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PGT-A Dubai: Why IVF Clinics Recommend It and When It May Not Be Necessary

PGT-A Dubai: Why IVF Clinics Recommend It and When It May Not Be Necessary
IVF
26 Feb 2026

PGT-A Dubai: Why IVF Clinics Recommend It and When It May Not Be Necessary

PGT-A in Dubai is offered early, and often. But should you actually do it?

If you’re investing in IVF, you deserve clarity before paying extra for testing that may or may not improve your outcome. PGT-A can be powerful in the right case, especially when miscarriage risk or embryo prioritisation is the real issue. In other cases, it adds cost, delays your transfer, and can even reduce the number of embryos you have available to try.

This blog breaks down what PGT-A is, the real PGT-A pros and cons, and when it may be unnecessary, so you can make a decision that fits your age, embryo numbers, and failure pattern.

Want a clear, personalised recommendation?

Book a PGT-A Suitability Review at MMC IVF Dubai and bring your prior cycle reports. We’ll help you decide if PGT-A is the right tool, or if your next step should be something else.

What Is PGT-A and How Is It Different From Other IVF Genetic Testing Dubai Options

PGT-A stands for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. It checks whether an embryo appears to have the correct number of chromosomes, such as an extra or missing chromosome.

Here is what usually happens in a PGTA Dubai workflow:

  • Embryos grow to the blastocyst stage, often day five or day six
  • A few cells are biopsied from the outer layer called the trophectoderm
  • The embryo is typically frozen while the biopsy is tested
  • Results may come back as euploid, aneuploid, mosaic, or inconclusive

Important: IVF genetic testing Dubai is a broad phrase. Patients often mix up:

  • PGT-A, which screens chromosome number
  • PGT-M, which tests for a specific inherited single gene condition
  • PGT-SR, which is used for certain structural chromosome rearrangements such as translocations

If your concern is a known inherited condition or a chromosome rearrangement, PGT-A may not address your core risk.

Also, mosaic results are real and can complicate decisions. Strong clinics have clear counselling and a written policy on how mosaic results are handled.

Why IVF Clinics Recommend PGT-A Dubai So Often

There are a few reasons PGT-A is commonly offered, some medical and some practical.

1. Chromosome issues are a common cause of miscarriage

Many early pregnancy losses are linked to chromosomal problems. PGT-A aims to reduce transfers of embryos that are unlikely to continue.

2. It may reduce miscarriage risk in some patients

Some regulators and clinical guidance describe miscarriage reduction as a potential benefit, while noting that evidence for improving live birth for most patients is limited.

3. It helps clinics select a single embryo for transfer

Many clinics prefer single embryo transfer for safety. PGT-A can be used to prioritise which embryo to transfer first when multiple blastocysts exist.

4. Patients want certainty after a hard IVF journey

After losses, failed transfers, or long timelines, PGT-A can feel like doing everything possible. That feeling is understandable, but the decision still needs to match your cycle data.

5. Routine use for everyone is not universally supported

Major fertility organisations have stated that the value of PGT-A as a routine screening test for all IVF patients has not been demonstrated. Large clinical trials have shown mixed outcomes, including situations where cumulative live birth rates were not higher with PGT-A in good prognosis patients, even if pregnancy loss was lower.

PGT-A may reduce miscarriage in some settings, but it does not automatically increase live birth for everyone.

PGTA Pros and Cons and The Real World Tradeoffs

Here is the balanced view most patients wish they heard upfront.

PGTA pros

  • May reduce miscarriage risk in certain groups
  • Can reduce emotional burden from repeated negative transfers by avoiding embryos less likely to implant
  • Supports single embryo transfer when multiple embryos exist
  • Can fit well with embryo banking plans
  • May help some patients prioritise time and reduce the number of transfers, especially when embryo numbers are strong

PGTA cons

  • May not increase the chance of having a baby for many patients, since embryos are deselected and fewer remain for transfer
  • Adds cost and typically shifts you toward freezing embryos and doing a frozen transfer later
  • Mosaic and inconclusive results can create decision stress and delays
  • No test is perfect, and it does not guarantee implantation or a healthy pregnancy outcome

When PGT-A Dubai May Not Be Necessary

PGT-A is most often overused when it is applied as a default rather than a targeted tool.

1. You are young with a strong prognosis and good embryo numbers

In younger, good prognosis patients with multiple good quality blastocysts, high quality studies have found that conventional IVF can perform similarly to PGT-A for cumulative live birth, even if miscarriage rates may be lower with PGT-A in some groups.

2. You are likely to have only one or two embryos to test

PGT-A becomes tricky when embryo numbers are low. You may end up with:

  • No embryo to transfer if the only embryo tests abnormal or comes back inconclusive
  • Added cost without improving overall odds
  • Delays because the embryo is frozen while results return

In low yield cycles, many specialists focus first on improving egg and embryo numbers and lab outcomes before adding PGT-A.

3. Your main issue is not chromosome related

If you have had difficult transfers, lining or timing issues, uterine cavity problems, or unresolved male factor issues, PGT-A does not fix those. A clinic should map the weakest link before recommending testing.

4. A fresh transfer is clinically preferred in your case

PGT-A usually leads to freezing embryos while results return. If a fresh transfer is clinically preferred for your specific situation, PGT-A may not match the plan.

5. You actually need a different genetic test

If your goal is preventing a known inherited condition, you may need PGT-M. If there is a chromosome rearrangement, you may need PGT-SR. Do not pay for the wrong IVF genetic testing Dubai package.

When PGT-A Dubai May Be Worth Discussing Seriously

PGT-A tends to be most useful when it matches a pattern suggesting higher aneuploidy risk or high emotional and medical cost of miscarriage.

Many clinics consider pgt-a dubai more strongly when:

  • Maternal age is higher and aneuploidy risk rises with age
  • There is a history of recurrent pregnancy loss where aneuploidy is a likely contributor
  • There have been repeated failed transfers and embryo numbers are sufficient to make testing practical
  • You have multiple blastocysts and want a clear prioritisation strategy for transfer order

A good clinic still frames this as a case by case decision, not an automatic checkbox.

What to Ask Before You Pay for IVF Genetic Testing Dubai

If a clinic recommends PGT-A, ask these directly and expect clear answers:

  • Based on my age and history, what problem is PGT-A solving for me
  • How many blastocysts do you expect I will have and what if I only get one or two
  • Will this be a freeze all cycle and what is the timeline to transfer
  • How do you report mosaics and what is your policy on transferring them
  • What percentage of results come back inconclusive in your program
  • Is genetic counselling included before and after results
  • What does the test not guarantee

Choosing a Dubai Clinic for PGT-A: What Good Looks Like

Dubai has many options. Choose based on process, not sales language.

A strong pgta dubai program usually shows:

  • Documented counselling and consent processes
  • A coordinated approach between your fertility specialist, embryology team, and genetics support
  • Transparent reporting and clear explanations of euploid, aneuploid, mosaic, and inconclusive results
  • A written plan for what happens if there are no euploid embryos
  • Clear lab quality controls and a defined biopsy to testing workflow

PGT-A Should Be Personal, Not Automatic

PGT-A can be helpful, especially when the goal is reducing miscarriage risk or prioritising transfer order in patients with multiple embryos. But it is not a guaranteed way to increase live birth for everyone, and it can reduce the number of embryos available for transfer.

If you are considering IVF genetic testing Dubai, the best next step is not a simple yes or no. It is asking whether the test fits your embryo numbers, your age related risk, and your actual failure pattern.

Want a clear recommendation? Book a PGT-A review at MMC IVF in Dubai and bring your prior IVF reports, including embryology and transfer details.

FAQs

Q: Is PGT-A the same as IVF genetic testing Dubai

A: It is one type. IVF genetic testing in Dubai can also refer to PGT-M or PGT-SR, which are different tests for different indications.

Q: Does PGT-A guarantee a healthy baby?

A: No. It may reduce the transfer of embryos with certain chromosome findings, but it does not guarantee implantation, pregnancy continuation, or a complication-free pregnancy.

Q: Can PGT-A improve my chance of having a baby?

A: For many patients, evidence does not show improved live birth rates with routine use. It can help in selected cases, especially when it matches your risk profile and embryo numbers.

Q: Does PGT-A reduce miscarriage?

A: It may reduce miscarriage risk in some groups, which is one reason clinics recommend it for selected patients.

Q: What about mosaic embryos?

A: Mosaic results can happen and require careful counselling and a clinic policy that explains how decisions are made.

Q: When is PGT-A not worth it?

A: Often when embryo numbers are low, when the main issue is uterine or transfer timing rather than embryo chromosomes, or when a different genetic test is actually the correct tool.

Ready to take next step?

Schedule a consultation with our expert team at MMC IVF. We are here to provide personalized care and support.