Volume 113, Issue 2, Pages 408–416

Authors:

Jennifer K. Blakemore, M.D., Emma C. Trawick, M.D., James A. Grifo, M.D., Ph.D., Kara N. Goldman, M.D.

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) among patients pursuing embryo banking (EB) for medically indicated fertility preservation (FP).

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

University-affiliated fertility center.

Patients

All patients who underwent in vitro fertilization with or without PGT-A for medically indicated FP between January 2014 and April 2018.

Interventions

None

Main Outcome Measures

EB cycle characteristics, subsequent cycle pursuit/outcomes, and frozen embryo transfer (FET) outcomes.

Results

A total of 58 medical EB cycles were compared; 34 cycles used PGT-A. Of the EB patients with breast cancer, 67% used PGT-A; other indications were evenly divided between PGT-A (FP/PGT-A) and no PGT-A (FP). PGT-A use increased over the study period. Groups were similar in age, days of stimulation, and days from initial FP consultation to treatment initiation. Number of oocytes (14.5 [2−63] FP vs. 17.5 [1−64] FP/PGT-A), 2PN zygotes (7 [1−38] FP vs. 9 [0−36] FP/PGT-A), and blastocysts (5.5 [0−22] FP vs. 5 [0−18] FP/PGT-A) cryopreserved were similar between groups. Equal numbers cryopreserved both oocytes and embryos (5 vs. 3). Five FP/PGT-A patients underwent a second EB cycle. Among FP/PGT-A patients, an average of 6.7 ± 5 blastocysts underwent PGT-A, with 3.5 ± 3 (48.2%) euploid embryos cryopreserved for future FET compared to an average of 7.2 ± 7 untested embryos in the FP group.

Conclusion

PGT-A in medical EB cycles increased over time and did not limit the use of other FP methods such as oocyte cryopreservation. In some cases, poor PGT-A results informed patients to pursue a second EB cycle. When counseling patients, the prognostic benefits of PGT-A must be weighed against the financial costs and potential for “terminal” fertility diagnosis.

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