SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR EMBRYOS? UNDERSTANDING PGT-A IN IVF
Should every IVF embryo be genetically tested?
One of the most common questions patients ask during IVF is whether Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) is worth doing.
Some people believe genetic testing simply adds unnecessary cost to IVF treatment, while others feel it provides valuable information that can help guide embryo selection.
In this video, Dr Anthony Picton, Fertility Specialist at Vitalab, explains the science behind PGT-A, what the latest research shows, and how genetic embryo testing may influence treatment decisions.
What is PGT-A?
When patients hear about PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy), one of the first questions they ask is:
“Is it really worth the extra cost?”
It’s a fair question.
But perhaps the better question is:
Can you afford not to know which embryo you’re transferring?
At Vitalab, Dr Anthony Picton believes PGT-A isn’t simply another laboratory test. It’s one of the most valuable investments many IVF patients can make because it has the potential to save something far more valuable than money:
Time. Heartbreak. Emotional energy.
People often think IVF is only expensive financially.
It isn’t.
According to Dr Picton, every IVF journey comes with three costs:
- Financial cost
- Emotional cost
- Time cost
Every unsuccessful embryo transfer carries all three.
Another month passes.
Another pregnancy test.
Another two-week wait.
Another cycle of hope followed by disappointment.
If those months can be reduced by transferring the embryo most likely to succeed first, why wouldn’t you want that information?
What Is PGT-A?
PGT-A is a genetic test performed on embryos created through IVF.
Once embryos reach the blastocyst stage (Day 5 or Day 6), a few cells are carefully removed from the part that will become the placenta.
These cells are analysed to determine whether the embryo has the correct number of chromosomes.
This allows fertility specialists to identify embryos that are chromosomally normal and prioritise those for transfer.
Importantly, the appearance of an embryo under the microscope does not tell us whether it is genetically normal.
That’s why PGT-A provides information that embryo grading alone cannot.
The Biggest Myth About PGT-A
Many people believe PGT-A is only useful if you’re over 38 or 40 years old.
The evidence tells a different story.
Even in women under the age of 35, up to 60% of embryos may be chromosomally abnormal.
That means if you produce five embryos, statistically only about two may have the chromosome complement needed to develop into a healthy pregnancy.
Without testing, there is no way of knowing which two those are.
Which Costs More?
Let’s put this into perspective.
A Frozen Embryo Transfer costs approximately R40,000.
PGT-A testing costs approximately R7,000 per embryo, in addition to embryo biopsy costs.
Imagine having five embryos.
Without PGT-A, you could potentially transfer several embryos that never had the ability to become a healthy pregnancy.
Each unsuccessful transfer costs:
- Money
- Time
- Emotional resilience
With PGT-A, you have the opportunity to identify the embryos most likely to succeed before beginning your transfer journey.
Instead of asking, “How much does PGT-A cost?”
Dr Picton encourages patients to ask:
“How much could repeated unsuccessful transfers cost me?”
Every Month Matters
Fertility treatment isn’t only about achieving pregnancy.
It’s also about how long it takes to get there.
Every unsuccessful embryo transfer may delay pregnancy by another month—or longer.
For many couples, reducing the number of unsuccessful transfers means reaching pregnancy sooner while avoiding repeated emotional highs and lows.
That is why Dr Picton believes PGT-A is an investment in time as much as it is an investment in science.
When a Normal Embryo Doesn't Implant
One of the greatest advantages of PGT-A is the information it gives your fertility team.
If a genetically normal embryo fails to implant, the focus shifts away from questioning the embryo and towards understanding the uterine environment.
This allows doctors to investigate factors such as:
- Endometrial receptivity
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- The endometrial microbiome
- Other conditions that may affect implantation
Instead of wondering whether the embryo or the uterus was responsible, your treatment can become more targeted and personalised.
Better Information. Better Decisions.
PGT-A doesn’t promise pregnancy.
No fertility treatment can.
What it does provide is knowledge.
Knowledge about which embryos are most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy.
Knowledge that may reduce unnecessary embryo transfers.
Knowledge that can reduce miscarriage caused by chromosomal abnormalities.
Knowledge that helps your fertility specialist make more informed decisions throughout your treatment journey.
For Dr Anthony Picton, that knowledge is invaluable.
Because every embryo transfer represents more than a medical procedure.
It represents hope.
And hope deserves the best possible chance.
Watch Dr Anthony Picton Explain PGT-A
In this video, Dr Anthony Picton explains:
- Why he strongly supports PGT-A
- Why embryo appearance isn’t enough
- Why younger patients may also benefit
- How PGT-A may reduce unnecessary transfers
- Why understanding embryo genetics can save time, money and emotional heartache
If you’re considering IVF, speak to your Vitalab fertility specialist about whether PGT-A is appropriate for your individual treatment plan.
