PGT-P: Just Because We Can...Should We?

🎙️ Fertile-ish | Season 2, Episode 11

PGT-P: Just Because We Can…Should We? ⭐

Genetic testing in IVF keeps evolving—and with that evolution comes big questions. In this episode, Laura and Brandis dive into PGT-P (polygenic preimplantation genetic testing), one of the most controversial and talked-about developments in reproductive medicine right now.

PGT-P claims to estimate an embryo’s relative risk for developing complex conditions later in life—but just because science can do something, does that mean we should? 👀

This is a thoughtful, ethics-meets-science conversation meant to inform, not persuade—because when it comes to family building, nuance matters.

🧬 What We Cover in This Episode

⭐ What PGT-P actually is (and what it isn’t)
⭐ How PGT-P differs from PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR
⭐ What “polygenic risk scores” really mean
⭐ Conditions currently included in PGT-P risk models (and their limitations)
⭐ Why most data is based on populations of European descent
⭐ Nature vs. nurture: genetics vs. environment
⭐ Why these scores are not guarantees or diagnoses
⭐ Ethical concerns: stress, stigma, and embryo ranking
⭐ Are we heading toward “designer babies”—or is that fear overblown?
⭐ Why major professional organizations do not recommend PGT-P for routine use
⭐ How this information could impact parents—and future children—emotionally
⭐ Why “more testing” doesn’t always mean “better outcomes”

⚠️ Important Takeaways

✨ PGT-P provides relative risk, not certainty
✨ Many conditions tested are multifactorial (genes + lifestyle + environment)
✨ Long-term accuracy data would take decades to validate
✨ Ethical considerations are just as important as scientific capability
✨ Not widely offered—and not currently recommended for routine IVF use
✨ CNY Fertility does not offer PGT-P at this time

💭 The Bigger Question

If embryos are ranked by hypothetical future health risks…
Who decides which risks matter more?
And what does that mean for how we define a “healthy” or “worthy” life?

This episode isn’t about having the right answer—it’s about asking the right questions.

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Because fertility is never black-and-white—and neither is the science behind it.