For many families in considering IVF, the decision often comes at a moment when age, time, and emotion collide. If you’re 35 or older and exploring fertility treatment options, you’ve likely heard about Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) and wondered if it’s truly worth the added cost and complexity.
Why Age Matters in Fertility Treatment
Chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidies) in embryos rise sharply with maternal age, representing a leading cause of failed IVF cycles and pregnancy loss. For women 35 and above, this risk increases each year. PGT-A—the form of PGT that screens embryos for chromosomal errors—helps identify embryos with the correct number of chromosomes before transfer, rather than discovering problems only after a failed cycle or pregnancy loss.
Research published in major reproductive medicine journals shows that PGT-A is associated with higher pregnancy rates per embryo transfer and lower miscarriage rates in patients with advanced maternal age and recurrent loss.
What “Worth It” Really Means
“Worth it” extends beyond statistics to encompass several crucial factors:
Emotional considerations: Each failed transfer or miscarriage causes significant emotional pain. While PGT-A cannot eliminate all risks, it can substantially reduce transfers of embryos that are highly likely to fail due to chromosomal errors.
Time sensitivity: For women approaching 40, each year represents a meaningful difference in egg and embryo quality. Reducing unsuccessful cycles helps protect that critical time window.
Financial impact: IVF cycles typically cost tens of thousands of dollars. When PGT-A enables one carefully selected embryo transfer to succeed where several untested transfers might fail, many couples find the additional cost justified.
Individual variation: For younger patients with many high-quality embryos and no history of loss, PGT may not significantly change outcomes. However, for women over 35—especially those who have experienced loss or failed cycles—the balance often favors testing.
How Healthcare Providers Approach PGT Decisions
Evidence-based fertility practices don’t recommend PGT by default; instead, they evaluate each case individually. Key factors include:
- Maternal age and ovarian reserve status
- History of miscarriage or failed IVF cycles
- Known genetic risks in family history
- Expected number and quality of embryos
When these factors suggest high aneuploidy risk, PGT becomes less of an optional add-on and more of a strategic tool—particularly for patients concerned about time constraints.
Making an Informed Decision
Before choosing PGT-A, patients should understand:
- Success rates: While PGT-A improves pregnancy rates per transfer for women over 35, it doesn’t guarantee pregnancy
- Additional time: The testing process adds approximately one month to treatment timelines
- Potential risks: Embryo biopsy carries minimal risk, but some embryos may not survive the process
- Insurance coverage: Coverage varies significantly among insurance plans
The decision ultimately depends on individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and personal values regarding the trade-offs between additional time, cost, and improved odds per transfer attempt.
Taking the Next Step
For Tampa Bay families considering PGT-A, the key is working with a center that has extensive experience with genetic testing—not one that treats it as an occasional add-on. Since 1999, Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida has integrated genetic testing into over 98% of their IVF treatments, giving patients access to the depth of experience that comes from performing thousands of PGT cycles.
If you’re 35 or older and exploring IVF options, schedule a consultation to discuss whether PGT-A aligns with your specific situation. The investment in expert genetic counseling upfront can save both emotional and financial costs down the road. Contact FCAG’s offices serving Tampa Bay, including convenient access from Riverview and Brandon, to learn how their pioneering PGT program can support your family planning goals.
Here’s the map with driving directions from Riverview-Brandon to our Clinic:
References
- Franasiak JM, et al. The nature of aneuploidy with increasing age of the female partner: a review of 15,169 consecutive trophectoderm biopsies evaluated with comprehensive chromosomal screening. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(3):656-663.
- Munné S, et al. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy versus morphology as selection criteria for single frozen-thawed embryo transfer in good-prognosis patients: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Fertil Steril. 2019;112(6):1071-1079.
- Gleicher N, et al. A single trophectoderm biopsy at blastocyst stage is mathematically unable to determine embryo ploidy accurately enough for clinical use. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2017;15(1):33.
- Ata B, et al. Array CGH analysis shows that aneuploidy is not related to the number of embryos generated. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;24(6):614-620.
- Neal SA, et al. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy is cost-effective, shortens treatment time, and reduces the risk of failed embryo transfer and clinical miscarriage. Fertil Steril. 2018;110(5):896-904.
