PreimplantationGenetic
Testing
PGT is a laboratory test performed on IVF embryos before transfer. A handful of cells are biopsied from the outer layer of a day 5–6 blastocyst — the layer that becomes the placenta, not the baby — and sent for genetic analysis while the embryo stays safely frozen. Only embryos that come back genetically normal are thawed and transferred. Day 5–6 Biopsy Stage. 1–2 Weeks Turnaround.
Understanding Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation Genetic Testing checks an embryo's chromosomes before it is transferred. On day five or six of culture, a few cells are taken from the outer layer that will go on to form the placenta — never the part that becomes the baby — and analysed while the embryo waits safely frozen. Only embryos with the correct chromosome count are selected for transfer.
This matters because chromosomal abnormality is the leading cause of embryos failing to implant and of early miscarriage. An embryo can grade beautifully under a microscope and still carry an extra or missing chromosome that makes an ongoing pregnancy impossible. No amount of visual assessment reveals this; only genetic analysis does.
The share of embryos affected climbs steadily with maternal age, which is why PGT comes up most often for women in their late thirties and forties, for couples who have had repeated miscarriages, and for those whose good-looking embryos keep failing to implant. It is also used where a known inherited condition runs in the family.
It is equally important to know what PGT cannot do. It does not improve any embryo — it identifies which of your existing embryos are worth transferring. If every embryo in a cycle tests abnormal, there is no transfer, and that is a difficult but genuinely useful result. What PGT reliably delivers is fewer wasted transfers, a shorter path to a viable pregnancy, and a lower chance of a miscarriage you would otherwise have lived through.
When To Consider This
Advanced maternal age — chromosomal errors in eggs rise sharply after the mid-30s
Recurrent pregnancy loss, with two or more unexplained miscarriages
Repeated implantation failure despite good-quality embryos
A known genetic condition carried by either partner
A balanced translocation found on karyotype testing
Seek Care Promptly If
- Severe pelvic pain or bloating during the stimulation phase (possible OHSS)
- Heavy bleeding after egg retrieval
- Fever or chills within 48 hours of a procedure
What's Involved
Expert Video Guides
PGT Explained: Testing Embryos Before Transfer
Motherhood After 4 Years
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Cells are taken only from the trophectoderm — the outer layer that goes on to form the placenta — not the inner cell mass that becomes the baby.
No. It is recommended selectively — for advanced maternal age, recurrent loss, repeated implantation failure, or a known genetic condition — not as a routine add-on for every couple.
PGT-A does examine sex chromosomes as part of counting the full chromosome set, but disclosure or selection based on gender is strictly prohibited under India's PCPNDT Act. We do not disclose or select embryos on that basis.
No. PGT improves your odds by ruling out chromosomally abnormal embryos, but implantation still depends on uterine receptivity and other factors. It raises the chance per transfer; it does not guarantee it.
Typically one to two weeks while results come back from the genetics lab. The embryo stays safely frozen during this time, and we schedule the frozen transfer once your lining is ready.