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Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in patients with low embryo numbers: benefit or harm?

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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A Correction to this article was published on 03 October 2022

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Abstract

Purpose

We sought to explore the utility of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in a poor prognosis group of women with few embryos available for transfer.

Methods

This was a retrospective matched cohort study examining records for first or second-cycle IVF patients with 1 to 3 blastocysts. The study group comprised 130 patients who underwent PGT-A on all embryos. The control group included 130 patients matched by age, BMI, and blastocyst number and quality who did not undergo PGT-A during the same time period.

Results

The live birth rate (LBR) per embryo transfer (ET) were similar in the PGT-A and control groups, and the spontaneous abortion (SAB) rate was the same (23%). However, we found a significantly higher LBR per oocyte retrieval in the control group vs the PGT-A group (43% vs 20%, respectively) likely due to the many no-euploid cycles in the PGT-A group. In a subgroup analysis for age, the similar LBR per ET persisted in women < 38. However, in older women, there was a trend to a higher LBR per ET in the PGT-A group (43%) vs the control group (22%) but a higher LBR per oocyte retrieval in the control group (31%) vs the PGT-A group (13%).

Conclusions

Overall, we observed a significant increase in LBR per oocyte retrieval in women in the control group compared to women undergoing PGT-A, and no difference in SAB rate. Our data suggests that PGT-A has no benefit in a subpopulation of women with few embryos and may cause harm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trio Fertility Partners, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Arnold M. Mahesan, Paul T. Chang, Ruth Ronn, Jim Meriano & Robert F. Casper

  2. University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Paul T. Chang, Anthea B. M. Paul, Jim Meriano & Robert F. Casper

  3. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Robert F. Casper

Authors
  1. Arnold M. Mahesan
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  2. Paul T. Chang
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  3. Ruth Ronn
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  4. Anthea B. M. Paul
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  5. Jim Meriano
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  6. Robert F. Casper
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Correspondence to Arnold M. Mahesan.

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The original online version of this article was revised: In Fig. 3 of this article the bars were incorrect. The figure should have appeared as shown below.

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Mahesan, A.M., Chang, P.T., Ronn, R. et al. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in patients with low embryo numbers: benefit or harm?. J Assist Reprod Genet 39, 2027–2033 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02588-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02588-9

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