Will screening thawed embryos give accurate results?

Reply:

According to the 2023 guidelines of the International Society of Reproductive Genetics, cases of three or more failed implantations with good embryo quality are indicated for pre-implantation genetic testing (also known as embryo screening).

The embryo implantation process is influenced by embryo quality, uterine factors, and the interaction between the embryo and the uterine lining.

Many causes lead to implantation failure, including chromosomal aneuploidy.

This can change the genetic balance, loss of chromosomes, leading to no fertilization, embryo failure or implantation failure, miscarriage, stillbirth or fetus with birth defects.

The older the mother is, the more likely it is that egg cells will encounter abnormalities during meiosis or segregation disorders to create gametes.

Currently, new generation gene sequencing (NGS) technology not only helps detect abnormalities in the number of chromosomes but also detects abnormalities in each small chromosome segment.

Genetic screening can be done with frozen embryos.

Thawing embryos for biopsy and pre-implantation genetic testing is completely feasible.

Embryologists use specialized microscopes integrated with high-precision multi-point lasers to create a small hole in the outer membrane of the embryo.

There are currently three basic types of preimplantation genetic testing including PGT-A, which helps detect abnormalities in the number of chromosomes in the embryo;

Pre-implantation genetic testing is not only performed for couples who have had many failed IVF attempts, but also for older couples, with a history of miscarriages, multiple stillbirths with unknown causes, and families with genetic abnormalities.