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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification
Published on: July 26, 2019
Blastomere/trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing does not affect early HCG levels
Heli Alexandroni1, Eadit Buhbut1, Yovel Cohen2
1IVF and Infertility Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. The Eisenberg R&D Authority, Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Objective:
To evaluate if blastomere/trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing affects early HCG levels.
Methods:
A single-center retrospective study, encompassing data of 196 women who underwent IVF treatments with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with either a transfer of a fresh or frozen-thawed day-5 blastocyst. All women tested positive for HCG (>25 IU/L) two weeks after the transfer. Of those, 97 women underwent preimplantation genetic testing ("PGT", the study group) while the control group ("non-PGT") of 99 women, had IVF treatment without PGT.
Results:
No significant difference was found in HCG levels between the PGT and non-PGT groups. Similarly, there were no significant disparities in pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, live birth rate (LBR), extrauterine pregnancy, and intrauterine fetal death.Multivariate analysis revealed that HCG levels were significantly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and protocol type (fresh vs. frozen), but not with the biopsy day. Logistic regression analysis adjusted to the women's age, endometrial thickness, and HCG levels, found no significant correlation between the likelihood of live birth and PGT performance or the biopsy day.
Conclusions:
There is no apparent disparity in early HCG levels or pregnancy outcomes in IVF treatment with or without PGT. Notably, HCG levels are significantly higher in frozen-thawed cycles compared to fresh cycles, irrespective of PGT performed. Since HCG levels are associated with LBR, these findings enhance confidence of the non-detrimental effect of blastomere and trophectoderm biopsy.
