IVF and PGT-A: UR Vistahermosa Explains Real Patient Cases
In the field of assisted reproduction, genetics plays a crucial role in ensuring successful pregnancies and healthy babies. One of the most advanced genetic tests available is Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A), an innovative technique that analyses the chromosomal composition of embryos before implantation.
What is PGT-A, and why is it important?
PGT-A is used in fertility treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to evaluate embryos and detect potential chromosomal abnormalities. These anomalies can lead to implantation failure, miscarriages, or serious genetic disorders.
The main benefits of PGT-A include:
- Higher chances of having a healthy child, as embryos with the correct chromosomal makeup are selected.
- Improved success rates in fertility treatments, reducing the number of failed attempts.
- Lower risk of miscarriage, by avoiding the implantation of embryos with genetic abnormalities.
- Reduced risk of multiple pregnancies, as it allows for the transfer of a single embryo with higher chances of success.
- Shorter time to achieve pregnancy, by transferring only viable embryos.
The Value of Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is a key aspect of IVF treatments. A specialised team can help couples better understand their genetic background and make informed decisions about their treatment.
UR Vistahermosa is one of the few IVF clinics in Spain that has its own Genetics Unit within the same clinic facilities. This allows the team to provide personalised genetic counseling and conduct chromosomal studies without the need for external laboratories, ensuring speed, precision, and comprehensive patient care.
Dr Valeria Sotelo, a fertility specialist and gynecologist at UR Vistahermosa, explains some of their patient cases where PGT-A was used to reach a successful pregnancy.
Dr Valeria Sotelo, UR Vistahermosa
Patient Case 1
A 34-year-old female patient came to our clinic with an AMH within normal range for her age and good ovarian reserve. Her 34-year-old partner was diagnosed with teratozoospermia.
They had 3 early miscarriages in the previous two years, trying to conceive naturally. They didn’t undergo previous treatments, but were very afraid of getting pregnant and miscarrying again.
The team recommended IVF+PGT-A due to recurrent miscarriages, and we obtained 6 blastocysts from the cycle: 4 euploid, 2 aneuploid. We performed a deferred transfer of 1 euploid embryo and the patient got pregnant. A healthy baby girl was born by natural birth.
Patient Case 2
The female patient was 39 years old, she came with an AMH within normal range for her age and good ovarian reserve for her age. Despite those results, she had never been pregnant.
Her male partner was 42 years old and had been diagnosed with normozoospermia.
They performed 3 previous IVF/ICSI cycles in their home country. A total of 7 blastocysts transferred, always with negative BHCG. We recommend IVF+PGT-A due to implantation failure and to go one step further than what they had already done back home.
We obtained 4 blastocysts, but only 1 euploid, which was unsuccessfully transferred. The day of the transfer, the progesterone level was low, so we changed the protocol and did a new IVF+PGT-A cycle. That time 5 blastocysts were obtained, all 5 euploid. We performed a delayed transfer of 2 euploid embryos with extra progesterone support, and she gave birth to twins by an emergency c-section.
Patient Case 3
The female patient was 41 years old, her AMH was low as well as her ovarian reserve. She had never been pregnant before. Her male partner was 30 years old, had normozoospermia, but high sperm DNA fragmentation. They had one failed cycle in their home country, no embryos reached the blastocyst stage
We recommended IVF+PGT-A due to maternal age and the male factor, we obtained 2 blastocysts, 1 euploid. Due to that, we performed a deferred transfer of 1 euploid embryo, and she became pregnant; a healthy baby boy was born by programmed c-section.
Patient Case 4
The female patient was 42 years old, she already had a 9-year-old daughter with her previous partner, 1 abortion with her previous partner, normal AMH for her age, but low ovarian reserve.
Her male partner was 30 years old and was diagnosed with normozoospermia.
They had 2 unsuccessful IVF treatments in their home country. We recommended IVF+PGT-A due to the maternal age. After a better response than initially expected, we obtained 4 blastocysts, 2 of them euploid, 2 aneuploid. We performed a delayed transfer of 1 euploid embryo, and she became pregnant. A healthy baby girl was born by an emergency C-section due to the risk of placenta praevia.
To Which Patients Would You Recommend PGT-A?
“PGT-A is recommended for patients with advanced maternal age (from 38 onwards), patients with implantation failure (more than 3 blastocysts transferred without a successful pregnancy), patients who have suffered recurrent miscarriages (both naturally or after IVF) and patients with a severe male factor (severely altered sperm analysis, high sperm DNA fragmentation or altered sperm FISH test result)” says Dr Valeria Sotelo, UR Vistahermosa.
If you’re over 38 or have experienced any of the above, PGT-A genetic testing could be a valuable option for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the specialists at UR Vistahermosa for a personalized evaluation of your IVF success chances.
