0 Genetic Screening (PGD/PGS) packages match your search

Who genetic screening is for

Preimplantation genetic testing examines embryos created through IVF before one is transferred, so the clinic can choose an embryo more likely to be healthy. The terms have evolved: PGD (now often PGT-M) tests for a specific inherited condition the parents are known to carry, while PGS (now often PGT-A) screens embryos for the right number of chromosomes. Both are done within an IVF or ICSI cycle.

It is most useful for couples who carry a known genetic condition such as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal rearrangement, women of older maternal age where chromosomal errors are more common, those with recurrent miscarriage or repeated failed IVF, and sometimes for selecting against sex-linked diseases. It is not necessary for every IVF patient, and a good clinic recommends it where the evidence supports a benefit rather than as a routine upsell.

What PGD and PGS test for

PGT-M (the older PGD) targets a single known inherited disorder. The clinic identifies the specific genetic fault the parents carry, then tests each embryo for it, allowing transfer of an embryo unaffected by that condition. This requires preparation, sometimes a test built specifically for the family, before the IVF cycle begins.

PGT-A (the older PGS) does not look for a named disease but counts the chromosomes in each embryo to find those with the normal complement. Embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes — a common cause of failed implantation and miscarriage, especially with older eggs — can then be avoided. A related test, PGT-SR, is used when a parent carries a structural chromosome rearrangement. Knowing which test you actually need is the first step, since they answer different questions.

How the testing works within an IVF cycle

Genetic testing sits on top of a normal IVF or ICSI cycle. The embryos are grown to the blastocyst stage, usually day five or six, when a few cells are carefully biopsied from the part that will become the placenta. The embryos are then frozen while the biopsied cells are sent for genetic analysis, which takes some days to weeks.

Because the embryos are frozen during testing, transfer happens in a later cycle once the results are back — so screening almost always means a frozen-embryo transfer rather than a fresh one. ICSI is often preferred for fertilization when testing is planned, to avoid stray sperm contaminating the genetic sample. The biopsy is a delicate procedure, which is another reason the embryology lab's experience matters.

What it costs and choosing a clinic

Genetic screening is an add-on to the IVF cost, usually priced per cycle plus a per-embryo testing fee, and it can add a meaningful amount — often a four-figure euro sum on top of the base cycle, depending on how many embryos are tested and which test is used. PGT-M may cost more upfront because of the bespoke test design.

Choose a clinic with a strong embryology lab and a reputable genetics laboratory partner. Look for JCI accreditation for the clinic, ISO 15189 or equivalent for the testing lab, and a board-certified team. Ask which test they propose and why, their biopsy and embryo-survival rates, and how they counsel patients on results — including the awkward but real possibility of an inconclusive result or having no transferable embryos. Genetic counselling should be part of the package, not an afterthought.

Timeline and recovery

For the patient, genetic screening adds no extra procedure or recovery beyond the IVF cycle itself — the biopsy happens to the embryo in the lab, not to you. What it adds is time: because embryos are frozen while results are processed, the transfer moves to a later cycle, turning the journey into two phases rather than one continuous cycle.

This means stimulation and egg collection on the first visit, a wait of some days to weeks for results, then a separate, shorter frozen-embryo transfer once a suitable embryo is identified. The transfer itself is quick and needs no downtime. If you are travelling, plan for two trips, or for collection abroad and a transfer arranged later, and confirm how results and embryos will be managed in between.

Limits, risks and interpreting results

Genetic screening is powerful but not perfect, and honest interpretation matters. The embryo biopsy carries a small risk to the embryo, performed safely in experienced hands. Results can occasionally be inconclusive or, rarely, show mosaic embryos with a mix of normal and abnormal cells, which require careful counselling rather than an automatic discard. No test guarantees a healthy baby, and prenatal testing in pregnancy is still advised.

There is also an honest expectations issue: screening can reduce the number of embryos available to transfer, and some cycles end with no suitable embryo, which is disappointing but better known before transfer than after a miscarriage. A responsible clinic frames PGT as a tool to improve the odds and reduce miscarriage and failed transfers in the right patients, not as a guarantee or a routine add-on for everyone.

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