely no knowledge of any of these tests! But thought I’d just share that I’m 42 and currently on our second cycle of IVF - on our first cycle we had the same as you, three embryos that all came back abnormal. We did a second round, and we ended up with 4 euploid embryos - so a totally different result. (We had one transferred yesterday so now in the 2 week wait!)

Do whatever you need to with testing etc, but also know that you may well just have a euploid embryo this time and some of it is just luck and timing.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

I did PGTA testing age 36 after multiple miscarriages and didn't get any normals. I chose to transfer 2 untested embryos on my next round and had twins - I paid for NIPT for peace of mind so that I could try and relax and enjoy my pregnancy a bit more x

I definitely would. I had all my testing done through the fetal medicine centre on Harley St.

@Always28 4 good eggs that's amazing! Did you do anything different? It's such a rollercoaster with pgt, one round is ok and the other isn't. We were gearing up for a second round & my IVF Dr told me to additionally take Spermidine supplements & he was going to change my meds. I did loads of research on Human Growth on a long protocol to start 2 weeks before I started the IVF meds. I am just thinking that for everything to be going ok so far (like never before) then something must have aligned.

Wishing you all the best for your 2ww. Fingers crossed 🙏

@hanschristmassolo Double congratulations on your twins! Twice the price but twice the fun. 😁The journey must have been tough but you have two blessings 🤗& to have them on your untested embryos, it just goes to show, that you can never call it.. it is all down to fate.

I am the same as you, I wont relax unless I know for certain that everything is ok. I couldn't leave it to chance. I'm 10 weeks this weekend and have a midwife app next week. I did mention NIPT to her when we arranged the app & she said "oh lets wait and assess if you're low/high risk" I had to point out that I am 40 and most def high risk.

@Wowzel Thanks for that recommendation, I will have a look at that company now. Hope your testing went well.

I'd second the recommendation for the Fetal medicine centre if you're near London. If you are willing and able to pay for harmony test, it gives you an accurate answer much more quickly and earlier than the nhs tests. The nhs initial tests can often scare you if you're a bit older too - they automatically build a higher risk in the initial assessment. They will give you a nipt test eventually though. As ever, it's a cost vs time issue.

We also did IVF and I know how nerve wracking the early days can be and how impatient I was to know everything is ok.

Wishing you all the best x

I didn’t do anything different other than they very slightly increased the dosage of stims I was taking. So second time around I wasn’t really that hopeful but it was just totally different.

Thank you - currently trying to find that balance between being hopeful but not too hopeful 🤦🏻‍♀️