What is PGT for advanced maternal age?

Women over the age of 35 may find that it is more difficult to conceive. This is because female fertility declines with age. However, PGT for advanced maternal age can help women fight back to have a healthy baby.

The lab at our Southern California fertility center can perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) on cells from an IVF embryo. These tests can screen for chromosomal abnormalities. PGT gives women over 35 peace of mind about moving forward with pregnancy.

The types of PGT for advanced maternal age

At our Southern California fertility center, Dr. Robert Anderson and our highly skilled team perform two types of PGT. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGT-A) looks for the correct number of chromosomes. A chromosomally normal embryo should have 46 chromosomes. Too many or too few could lead to birth defects.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT-M) identifies which embryos have an inheritable genetic condition. After the embryo biopsy, we ship the cells to a genetics lab for testing. PGT-M identifies genes associated with specific diseases like hemophilia, sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. Once we know which embryos do and do not have a genetic condition, we can decide which one to transfer to the patient’s uterus.

Why does the risk of birth defects increase with maternal age?

• Women are born with a certain number of eggs. Over time, the number of eggs they have decreases.
• Older eggs are more likely to have genetic defects that could lead to miscarriage or having a baby with a birth defect.
• As women age, they are more likely to have other health conditions that could affect their ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy.

PGT for advanced maternal age gives older women a chance of having a healthy baby and starting the family they’ve always wanted. Contact us for more information about PGT or to schedule an appointment at our Southern California fertility center.