PGT Testing Failed: What Patients Should Know

Introduction: When PGT Results Are Not What You Expected

You have been through ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, and days of waiting while your embryos developed in the lab. Then came PGT — Pre-implantation Genetic Testing — and the results were not what you hoped for.

Maybe all your embryos came back abnormal. Maybe the test itself could not produce a result. Maybe you are staring at a report you do not fully understand, feeling confused, frightened, and unsure of what comes next.

First — take a breath.

A difficult PGT result is not the end of your fertility journey. But it does deserve a clear, honest explanation — one that helps you understand what actually happened, why it happened, and what your realistic options are moving forward.

This guide is written for exactly that moment.

What Is PGT and Why Is It Done?

Before diving into what happens when PGT fails or returns difficult results, it helps to understand what PGT actually is and why doctors recommend it.

PGT stands for Pre-implantation Genetic Testing. It is a laboratory procedure performed on embryos created through IVF before they are transferred into the uterus. A small number of cells are carefully removed from the embryo — usually at the blastocyst stage on Day 5 or 6 — and sent to a specialised genetics laboratory for analysis.

There are three main types of PGT:

PGT-A (Aneuploidy Testing) — checks whether the embryo has the correct number of chromosomes. Embryos with the wrong number (called aneuploid embryos) are less likely to implant and more likely to cause miscarriage.
PGT-M (Monogenic/Single Gene Testing) — screens for specific inherited single-gene disorders such as Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, or Huntington's Disease.
PGT-SR (Structural Rearrangements) — used when one or both partners carry a chromosomal structural rearrangement, such as a translocation, that could affect embryo health.

The goal of PGT is to identify the embryos most likely to result in a healthy, successful pregnancy — and to reduce the risk of miscarriage or passing on serious genetic conditions.

What Does "PGT Failed" Actually Mean?

This is where a lot of confusion begins, because "PGT failed" can mean several very different things. Understanding which situation applies to you is important.

1. No Result / Inconclusive Result (Technical Failure)

Sometimes the biopsy sample taken from the embryo does not yield enough genetic material for the laboratory to analyse. This is called a no result or uninformative result. It does not mean the embryo is abnormal — it simply means the test could not be completed on that particular sample.

This can happen due to:

Very few cells in the biopsy sample
DNA degradation during transport or processing
Laboratory technical issues
The embryo being at a suboptimal developmental stage at the time of biopsy

In this situation, your doctor may discuss re-biopsying the embryo (if it has been frozen and is still viable) or proceeding with transfer based on embryo morphology (its physical appearance and grading) alone.

2. All Embryos Tested as Aneuploid (Abnormal Chromosomes)

This is one of the most emotionally difficult PGT outcomes. You may have had several embryos biopsied, and every single one came back as aneuploid — meaning they all had an incorrect number of chromosomes.

This result does not mean IVF will never work for you. It does raise important questions about egg quality, sperm quality, and what steps might improve outcomes in a future cycle.

3. Embryos Positive for a Specific Genetic Condition (PGT-M Result)

If you underwent PGT-M to screen for a known inherited condition, a positive result means that particular embryo has inherited the gene variant being tested for. Depending on the condition, this may mean the embryo is affected, a carrier, or at risk.

This is different from a chromosomal problem — it is about a specific gene. Your genetic counsellor and fertility specialist will explain clearly what the result means for that embryo and for your options.

4. No Embryos Surviving to Biopsy Stage

In some cycles, embryos may fertilise and begin developing, but none reach the blastocyst stage where biopsy is safely performed. This means PGT cannot be carried out at all — not because the test failed, but because the embryos did not develop far enough.

Why Do All Embryos Sometimes Come Back Abnormal?

This is one of the hardest questions to sit with, and it deserves a thorough, honest answer.

The Role of Age

Egg quality declines naturally with age, and chromosomal abnormalities in eggs become more common as women get older. This is a biological reality, not a failure of any kind on your part. For women over 38 to 40, it is not uncommon for a significant proportion — sometimes the majority — of embryos to be aneuploid. This is why age is one of the most significant factors in IVF outcomes.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation

High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation — damage to the genetic material within sperm — can contribute to embryo chromosomal abnormalities. If this has not already been tested, your doctor may recommend a Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test as part of evaluating next steps.

Ovarian Reserve and Egg Quality

Women with diminished ovarian reserve (low AMH, low antral follicle count) may produce fewer eggs, and those eggs may have a higher rate of chromosomal issues. This is not something that can be reversed, but it does inform treatment planning.

Random Chromosomal Errors

It is important to understand that chromosomal errors in embryos are largely random biological events — they are not caused by anything you did or did not do. Even in young, healthy women, a significant percentage of embryos are naturally aneuploid. This is why human reproduction, even without fertility treatment, is far less efficient than most people realise.

What Are Your Options After a Difficult PGT Result?

A difficult PGT result is not a full stop. It is a comma — a pause that leads to a conversation with your medical team about the next steps that make sense for your specific situation.

Option 1: Another IVF Cycle with Protocol Adjustments

If your embryos were all aneuploid or none survived to biopsy, your fertility specialist will review your stimulation protocol, medication doses, and lab conditions to see if any modifications could improve the number or quality of embryos in a future cycle.

Sometimes small but meaningful adjustments — in timing, medication type, or dosage — can lead to meaningfully better results in a subsequent cycle.

Option 2: Sperm Testing and Treatment

If sperm DNA fragmentation has not been assessed, this is a logical next step. High fragmentation can be addressed through lifestyle changes, antioxidant supplementation, surgical sperm retrieval (in some cases), or using ICSI with specially selected sperm.

Option 3: Transferring an Untested Embryo

If PGT produced no result (inconclusive) for an embryo that looks morphologically good, your doctor may discuss the option of transferring that embryo without a confirmed genetic result. This is a nuanced decision that depends on your age, history, and the specific reason PGT was recommended in the first place. Some couples choose this path — with full understanding of the uncertainty involved.

Option 4: Donor Eggs or Donor Sperm

When egg quality is consistently poor due to age or diminished ovarian reserve, donor eggs offer a very real and often highly successful path forward. Donor egg IVF uses eggs from a younger, screened donor, which typically results in significantly higher embryo quality and implantation rates.

This is a deeply personal decision — emotionally, ethically, and often culturally. It deserves time, counselling, and open conversation between partners.

Option 5: Genetic Counselling

If your PGT-M result revealed a complex genetic finding, or if you are trying to understand what chromosomal results mean for your family planning, a clinical geneticist or genetic counsellor is an invaluable resource. They can help you understand your results in detail and the implications for future pregnancies.

Option 6: Considering a Break

It is entirely valid — and sometimes medically wise — to take a planned pause between IVF cycles. Physically, your body needs time to recover. Emotionally, processing a difficult PGT result before embarking on another cycle can make a significant difference in your overall resilience and wellbeing.

A break is not giving up. It is taking care of yourself so you can continue.

The Emotional Weight of a Failed PGT Result

Very few things in the IVF process are as quietly devastating as receiving a report that says none of your embryos are suitable for transfer.

You may feel grief — for those embryos, for the cycle you invested so much in, for the pregnancy that did not happen. You may feel anger, confusion, or a profound sense of unfairness. All of these feelings are valid and real.

What is important to understand is that a poor PGT result does not define your worth as a person, your fertility potential overall, or the outcome of your entire journey. It is one piece of clinical information — important, yes, but not the whole story.

Fertility counselling at this stage is not just helpful — it is something we genuinely encourage. Speaking with a trained counsellor who understands the specific emotional terrain of IVF and PGT can help you process this result in a healthy way, make clearer decisions, and support your relationship with your partner through a difficult time.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Difficult PGT Result

You deserve full, clear answers. Here are the questions worth asking:

What exactly did the PGT result show — and what does it mean in simple terms?
Was this a technical failure or a biological result?
What does this result tell us about my egg or sperm quality?
What would you recommend changing in a future cycle, and why?
Should I have additional tests — such as sperm DNA fragmentation or a karyotype?
What are my realistic options from here?
Is donor egg or donor sperm something I should consider, given my results?
Can we speak with a genetic counsellor?

Conclusion: A Difficult Result Is Not the Final Word

Here is what we want you to carry with you from this article:

"PGT failed" can mean several different things — a technical issue, aneuploid embryos, a genetic finding, or no embryos reaching biopsy stage. Understanding which applies to you is the first step.
Chromosomal abnormalities in embryos are common — especially with age — and are largely random biological events, not your fault.
There are meaningful options ahead — adjusted protocols, further testing, donor options, or simply more time and information.
Emotional support is not optional — a difficult PGT result is a grief experience, and it deserves to be treated as one.
One cycle's result does not determine your entire fertility story.

At Urvara Fertility Centre, we believe that every patient deserves honest answers, compassionate care, and a clear path forward — even when the news is hard. Especially then.

Credible References and Further Reading

Wikipedia — Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preimplantation_genetic_diagnosis

Disclaimer:

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice or replace consultation with a qualified fertility specialist or genetic counsellor. If you have received a PGT result you do not understand, please speak directly with your treating doctor.

Know more About Urvara Fertility Kindly Check Their Profiles on below Platforms-

PGT Testing Failed: What Patients Should Know and What Happens Next