Do the risks of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy outbalance the benefits?

Abstract

Much has been achieved in the field of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A; previously preimplantation genetic screening, PGS) in recent years, particularly with the novel and more precise methods for analyzing biopsied cells such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. Although these methods have been used in individual studies and shown an improvement in pregnancy and birth rates in some cases, the final results from prospective randomized studies are still awaited. Until these are available, the promising results from individual studies remain experimental. We also owe it to our patients to apply promising novel methods outside of studies, if a positive effect has been demonstrated. The same applies to the polar body diagnosis (PBD) practiced in Germany for aneuploidy screening. Thus, one can conclude that neither PGT-A by means of analyzing blastomeres nor polar body screening to indirectly investigate oocytes currently have a positive effect on pregnancy and birth rates. The large specialist societies, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), also advise against routine use of these methods.