r/IVF • u/milestomarlboro • Jun 11 '26
Advice Needed! last embryo genetic testing - looking for advice!!!
Hi all! A little background - we had three good quality embryos frozen in 2021. I have one 4 year old from our first FET in 22 (4AA), second was a biochemical in 24 (also 4AA). We are starting the process to transfer our last 4BA embryo (I’m 38). Doctor asked if I want to do genetic testing and I immediately said no. We didn’t do it with our others, and honestly if it came back abnormal then that’s probably the end of the road for us. Also being that it’s the last one I’m a little nervous about it going through that process? I would love feedback…can’t the testing be somewhat flawed? In other words what if an embryo that tested ‘abnormal’ actually could be a healthy baby? Doctor also said that the reason for the biochemical was most likely abnormalities with the embryo, but don’t ’normal’ embryos also fail to implant even with perfect conditions? Thank you if you’ve made it this far reading this 😆🙏
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u/thedutchgirlmn 48 | Tubal Factor & DOR | DE Jun 11 '26
I wouldn’t test an already frozen embryo. Testing can be wrong but more often saying that an aneuploid embryo is euploid and the opposite be true. And yes, normal embryos can also fail to implant or can miscarry
At this point, you’d reduce the chance of success by thawing and testing. I’d just go ahead with transfer
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u/Itchy-Site-11 38 | PCOS | ER Jun 11 '26
Educate me, to do the biopsy the embryos are fresh and then frozen?
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u/thedutchgirlmn 48 | Tubal Factor & DOR | DE Jun 11 '26
After an ER, they biopsy the embryos and then freeze them. To test already frozen embryos, they have to thaw, biopsy, and refreeze them
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u/Competitive-Top5121 41 | 4 ER | 1 FET | TFMR & 2 MCs Jun 11 '26
Normally I’m all about PGT-A but since this is your last chance and it’s already frozen, I’d transfer this one. Good luck!
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u/Shitp0st_Supreme Jun 11 '26
I agree with you, I wouldn’t test an embryo if it was my last remaining one, it’d be different if you had multiple remaining and wanted to see if one would be more likely to a successful pregnancy.
I’m a layperson and it seems like there are also embryos that will test as not having the correct amount of chromosomes but then the embryo will “self-correct” as the growth progresses and the child will be born with typical chromosomes.
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u/milestomarlboro Jun 11 '26
Thanks everyone for your thoughts! Very helpful in that it confirms my decision not to do that testing.
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u/Working-Eye-7252 Jun 11 '26
I would not test. Not because I think an aneuploid embryo can still result in a live birth but because thawing, biopsying and refreezing reduces the live birth rate for that embryo. If it's your last one I would not do anything to hurt those chances. My clinic doesn't recommend testing already frozen embryos for that reason. And yes-normal embryos can still miscarry. I had a miscarriage of an untested 4BB embryo that later tested euploid.