Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A)

PGT-A costs vary based on the genetics laboratory, number of embryos tested, and services included, but typically range from $350 to $500 per embryo. Insurance and fertility-benefit coverage also vary by plan. Your Illume financial coordinator can confirm current testing, biopsy, cryopreservation, and shipping costs.

Explore our Fertility Finance Hub for more information on insurance and financing options.

PGT-A may reduce the chance of transferring an aneuploid embryo, and aneuploidy is a common cause of miscarriage. However, not every miscarriage is caused by chromosome number, and studies have not shown that PGT-A provides the same benefit for every patient group.

Patients experiencing repeated losses should receive an appropriate recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation rather than assuming PGT-A will address every possible cause.

PGT-A can screen embryos for an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21), which is the most common chromosomal cause of Down syndrome. It can also detect other whole-chromosome abnormalities, such as missing or extra copies of other chromosomes (aneuploidy).

However, PGT-A is a screening test of only a small sample of cells, not a diagnostic test of the entire embryo or resulting pregnancy. Because of this limitation, it cannot fully rule out Down syndrome or other chromosomal conditions.

If pregnancy occurs, prenatal screening and diagnostic testing options should still be offered. CVS or amniocentesis can provide diagnostic information about fetal chromosome status.

Source: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

No. PGT-A evaluates chromosome copy number and cannot predict autism. Autism has complex, multifactorial causes and cannot be assessed through this type of embryo screening. PGT-A also cannot predict:

• ADHD or learning differences
• Intelligence or cognitive ability
• Personality traits or behavior
• Most future medical or psychiatric conditions

It is important to understand PGT-A as a chromosome screening tool, not a predictor of neurodevelopment or overall health outcomes.

Ethical considerations may include how results influence decisions about which embryos to transfer or continue storing, how uncertain or mosaic findings are interpreted, whether patients want to receive information about chromosomal sex, and how cost affects access to testing.

Because PGT-A analyzes only a small sample of cells from the embryo’s outer layer, the result may not represent every cell. Some embryos with mosaic results have resulted in healthy births. Deciding how to use an uncertain result is a personal decision that should include individualized guidance from your physician and genetic counselor.

PGT-A may also reveal an embryo’s sex chromosome pattern. Before testing, patients can discuss whether they want this information disclosed and how it may be used in transfer planning.

Cost and insurance coverage may also affect whether testing is accessible. Because the value of routine PGT-A for every IVF patient has not been demonstrated, it is important to discuss whether the information is likely to add value to your individual treatment plan.

PGT-A can identify an embryo’s sex chromosome pattern, typically reported as XX (female) or XY (male). This is sometimes referred to as "gender," but biologically it reflects chromosomal sex, not gender identity.

Key considerations:

• Sex chromosomes do not determine gender identity, which develops over time and is influenced by many factors beyond biology.
• Rare variations in sex chromosomes (such as XXY, XO, or mosaic patterns) may also be detected.
• Not all clinics or jurisdictions allow disclosure or use of sex information for non-medical decision-making.

A mosaic embryo may be considered for transfer after detailed counseling. These embryos generally have lower implantation rates and higher miscarriage rates than euploid embryos, but healthy births have occurred.

What makes sense for you depends on the chromosome involved, the type of finding, your lab's reporting thresholds, how many embryos you have, and your own preferences, which is why ASRM recommends individualized counseling rather than a blanket rule.

At Illume Fertility, our team of licensed genetic counselors provides non-directive guidance and education to help each patient make the best decision for their family.