PGT-A screens IVF embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. It identifies embryos with the correct chromosome count, cutting miscarriage risk and failed transfers in specific patient groups. Not everyone needs it. But for those who do, skipping it is a costly mistake.
According to Dr. Mohit Saraogi, a leading ivf doctor in mumbai at Saraogi Hospital, “PGT-A doesn’t improve the embryo, it tells you which embryo gives your transfer the best realistic chance, and for patients with repeated failures that distinction matters enormously.”
Wondering if PGT-A testing is right for your IVF journey? Consult a fertility expert to make an informed decision and improve your chances of success.
Who Actually Benefits From PGT-A Testing?
This is the question most patients don’t ask clearly enough before agreeing to the test. The answer isn’t everyone, and the cases where it genuinely shifts outcomes are more specific than most clinics make it sound.
- Recurrent miscarriage: Two or more consecutive losses put chromosomal abnormality high on the list of probable causes. Transferring a tested euploid embryo removes that variable entirely, and for women who’ve been through multiple losses the psychological value of that clarity is almost as significant as the clinical one.
- Repeated implantation failure: Good embryos not sticking despite a normal uterus and good lining is one of the more frustrating IVF scenarios. Chromosomal issues in the embryo itself are often the silent reason,and PGT-A identifies that before the next cycle begins rather than after it fails.
- Age over 37: Chromosomal error rates in embryos rise sharply here. Women over 40 can have abnormality rates above 70% even in embryos that grade well visually. The microscope stops being a reliable selection tool at this age. PGT-A fills that gap.
- Chromosomal carrier: If either partner carries a translocation or structural rearrangement, PGT-A combined with PGT-SR identifies unaffected embryos before transfer. This isn’t about IVF success rates alone, it’s about not passing a condition to the next generation.
If any of these apply to your history, discussing it during an IVF treatment consultation is worth doing before your next cycle gets planned.
What Does PGT-A Cost in India and Is the Number Worth It?
Most patients ask about the cost last. They probably should ask earlier, because the real calculation here isn’t what PGT-A costs.It’s what another failed transfer costs.
- Typical range: Expect Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000 per embryo depending on the lab, the number of embryos being tested and whether NGS or array CGH is being used. Total add-on cost for most patients lands between Rs 1.5 to 3 lakh across a cycle.
- The real comparison: Stack PGT-A cost against a failed transfer, a frozen cycle prep, a repeat retrieval and the emotional weight of another negative result. For high-risk patients that reframe changes the calculation significantly, and most who’ve been through repeated failure don’t need much convincing.
- When to skip it: Under 35, normal chromosomes, decent embryo numbers and no failure history. PGT-A adds cost without meaningfully improving cumulative success in this group. Most honest fertility specialists won’t push it without a clear indication.
- Lab quality: Biopsy technique and the genetics lab behind it matter as much as the test itself. A poorly done biopsy damages viable embryos. A weak lab produces misdiagnosis. The clinic’s embryology setup and lab partnerships aren’t a footnote here, they’re the deciding factor in whether PGT-A results are actually trustworthy.
Our earlier blog on AMH level chart by age explains how ovarian reserve connects to embryo numbers and why that affects whether PGT-A is even a practical option for your cycle.
Why Choose Saraogi Hospital?
Dr. Mohit Saraogi has 13 years across gynaecology, obstetrics and clinical embryology, more than 18,000 patients at IRIS IVF Centre, and hands-on experience running PGT-A cycles for recurrent failure and advanced maternal age cases where the embryo selection call made the actual difference between a viable pregnancy and another loss.
What patients consistently mention is that the PGT-A conversation here doesn’t open with a recommendation. It opens with case history, failure pattern and embryo numbers. The test only gets suggested when the evidence in that specific case supports it.
Planning IVF with PGT-A? Speak with a fertility specialist today to understand the costs, benefits, and ideal timing for testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PGT-A testing in IVF?
PGT-A screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer to reduce miscarriage and failed implantation risk.
Who needs PGT-A before IVF embryo transfer?
Women over 37, recurrent miscarriage patients and those with repeated implantation failure benefit most from PGT-A.
Does PGT-A guarantee a successful IVF transfer?
No. It improves embryo selection accuracy but doesn’t guarantee implantation or pregnancy
How many embryos are needed to make PGT-A worthwhile?
At least three to five embryos are generally needed to make PGT-A testing clinically and financially viable.
References:
- PGT-A and IVF Outcomes: A Review — NIH / PubMed
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing Guidelines — ESHRE Guidelines