Should You Choose PGT-A Tested Embryos When You're Pursuing Embryo Donation?

A common question we hear from searching recipients is "Should I be limiting my selection to those who have PGT-A tested embryos or not?"

Generally speaking, PGT results are a nice thing to have when you want a better understanding of your chances with an embryo or a set of embryos. PGT-A is a routine test that looks for common chromosome errors that can occur in early embryos (errors that can lead to a miscarriage or more rarely, a baby with significant health problems). But these results are not the definitive word on embryo health! Lots of embryos get transferred and make babies without this additional data point. Many embryo donors had no compelling reason to have their embryos tested, or froze their embryos at a time when the technology was not as common. And PGT-A is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. That means that it could get the answer wrong--and the results could suggest discarding an embryo that could result in a healthy baby.

So when you consider who you might match with, where you put PGT-A results on your wishlist is a very personal thing. When beginning to look at donor profiles, sometimes it’s a top priority and sometimes it’s not.

Let's dive in and see how you might be able to break it down.

Why are you pursuing this option for family-building?

Looking at your why is a powerful way to hone in on your deal breakers in a match. Is there a specific fertility diagnosis? How might that play into whether it would be a good idea to stick to embryos that have been PGT-A tested?

One of the diagnoses that might push toward PGT tested embryos would be a history of recurrent pregnancy loss without a defined reason. In such cases, sometimes doctors have exhausted what they know of other causes of recurrent pregnancy loss, and might consider offering various gamete donation options, including embryo donation, as another potential path to parenthood. While having PGT-A screened embryos will not guarantee that there are no genetic issues, it does isolate a big part of the equation, that of chromosome abnormalities, ensuring that each attempt is maximizing your potential for a baby.

How much have you been through?

We know that patients landing at embryo donation have usually been through some challenges before they get here. What are your emotional reserves right now? What is your tolerance for building relationships with multiple potential donors? Sometimes it only takes one embryo to get to a baby. But sometimes it doesn't, and looking for a Moxi Match means weighing multiple dimensions of value (How alike are the donors to me/us? How much do we align on what we want in a match? How likely is this embryo or set of embryos going to work for my family building plans? What could that pathway look like if the embryos are tested or untested? How intentional do I want to be versus how much do I let fate decide?).

You know yourself and where this fertility journey has left you emotionally. What can you realistically take on right now, and does it make sense to prioritize something like PGT-A results? Honoring all the pieces of your decision can allow you to feel confident when you hit that "Request a Match Meeting" button!

Do you see someone here that looks like a great fit otherwise, but doesn't have tested embryos?

We can gather clues about the likelihood that an embryo or a set of embryos can result in pregnancy. Things to consider are how old the egg provider was when the initial IVF was performed, the number and progression of the embryos available, and prior transfer results with embryos from the same cohort. It might turn out that PGT-A would not add much to the selection criteria and can be comfortably dismissed as a dealbreaker. Some donors are even open to having you test the embryos prior to transfer if this is a critical point for your cycle planning. The Moxi Matching platform asks a question about donors' comfort with a PGT add-on to a cycle, so you can gather this information when looking at possible matches. Of course, we recommend including such conversations in treatment planning with your genetic counselor, mental health, and legal professionals so that they can help set the stage to make your treatment plans a reality.

How many children do you want?

We know this is not an easy question. . . and it might be impossible to have confidence in your answer before you have a single child, but if you really envision yourself with multiple children, it can tilt you in the direction of a larger or a tested cohort, and you can analyze whether an embryo cohort fits with your family plans. If an embryo or set of embryos has not been tested, does it have good chances of resulting in pregnancy (and in multiple pregnancies if you are planning for multiple children)? If the answer is no, you might want to keep looking because it might be just perfect for someone who wants a smaller family or a single last shot.

Do you need help honing in on your selection criteria?

Schedule a call with us to discuss where you're at in your decision-making! And share your wish list with your doctor to get their thoughts on how you're prioritizing elements of your match.