PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) is a laboratory test performed on IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) embryos to check for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. In India, it costs around ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 per cycle and is most useful for women over 35, couples with recurrent miscarriage, or repeated IVF failure.
PGT-A, short for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, is a genetic screening technique that examines the number of chromosomes in an IVF embryo before it is placed in the uterus. A normal embryo has 46 chromosomes (euploid); embryos with extra or missing chromosomes (aneuploid) rarely result in a healthy, ongoing pregnancy. By identifying which embryos are chromosomally normal, fertility specialists can prioritise the embryo most likely to implant and progress to a live birth, particularly in patients with a higher baseline risk of aneuploidy.
Chromosomal errors in embryos rise sharply with maternal age, and a growing share of IVF patients in India are now in their late 30s and 40s, in line with later marriage and delayed parenthood in metro cities such as Gurgaon and Delhi NCR. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data and clinic-level audits suggest that more than half of embryos from women aged 38 and above carry chromosomal abnormalities. At the same time, blastocyst culture and vitrification (rapid embryo freezing) have become routine, which makes biopsy and transfer in a later cycle technically feasible. Together, these shifts have moved PGT-A from a niche add-on to a mainstream conversation between fertility specialists and couples considering IVF.
The honest answer is: it depends on your age, your reproductive history, and how many good-quality embryos you are likely to have. PGT-A does not improve the biological quality of an embryo; it simply identifies which embryos are chromosomally normal, allowing the strongest candidate to be transferred first. For some patients, this shortens the time to pregnancy and reduces the emotional and financial cost of failed transfers. For others, it can add cost without clearly changing outcomes.
All three are forms of preimplantation genetic testing, but they look for different problems. PGT-A (aneuploidy) screens for whole-chromosome aneuploidies, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). PGT-M (monogenic disorders) tests for a specific inherited single-gene condition, such as thalassemia or cystic fibrosis, when one or both parents are known carriers. PGT-SR (structural rearrangements) is used when a parent carries a balanced translocation or inversion that can lead to recurrent miscarriage. Most couples considering “genetic testing in IVF” are actually asking about PGT-A; PGT-M and PGT-SR are recommended only in specific medical situations identified by a fertility specialist.
Position papers from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM, 2023) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) suggest that the benefit of PGT-A is clearest in women of advanced maternal age - broadly 35 and above - and in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss or repeated IVF failure. In these groups, the chance that any given embryo is aneuploid is high, so testing a cohort of embryos and transferring a euploid embryo first can reduce miscarriage and time to live birth. PGT-A is also commonly considered before elective single embryo transfer, which is preferred in India to lower the risk of twins.
In younger patients (typically under 35) with multiple good-quality blastocysts, the proportion of euploid embryos is already high, and large studies have not shown a consistent improvement in cumulative live birth rate with the addition of PGT-A. The same is true when very few embryos are available - testing one or two embryos rarely changes the management plan and may even reduce the embryo pool if a biopsy result is inconclusive. A Cloudnine specialist will usually weigh your age, ovarian reserve markers (such as AMH - anti-Müllerian hormone), embryo numbers, and previous IVF history before recommending PGT-A.
Aneuploidy is rarely caused by something you did. It is mostly a biological event during egg or sperm maturation and early embryo division. The main contributors include:
PGT-A is layered onto an existing IVF cycle. The broad sequence at a centre such as Cloudnine Fertility is:
Before you commit to PGT-A, it helps to be clear about your goals and constraints. Useful questions to take into your consultation include:
PGT-A is a clinical decision, not a checkbox. The following situations are common reasons to ask a Cloudnine Fertility specialist whether PGT-A should be part of your IVF plan.
If any of these apply to you, book a fertility consultation with a Cloudnine specialist to discuss whether PGT-A fits your situation.
Book an online appointment with Dr. Kiranjeet Kaur for Fertility related issues.
Outcomes from PGT-A are best understood on a per-embryo basis, not per cycle. The numbers below are typical ranges reported in published cohorts and Indian clinic audits; your own results will depend on age, embryo quality, and uterine factors. A Cloudnine specialist will personalise these figures during counselling.
