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IVF with PGT

IVF with PGT can help ensure the transfer of a healthy embryo

Our Louisiana fertility doctors use IVF with preimplantation genetic testing, PGT-A, for hopeful parents who are concerned about chromosomal abnormalities, have a history of miscarriage, are older than 35, have experienced repeated IVF failure, have unexplained infertility or have previously delivered a child with chromosomal abnormalities. PGT helps to ensure that a healthy embryo is transferred.

Exploring IVF with PGT

The technology behind IVF with PGT-A has greatly improved, making the genetic screening of the embryos incredibly safe and accurate. The screening process is fairly straightforward.

  • Fertilization. After the hopeful mother’s eggs have been retrieved, they are sent to the lab where they will be fertilized with her partner’s sperm or donor sperm.
  • Biopsy. Six days after the eggs have been fertilized, the resulting embryos receive a biopsy. The biopsy involves making a small hole in the embryo so that multiple cells can be removed. Samples of the cells that will become the placenta are biopsied, while the inner cell mass that will become the baby is left untouched.
  • Cryopreservation. The next step in IVF with PGT involves flash freezing the embryos using a safe process called vitrification.
  • Genetic testing. The cells from the embryos are then tested for an abnormal amount of chromosomes. Most humans have 22 pairs of chromosomes. If there is a missing or an extra chromosome in an embryo, this could be an indication of an unhealthy embryo.
  • Results. After our Louisiana fertility doctors receive the preimplantation genetic screening report, which generally takes seven to 10 days, they will discuss the results with the patient. From there, hopeful parents and their fertility specialist will decide when the healthy embryo will be transferred.

IVF with PGT gives hopeful parents the peace of mind that the transferred embryo is chromosomally normal, offering the best possible chance of developing a healthy pregnancy.

Learn more about IVF with PGT

Beyond ensuring that only healthy embryos are transferred, PGT helps to prevent a pregnancy with multiples because our Louisiana fertility doctors are able to transfer one embryo at a time.

It’s also important to know that PGT is used to screen for overall chromosomal health, and is not used to detect specific genetic disorders. If the embryos need to be tested for a known genetic disorder, preimplantation genetic testing for monogenetic disease (PGT-M) can be used.

Our fertility specialists are here to offer support and answer any questions about the exciting benefits of IVF with PGT.

Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment with our Louisiana fertility doctors.