Hammarberg, Karin

Dr Karin Hammarberg

Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University

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If you’re going through IVF, you may be offered a test to look at your embryos’ chromosomes. Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (chromosome abnormalities), known as PGT-A, is an “add on” used to help choose embryos with the right number of chromosomes. It’s promoted by IVF clinics as a way to increase the chance of success, especially for women over 35. But the evidence shows that in most cases, PGT-A doesn’t improve the chance of a baby. What is aneuploidy? Human cells usually contain 46 chromosomes. Aneuploidy is a term that describes a chromosome number that is different from 46 – either too many or too few chromosomes. In human embryos, most aneuploidies are lethal, resulting in miscarriage, or do not result in pregnancy at all. The chance of aneuploidy increases with the age of the woman; by the time a woman reaches age 40, approximately 80% of her embryos are aneuploid.

If you’re going through IVF, you may be offered a test to look at your embryos’ chromosomes. Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (chromosome abnormalities), known as PGT-A, is an “add on” used to help choose embryos with the right number of chromosomes. It’s promoted by IVF clinics as a way to increase the chance of success, especially for women over 35. But the evidence shows that in most cases, PGT-A doesn’t improve the chance of a baby. What is aneuploidy? Human cells usually contain 46 chromosomes. Aneuploidy is a term that describes a chromosome number that is different from 46 – either too many or too few chromosomes. In human embryos, most aneuploidies are lethal, resulting in miscarriage, or do not result in pregnancy at all. The chance of aneuploidy increases with the age of the woman; by the time a woman reaches age 40, approximately 80% of her embryos are aneuploid.

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Fertility treatment is booming. IVF clinics say the pandemic is driving more people through their doors enquiring about egg freezing and treatments to have a baby.

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The advantages of pregnancy planning for both mother and child, importance of including the partner in preconception planning, important conditions that can impact on good pregnancy outcomes.

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Many women who want to have children and are getting older worry about their fertility. The “egg timer” blood test is marketed as an empowering way to give women insights to help them plan when to have children.

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