RMA NJ PGD

CallaLily30

Anyone here do PGD through RMA NJ?

We are seriously considering it since we are currently experiencing our 4th loss.  Our only known issue is 1% morphology but we do seem to get pregnant but can't seem to get it to stick.  Dr Morris mentioned PGD may be an option for us.  Can anyone share their experience with it?  Did you have to have a FET or can it be done with a fresh?  Advantages/Disadvantages?  Our insurance is terrible so it would be OOP for us.

I'm really looking for any advice, opinions, etc.  We have to wait a cycle due to our most recent loss and the lab is closed in December so we most likely wouldn't start until January.  Our follow up is scheduled with Dr Bergh for the 18th so I will ask him all these questions then but I like to be prepared so I have intelligent questions to ask.  Hearing experience from other ladies always helps me form better questions.

Thanks!

ally510

********siggy warning********

We decided to do PGD and paid $4500 for it. As we only want one more child, we thought we'd only need to do one retrieval. I had 11 retrieved, 7 mature, 5 fertilize and only make it to blasts. At that point I started to think I may need to do another retrieval and the idea of paying another $4500 for the PGD, turned my stomach. It seems quite unfair that whether I have 2 or 12 blasts to test, it costs the same. I asked if I could freeze my 2 blasts, do another retrieval, add to the frozen blasts, and PGD all of them at once. The answer was no. The best they could do was give me their "PGD package." This is $7000 and will allow you to do PGD on multiple cycles, if you don't do a transfer in between them. We are currently waiting on the PGD results of our 2 blasts. If both are normal, we'll do a FET. If not, then I'll start the retrieval process again and have to pay another $2500 for the PGD on the 2nd round.

To answer your question about fresh/frozen PGD - If your embryos make it to blasts in time for a fresh transfer, they will do the PGD and have the results in about 4 hrs. If not, they will do PGD on the embryos that make it to blasts and you'll get the results in 10-14 days, though I think it sometimes takes longer than that. If you currently have frosties, they can defrost them, do the PGD, and refreeze them. However, you may lose some to the process, thus it is preferred to biopsy them while they are fresh.

Given your history of losses, I would definitely do the PGD. Before you do though, I would talk to your financial rep about the "PGD package" and your nurse about research. I know there is currently one study going on right now that would pay for your PGD, but the stipulation is that you have to transfer 2 embryos. I think it is called the Summit study, or something.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!!

poohniki

I had it done as part of a study. They do have another study in which you MAY have free PGD testing. Doesn't hurt to take a chance in getting it for free if you decide you don't need to get it done. You may want to see if your insurance covers karyotyping for you and your husband first.

dreamingofdimples

I don't know about RMA specifically however we are doing PGD testing (and it appears to be the same kind CCS) at CCRM. If you know that you're going to do two cycles, they can usually freeze before they test. That way you can do another retrieval and test them all together and only pay for the testing once. I would ask if that is an option for you. 

cachoque

@CallaLily30 - I pasted my story from another thread below. I hope this gives you a sense of the difference it can make (of course every person/scenario is different). The Genesis-24 testing was a $3500 adder for us but when I think about what we might have spent on transferring the 3 bad ones (not to mention the added time & heart ache), I just have to believe knowing up front is worth it in the end. I'm pro genetic tester all the way!     

"...We did PGS and let go 3 well developed yet aneuploidy embies (38% of my 8 total embies that developed to day 5). 38% is significant in my mind. I just think about how the max they'll transfer in my age group is 2 plus we started out only comfortable with SETs, so this could have been 2 or 3 more ETs ($6-9K OOP for me) w/o knowing it wasn't viable/risk of miscarriage & defects."

cachoque

Oh, meant to post this too. My RE does not use Natera, but I found a lot of interesting stats & information on their website as I was researching: https://www.natera.com/aneuploidy-pgd-faq.html

CallaLily30

Thanks ladies for all your responses!  I really appreciate it.

We did have our karyotypes done and we don't have any chromosome issues.  However, since we have had four losses, I wonder if aneuplidy is affecting us.  Since our losses have been very early (except for the first one) we haven't had any testing done on the tissue.  Our OB/GYN thought the first one was just a fluke but now I wish I had pushed for testing.

LilSip0611

We aren't doing the PGD (I think RMA calls it CCS) testing at RMA. We both felt that the Inheritest testing we had done and full karyotyping was sufficient and that if an embryo they transfer ends up having an abnormality but develops into a viable pregnancy, we wouldn't do anything to terminate (unless obvious medical issues arise that would cause undue harm). However...we are only on our first IVF cycle, I think if I were in your spot I would probably do the testing to see if there is something that may be contributing to the repeat losses.

elinef

anybody still out there? i just got the call that my pgd testing is complete and I will start meds to prepare for my fet. i'd love to hear from someone else either going through this now also, or that has gone through it and can offer advice/info...

SuperPsi

Hi @elinef We are right at the start of prepping for FET #1 after PGD.  Don't know that I have any advice or info, but I'm happy to share what I have and the journey along the way!

elinef

@SuperPsi It looks like we're at right about the same point! Did you get the results of your PGD yet? Do you know the meds you're taking and have any idea of a start time/date of transfer? Are you at RMA too? I go to Somerset regularly, but did my ER in BR where my frosties are waiting for me

@IfinTN, thanks for the info! I'll def join one of those when I figure which one I am (thought I assume I'm a snuggle bunny and its too late to be a shamrock at this point). How come your transfer is so much later if you have embies now??

CallaLily30

I was the OP on this one.  We did the two  retrievals and did the PGD testing on the embryos from both cycles.  We had a really low amount of fertilzed eggs make it to blastocyst but all that made it to blastocyst were normal.  We are currently in my first FET cycle and will hopefully transfer in the next week.

elinef

Wow! you're almost there! So exciting! and its not quantity, but quality...you only need one good one!

When did your cycle start? What meds did you take? I start Thurs but I'm not sure how long before I'll do the transfer

SuperPsi

@elinef We're at RMA in Michigan, so I guess sister clinics.  Our embies were PGS'd in New Jersey though.  We got the news a couple weeks ago that we have three healthy, last Friday was hysteroscopy, and I go in Thursday for ultrasound and bloodwork.  Right now I'm on Viagra, vitamin e, and Trental.  Plus I do acupuncture.  No date set yet, we're waiting to see how the lining responds but it's looking like early April.  What about you?