PGT-A is one of the most common reasons for seeking treatment abroad. It is also one of the most misunderstood tests. Here’s what it does, what it doesn’t do, and for whom it is appropriate.
PGT-A (pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) involves taking a few cells from a blastocyst-stage embryo, prior to transfer, to check that the number of chromosomes is normal. An embryo with one too many or one too few chromosomes has very little chance of implanting, or most often results in a miscarriage. The idea, therefore, is to transfer only so-called euploid embryos.
In France, pre-implantation genetic testing is only authorised to screen for a serious and incurable genetic condition identified within the family. Screening for aneuploidies, in the absence of a known condition, is not permitted: the 2021 Bioethics Act considered this extension and rejected it. A couple who have experienced three miscarriages or four failed transfers of good-quality embryos cannot therefore access this procedure in France, except as part of a research study.
In Greece, PGT-A is carried out by numerous licensed clinics, on the basis of a medical indication provided by a doctor, within the framework of Law 3305/2005, which governs pre-implantation diagnosis. It is offered, not imposed, and a reputable clinic will explain why it recommends it in your specific case.
For a 32-year-old woman with no history of such issues, the benefits are far more debatable, and a reputable clinic will tell you as much.
This is where I prefer to be very clear. PGT-A does not create healthy embryos: it screens the ones that already exist. If you have three embryos and all three are aneuploid, you will have nothing to transfer, and you will have paid for the test. It does not detect all genetic abnormalities, only the number of chromosomes. There is a grey area involving so-called ‘mosaic’ embryos, the interpretation of which remains a matter of debate. Finally, a biopsy is an invasive procedure on the embryo; recent studies consider it safe in experienced hands, but it is not without risk.
Published data show that PGT-A increases the live birth rate per transfer and reduces the miscarriage rate, particularly for women aged 38 and over, but does not necessarily increase the cumulative live birth rate per egg retrieval cycle. In other words: it saves you time and spares you unnecessary transfers; it does not create opportunities that did not previously exist.
PGT-A therefore always involves two visits: one for egg retrieval, one for the transfer. The process for frozen embryo transfer is described here.
As a guide, expect to pay between 1,500 and 3,000 euros for the analysis, depending on the number of embryos tested, in addition to the cost of the IVF treatment itself. Some clinics charge a flat rate for a set number of embryos, whilst others charge per embryo. Ask for details of the billing method in writing.
With a donor under the age of 30, the proportion of aneuploid embryos is low, and PGT-A is rarely necessary. If a clinic routinely offers it to you in this context, ask why. There are situations where it remains justified, but these are the exception.
Yes. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is regulated by Law 3305/2005, and PGT-A is carried out by many licensed clinics, where medically indicated.
French law restricts pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to screening for a serious genetic condition identified within the family. The extension to include screening for aneuploidies was considered during the 2021 bioethics bill and rejected.
It increases the chances per transfer and reduces miscarriages, particularly after the age of 38, but it does not create healthy embryos: it screens the existing ones. The cumulative live birth rate per egg retrieval is not necessarily higher.
Two: one for egg retrieval and biopsy, and one for the transfer of the frozen embryo once the results are known, usually two to four weeks later.
Source: https://fertilitegrece.com/en/blog/pgt-a-genetic-testing-greece/ — Triada Baloukoudis, IVF patient coordination in Greece. General information, not medical or legal advice. Printed on
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