Key Takeaways
- Euploidy means having the perfect number of 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
- Euploid embryos are the goal, as they have the highest chance of success.
- Aneuploid embryos have too many or too few chromosomes.
- Younger mothers or egg donors have stronger, healthier eggs.
Surrogacy is one of the most beautiful gifts you can ever give. You are giving hope to intended parents. Once everything gets underway and the embryo transfer happens, you wait a few days to get the good news. Everything went well, and in nine months, someone will be starting their family. But there is a lot that happens behind the scenes before you get to that point.
You may have heard unusual terminology like “euploidy” and “aneuploidy” and wondered what they have to do with surrogacy. Simply, these have to do with maximizing the chance for a healthy, successful pregnancy. Let’s take a little dive into the biology behind surrogacy so you can have a better understanding so you can have a better understanding of what the euploid embryo success rate is and what euploid IVF means to you.
IVF in a Nutshell
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART). It’s where love and science meet. The woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm are combined in order to create an embryo. This is then transferred into the surrogate, and when it attaches to the wall of the uterus, it results in pregnancy.
The transferred embryo should show euploidy. Accordingly, each cell has 46 chromosomes, of which 23 come from the sperm and 23 from the egg.
The Importance of Chromosomes
Chromosomes are very important, and so is the number of pairs of chromosomes. An incorrect count means that it is an aneuploidy.
They are basically threads of protein and DNA. Twenty-two of these pairs are the same in both males and females. The 23rd pair is the sex chromosomes, and this one differs. Males have XY chromosomes, while females have XX. The gender of the child is determined by the X or Y chromosome that males contribute.
The XX or XY factor does not affect the success of the euploid IVF. A euploid embryo is generally the strongest and healthiest embryo, which means that there is a greater chance of successful implantation and, ultimately, the birth of a healthy baby.
The PGT-A Test
Fortunately, the PGA-A tests for any additional or missing chromosomes during the early stage of development. This allows the medical team to increase the euploid embryo success rate by selecting different embryos for a successful process.
There can be other issues, though. For instance, if there is an extra 21st chromosome, there is an increased risk of a negative outcome, such as Down Syndrome. On the other hand, euploidy:
- Increases the chances of a successful transfer.
- Reduces the chance of a miscarriage, and
- Gives everyone peace of mind.
It is very important to note that while, for the most part, aneuploidy is not hereditary, there are some conceptions related to inherited chromosomal rearrangements, and this risk is influenced by maternal age. However, with all the correct tests and precautions in place, there is a greater possibility of euploid IVF. And, because the euploid embryo success rate is higher, it is the goal to get the best possible embryos for the transfer.
It is possible to analyze the chromosomal count of embryos before any transfer takes place by using preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). If the test does not show euploidy in the embryo, a new embryo may be used.
Age and Aneuploids
Something we have touched on is the importance of the age of the intended mother or egg donor. The biological clock of a woman never stops, and as we age, the quality of our eggs declines. Stronger, chromosomally normal eggs are more common in younger women, perhaps in their twenties or thirties.
The older the woman gets, the chances of having perfect eggs decrease. Healthier embryos are more likely in women younger than 35. A woman over the age of 40 starts to see less euploidy and a greater decline in the quality of the eggs, which can mean a greater percentage show aneuploidy (having the wrong amount of chromosomes).
From the age of 42, a woman could produce as few as 20% euploids and over 80% aneuploids. This decline happens during the egg’s cell division process, which ends up having an even number of chromosomes in an egg.
This is why PGT-A testing is very valuable for euploid IVF and surrogacy. To mitigate the age risk and increase the euploid embryo success rate, only the strongest embryos that show proof of euploidy are used in an IVF transfer.
Euploidy in Surrogacy
One of the main reasons why everything from the IVF to the PGT-A test is so important is that it gives the surrogate and the intended parents peace of mind. The goal is to know that the embryo is chromosomally perfect and that there are greater chances of success for the pregnancy.
Here are a few reasons why the quality of the embryo is so important for everyone:
- Highest success rate
A perfect chromosome count boosts the chances of success, and the euploid embryos are the strongest.
- Less Risks
A euploidy transfer reduces the chance of miscarriage, providing relief for the intended parents and protection for the surrogate.
- Fewer transfers
The strongest embryos are chosen, reducing the possibility of aneuploidy. This could mean fewer transfers, and the first transfer is more likely to result in pregnancy.
- Healthy baby
The possibility of having a healthy child increases because the euploid embryo success rate is much higher.
- Confidence in the process
You can have more confidence in the euploid IVF procedure because the genetically strongest and most viable embryos are selected for the transfer.
In Conclusion
Understanding the science behind terms like “euploidy” and “aneuploidy” may be a little confusing, but it is all to reach the same goal: carrying a healthy baby to term and witnessing the joy on the intended parents’ faces when they meet their new baby.
You have an opportunity to change lives and make a new family possible for people who may not have felt real hope for some time. Let the medical team concentrate on euploids and procedures, and you can enjoy growing the perfect gift for some very happy soon-to-be parents. Let Family Creations guide you on your surrogacy journey. Contact us today.
