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From comprehensive fertility benefit management, including medical and pharmacy, to genetic testing, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption and reproductive behavioral health support, WINFertility offers a suite of inclusive family-building solutions to help your employees and members build the family of their dreams.
WINFertility has access to the latest in cutting-edge genetic testing solutions when clinically appropriate. Testing for 500+ single gene disorders, with 98% accuracy, this comprehensive solution can be offered to WIN Patients.
Preimplantation genetic testing of embryos to be used in IVF is a fairly recent innovation in fertility treatment. Many people will not need genetic testing as part of their IVF treatment, but it can be very helpful to patients whose families have inherited genetic diseases, women who are older, and people who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss.
These tests are designed to improve the chances of a successful IVF cycle by selecting chromosomally normal or “euploid” embryos. As the name implies, the embryos are tested before implantation in the uterus, and are an extra step in the IVF process, with just a few cells biopsied from the embryo for testing.
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) screens for the correct number of chromosomes. Too many or too few chromosomes, known as aneuploidies, are leading causes of failure to implant and of miscarriages, and are more likely to happen as a woman ages. This test does not screen for specific genetic diseases, although it can detect Down syndrome, which is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21. The new name of this test is PGT-A, which means Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies. This screening may be recommend by a fertility specialist if a patient is 35 or over or has had recurrent miscarriages.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) screens for specific inherited abnormalities, either for inherited genetic diseases or for inherited chromosomal rearrangements. PGT-M is an abbreviation for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single Gene Disorders, and screens for specific inherited conditions controlled by a single gene. These include Huntington’s disease, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and Fragile X syndrome.
PGT-SR tests for chromosomal structural rearrangements (SR), like translocations or inversions. This occurs when a portion of chromosomes break and re-fuse in a different location. Translocations are a major cause of miscarriage. A child with an unbalanced translocation may have learning disabilities, developmental delay, or health problems, depending on where the unbalanced translocation occurs.
These tests are carried out on different platforms and are generally more expensive than PGT-A. PGT-M is extremely important to consider before IVF if the female patient or male partner have a family history of an inherited disease. If the patient has had recurrent miscarriages, a reproductive endocrinologist may recommend karyotype testing for both partners. Karyotyping determines the number of chromosomes and looks for missing or translocated chromosomes. If one partner has a balanced translocation, the chances of their embryos having an unbalanced translocation are increased and a fertility specialist may recommend PGT-SR.