IVF with PGD testing?

runner76

So if we go the IVF route which looks like we may, the RE said he suggested PGD testing.. Unfortunately this is around 2,500 and not covered.. Have you had this testing? What are thoughts on it?  He said it also reduces risk of multiples.. not sure how that correlates.  He did some super panel blood work to check for genetic disorders but i am still waiting on results.. Anyways, thoughts on PGD testing?? thank you  

MR449

Do you or your partner have a history of gene abnormalities in your family? Or, do you have a history of multiple losses? Those would be other reasons your Dr might be thinking you'd need it?

alexiskiriluk

I am doing the testing. It reduces the risk of multiples because they put in less since they know it's a healthy embryo. It also reduces the chance of miscarriage because you know he embryo is healthy and the chances are much greater for a viable pregnancy. I'm doing the testing because I have had 2 miscarriages this year and I'm 34. It's up to you, but I feel like we have already invested so much money that I want to know I'm doing everything I possibly can to ensure a healthy successful pregnancy.
Good luck!!

runner76

i agree!

MelD17011

runner76  we are also doing testing. For some of the same reasons, but also because of my age and my family history of early menopause. I also have unexplained infertility, so we did everything to increase our odds (we also did ICSI for this reason)
One thing to take into consideration; although its expensive, it's most likely not a recurring cost if you have to go thru multiple rounds. I would guess they are all different, so I would check on that, but ours covers testing for 10 embroys. So, this first round we are currently testing 4 - if they come back as abnormal we have 6 more they will cover under the same amount (and it's pretty minimal for additional add ons after 10). So that made us feel better about shelling out so much.

babyexpress

We did the testing for a lot of the same reasons.  (my age, success rates and peace of mind) Honestly, the gender selection was pretty cool also.  A lot of women (younger or older) have to decide if they want to test at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy and then make a decision to abort.  I would never want to go through that when you already have the baby growing inside you.

@MelD17011 That's interesting that the lab will test more in the future based on the fact yours covers up to 10.  I asked that same question and my nurse didn't know the answer.  My testing covers up to 12 and I only tested 6 this round.  I hope that is the case for me as well, I would think it would be.

MelD17011

@babyexpress - definitely worth asking - I can't imagine that they would think you'd get 12 to be tested at once.

dragonfaerie

We are doing PGD just for peace of mind. If we had a Trisomy 21 baby, we'd still take him, but the extra cost to ensure that it is a viable embryo is worth it. Ours will be $1700 for up to 8 embryos, then an additional $250 for each after that. They just do them all at once, otherwise you get charge the full $1700 if you only send 4, and then decide to send another 4 later. FX!

Piperella

I just wanted to share a different experience/choice.  My husband and I were really interested in PGS testing, and I was a candidate due to my age.  I did have the genetic counseling for myself and came back as not being a carrier for all they tested for.  The gender selection is pretty "cool", but one thing that stuck with me was that what is being tested comes from a 3 day embryo, and sometimes what is seen as "abnormal" actually corrects itself by day 5 or 6. I would hate to have embryos discarded because they were seen as abnormal a few days ago but were able to self correct or were just a little behind (I'm a procrastinator.. i said they took after me).  Another issue that you may find on other boards is to be sure to do your research on which company/lab you send your samples off for testing.  One recently found that their tests were too sensitive and caused a lot of false abnormal results.  They are now offering patients the ability to retest the samples they have if the embryos are still frozen.

If you are a known carrier, have more than 2 criteria for the testing, or have gone through IVF unsuccessfully before, then by all means.. I would tell you to do it without a doubt.  I would really think it over especially if it is your first go (and have the ability to do it again).  Good luck with your decision.

alexiskiriluk

mine are tested at day 6. 

babyexpress

mine were biopsied on Day 6 also

MelD17011

babyexpress did you find out if yours will cover more?

babyexpress

@MelD17011 No, the nurse said financing could answer that question for me.  I haven't really thought about it much outside of that.  I'm hoping I won't need it   If none of my 3 implant, then I will definitely be inquiring further.

gingerbride

My RE tests on day 5/6 blasts as well.  It is a much more reliable sample.  I highly recommend the testing particularly if you have secondary fertility issues (I have autoimmune issues).  With PGS/PGD you only need to transfer one at a time since the chance of a healthy pregnancy is so high.  

NicWalker10

my RE also tests on day 5/6.  DH and I are both 37 so due to age we wanted to go the PGD route.  We are doing IVF due to MFI.  The only caution I would share is that our RE sort of pitched it that if we did PGD, and my uterus looked good for transfer, then we would probably have a success.  My uterus was where it was supposed to me, i'm told,  but our transfer resulted in a chemical.  So, although the PGD does improve your chances there's still room for a negative result.  we did decide to do a second round of IVF and we are doing PGD again. We are waiting for those results now.  The other tidbit I can share is that in our first round,  we had 1 embryo that was perfectly graded by the embryologist, but that turned out to be abnormal once it was PGD tested.   If we didn't do PGD,  they would have transferred that perfect graded embryo which, due to chromosomal abnormalities, we would have lost.   
Also on cost,  my RE was 4K for biopsy and testing of up to 12 embryos (1K for biopsy and 3K for testing).   In our second round, we have to pay a second biopsy fee so you might just want to ask about that.  I didn't realize there was an additional charge.

Hope this helps and GL! 

akcrowe

We did PGS and I'm glad we did. We are both young(ish), 32 and 33, with no history of gene abnormalities but we wanted to increase our chances of a healthy pregnancy. We had 18 eggs retrieved, 16 fertilized and 12 made it to day 5. After the PGS testing we had 5 "normal" embryos. I am really glad we went with the testing. We are paying for it out of pocket too and it's not cheap, $4900 with our clinic. We had our transfer last Saturday and will testing next week. 
Good luck!

oxinfree

I'm interested how things turn out for you @akcrowe - what's your diagnosis if you don't mind? My DH and I are both 31 and trying to decide what to do for our upcoming cycle... the cost is my only drawback, but if it's worth it... 

thejessicanicol

We did not do the testing because at the time we thought we were genetically all good to go. I miscarried at almost 9 weeks. Found out today that my lovely sister in law had genetic testing over a year ago and there is an issue in DH's family but she didn't think she had to tell us. Even though we told her we were doing IVF. Do the testing. I now need to decide if I want to "discard" my 3 frozen embryos and start all over or take a chance and use them and possibly have 3 more miscarriages.

Piperella

@thejessicanicol I'm so sorry to hear your situation. I'm sorry she didn't share that important information.  I know that some companies will do testing on previously frozen embryos.  Is that a possibility for you to do?  There are other boards where some people have gone this route.  

thejessicanicol

@piperella Our RE won't test them now that they're frozen. Because we only have 3 he thinks thawing, testing, and then either transferring or refreezing them would damage them. I really didn't think testing would be so important and because I'm 24 and DH is 29 our RE didn't recommend it.

akcrowe

oxinfree we have MFI- morphology specifically. 

Our cycle failed. All the money, all the testing, all of it for nothing.