Discover why PGS and PGD are now PGT-A and PGT-M
Many patients at our Tennessee fertility center want to know why PGS and PGD are now PGT-A and PGT-M. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, (PGD) are terms that fertility specialists once used to describe genetic testing of embryos. However, PGS is now PGT-A, and PGD is PGT-M. Specialists in the fertility industry changed these names to provide more clarity and consistency.
More about why PGS and PGD are now PGT-A and PGT-M
To better understand why PGS and PGD are now PGT-A and PGT-M, it’s helpful to get insight into how we use these tests. Each can play a very important role in our Tennessee fertility center patients’ ability to conceive a healthy baby.
PGS, or PGT-A. PGT-A, the test originally referred to as PGS, is a way to determine whether an embryo is aneuploid, which means it has too few or too many chromosomes. Aneuploidy can cause miscarriage, embryo implantation failure and chromosomal disorders like Turner syndrome or Down syndrome. Specialists renamed this test to include the term “aneuploidy,” as it’s what this assessment tests for.
PGD, or PGT-M. PGT-M, the genetic test previously called PGD, screens embryos for specific genetic defects involving a single gene, like cystic fibrosis. As a result, specialists renamed this test to include the term “monogenic/single gene defects.”
Hopefully, these new names make it easier for patients to understand the purpose of each genetic test.
Who needs PGT-A or PGT-M?
While PGT-A and PGT-M can both help patients ensure they only transfer genetically normal embryos, some patients are better candidates for PGT-A, and others for PGT-M.
Ideal candidates for PGT-A. Women of advanced maternal age and their partners who do not have inheritable genetic disorders can benefit from PGT-A. In addition, patients who have experienced recurrent miscarriages or failed IVF cycles are good candidates for PGT-A.
Ideal candidates for PGT-M. Patients with known inheritable genetic disorders, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease, should utilize PGT-M. It can specifically test for the disorder that the patient carries.
The doctors at our Tennessee fertility center work closely with patients to help them determine if their chance of developing a healthy pregnancy would increase with these types of tests.
Contact us for more information about genetic testing as part of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
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