If you and your partner are preparing for IVF and your doctor has mentioned genetic screening of embryos, you've probably started searching for a reliable PGT test in Delhi. At Femmenest, our embryology and fertility team uses Preimplantation Genetic Testing to help couples choose the healthiest embryo for transfer — improving the odds of a successful, full-term pregnancy and reducing the chance of an affected pregnancy or miscarriage.

This page explains what PGS/PGD testing involves, who actually needs it, how the procedure works alongside IVF, and what it costs in Delhi — in plain language, without the jargon.

What is PGS/PGD Testing?

PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening) and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) are lab procedures performed on embryos created during an IVF cycle, before they're transferred to the uterus. A few cells are gently biopsied from each embryo at the blastocyst stage and sent for genetic analysis. The goal is simple: identify which embryos are chromosomally normal and free of specific inherited conditions, so the embryologist transfers the one with the best chance of implanting and developing into a healthy baby.

These days, the field uses a broader, more accurate umbrella term — Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) — which is split into three types based on what's being checked:

• PGT-A (Aneuploidy screening) — what most people mean by "PGS." It checks whether an embryo has the correct number of chromosomes (46). Extra or missing chromosomes are a leading cause of failed implantation and miscarriage.
• PGT-M (Monogenic disorders) — what's traditionally called "PGD." It looks for a specific single-gene condition known to run in the family, such as thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, or spinal muscular atrophy.
• PGT-SR (Structural rearrangements) — used when one partner carries a balanced chromosomal translocation, to identify embryos that have inherited an unbalanced version.

Our team will recommend the right type of testing based on your medical history, age, and any genetic counselling findings — not a one-size-fits-all package.

Who Actually Needs a PGT Test?

PGT isn't recommended for every IVF patient. Our fertility specialists typically suggest it when:

• The female partner is above 35–37 years of age, since the rate of chromosomally abnormal eggs rises with age
• The couple has had two or more unexplained miscarriages
• There have been repeated IVF or embryo transfer failures despite good-quality embryos
• Either partner is a known carrier of a single-gene disorder or a balanced chromosomal translocation
• There's a family history of a heritable genetic condition
• The couple is using ICSI with severe male factor infertility, where embryo aneuploidy risk can be higher

If none of these apply to you, your doctor may advise standard embryo grading instead — PGT adds cost and a small embryo-handling risk, so it should be a considered decision, not a default add-on.

How the PGS/PGD Procedure Works

1. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval — the same first step as any standard IVF cycle.
2. Fertilisation and embryo culture — eggs are fertilised (conventionally or via ICSI) and grown in the lab for five to six days until they reach the blastocyst stage.
3. Embryo biopsy — our embryologists carefully remove a small number of cells from the outer layer (trophectoderm) of each blastocyst, a step that doesn't harm the inner cell mass that goes on to form the baby.
4. Vitrification (freezing) — biopsied embryos are frozen immediately while the genetic report is awaited, usually for one to two weeks.
5. Genetic analysis — the biopsied cells are tested in a certified genetics lab, commonly using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), for chromosomal or gene-specific abnormalities.
6. Frozen embryo transfer (FET) — once results are back, the genetically normal embryo is thawed and transferred in a subsequent cycle, timed with the uterine lining.

Because testing requires a freeze-all approach, most PGT cycles involve a deliberate gap between egg retrieval and embryo transfer — this is normal and expected, not a sign of a problem.

Benefits of PGT/PGS Testing

• Helps select the embryo with the highest chance of a successful, ongoing pregnancy
• Lowers the risk of miscarriage linked to chromosomal abnormalities
• Reduces the chance of transferring an embryo affected by a known inherited disorder
• Can shorten the overall time to a successful pregnancy by avoiding transfers that were unlikely to succeed
• Useful additional data point for couples who have already faced repeated IVF failure

It's worth setting realistic expectations: PGT improves the odds of choosing a viable embryo, but it doesn't guarantee a pregnancy, and a "normal" result isn't an absolute promise of a healthy baby — it's one part of a broader fertility workup that may also include genetic counselling.

PGD Treatment in Delhi: Why the Right Lab and Doctor Matter

PGT is only as reliable as the team performing it. A clumsy biopsy can damage an otherwise healthy embryo, and a lab using outdated screening technology can miss abnormalities or return inconclusive results. When you're researching a PGD doctor or clinic for this step, it genuinely helps to ask:

• Is the embryo biopsy done in-house by experienced embryologists, or outsourced?
• Which genetic testing technology does the partner lab use (NGS is currently the most widely recommended)?
• How are results explained to you — does a fertility specialist walk you through the report, or does it just arrive as a document?
• What happens if no embryo comes back genetically normal — is there a clear next-step plan?

At Femmenest, our fertility specialists and embryology team work together through every stage of the process — from deciding whether PGT is right for your case, to interpreting the report and planning the frozen embryo transfer. You can read more about the specialists involved in your care on our team page.

A Few Things to Discuss With Your Doctor

• Whether your specific history (age, miscarriage pattern, family history) actually warrants PGT
• How many embryos you're likely to have available for biopsy, since this drives much of the cost
• What the lab does in case of a "mosaic" result — neither clearly normal nor clearly abnormal
• Storage and timeline for the frozen embryo transfer once results are in

When to See a Fertility Specialist

If you've had two or more pregnancy losses, a previous IVF cycle that didn't result in pregnancy despite good embryo quality, or a known genetic condition in the family, it's worth having a detailed conversation with a fertility specialist about whether PGT makes sense for your next cycle — rather than guessing on your own.

Ready to discuss PGS/PGD testing with our team? Contact Femmenest to book a consultation.