For many women, starting a family after the age of 35 can feel like a race against time — and fertility treatments often come with an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. Now, new research suggests that genetic testing on IVF embryos could make that journey a little smoother and improve the chances of success sooner.
How the Test Works
The technique, known as preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), checks embryos to ensure they have the correct number of chromosomes — 46 in total.
When embryos carry too many or too few chromosomes, a condition called aneuploidy, the risk of miscarriage, failed implantation, or genetic conditions like Down syndrome increases.
Currently, the NHS does not offer this testing, but researchers believe it could be a game-changer for women in their late 30s and early 40s, when egg quality naturally declines.
What the Trial Revealed
The study, carried out at King’s Fertility in London, followed 100 women aged 35 to 42 who were undergoing IVF.
Half of them had their embryos screened with PGT-A, while the other half did not.
The results were striking. Women who had the genetic tests became pregnant after fewer embryo transfers.
Even more encouraging, after up to three transfers, 72% of women in the tested group achieved a live birth, compared to just 52% in the non-tested group.
Reducing the Emotional Strain
Dr. Yusuf Beebeejaun, from King’s College London and King’s Fertility, explained why the findings matter:
“The number of women starting their family above the age of 35 is increasing, but this age group is more likely to produce embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes.
That raises the risk of miscarriages and unsuccessful IVF attempts.
Our findings suggest that PGT-A could help women have a baby sooner, while easing the emotional toll of repeated failed cycles.”
Looking Beyond the Trial
While the results are promising, the researchers stress that larger trials are needed to confirm the benefits.
They also suggest tweaking eligibility criteria, especially for women over 39, and lowering the threshold of “high quality embryos” needed to qualify for testing from three to two.
Interestingly, the trial also looked at mosaic embryos — those containing both normal and abnormal cells — which are common in IVF but rarely studied.
Breaking New Ground in Fertility Research
Dr. Sesh Sunkara, also from King’s College London and King’s Fertility, highlighted why this study stands out:
“By focusing exclusively on women aged 35 to 42 and including mosaic embryos, we have addressed questions that previous studies have not adequately explored.”
What’s Next?
The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, is being hailed as an important step toward more personalized fertility treatments.
If confirmed by larger studies, PGT-A could soon become a vital tool for women starting families later in life — giving them better odds, fewer failed cycles, and, ultimately, a faster path to parenthood.
