From the Research
For women over 35 undergoing IVF with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), a day 5 embryo with normal genetic results offers good pregnancy chances, typically around 50-60%. This is significantly better than untested embryos in this age group, as supported by a study from 1 which found that PGT-A was associated with improved live birth rates in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss undergoing frozen embryo transfer. The success rate remains relatively high because PGT screens out chromosomally abnormal embryos, which become more common with advanced maternal age. Day 5 embryos (blastocysts) that reach this developmental stage and pass genetic testing represent the highest quality embryos with the best implantation potential. However, individual factors still matter, including uterine receptivity, embryo quality beyond chromosomal status, and overall health.
Some key points to consider in the context of PGT and IVF for women over 35 include:
- The importance of PGT in screening out chromosomally abnormal embryos, as highlighted in a study from 2 which evaluated chromosomal abnormalities in relation to consanguinity.
- The role of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in women achieving pregnancy through IVF with PGT-A, as discussed in 3, which suggests that NIPT is a valuable prenatal screening tool but should be interpreted with caution in women who have undergone PGT-A.
- The transfer process, which typically involves hormone preparation with estrogen followed by progesterone supplementation before the embryo transfer, as mentioned in the example answers.
While PGT significantly improves success rates for women over 35, it's essential to maintain realistic expectations as other age-related factors can still influence outcomes, as noted in 4 and 5. The most recent and highest quality study, 2, provides valuable insights into the features of chromosomal abnormalities in relation to consanguinity, further emphasizing the importance of genetic testing in IVF.