What is the Difference between Pgt-a, Pgt-m, and Pgt-sr in Ivf?

In IVF, there are three specialized types of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), each serving a different purpose based on a patient's medical history and genetic risks:

• PGT-A (Aneuploidy Screening): This evaluates embryos for the correct number of chromosomes. It is primarily used to identify whole chromosome gains or losses (aneuploidy), which are leading causes of miscarriage and IVF failure. It is often recommended for women over 35, those with recurrent miscarriages, or patients with previous IVF failures.
• PGT-M (Monogenic/Single-Gene Disorder Testing): This test targets specific single-gene mutations. It is used when one or both parents are known carriers of a hereditary condition, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Huntington’s disease, to prevent passing the disorder to the child.
• PGT-SR (Structural Rearrangement Testing): This is designed for parents who carry a balanced translocation or inversion. While these rearrangements may not cause health issues for the parent, they can lead to embryos with unbalanced chromosomal structures. PGT-SR identifies embryos with the correct chromosomal structure to improve the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy.

While PGT-A focuses on chromosomal quantity, PGT-M and PGT-SR address specific inherited genetic defects and chromosomal organization, respectively.