Parenthood is something you’ve been dreaming about for years. As you begin your IVF or surrogacy journey, you may be wondering if it’s possible to tell the gender of your child based on the embryo grading.
Embryo grading only evaluates the structure, cells and appearance of the embryo, and cannot determine gender. However, gender selection can be done through preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), which assesses the chromosomes and genetic makeup of your embryos.
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Embryo Grading and Gender
When it comes to embryo grading, gender is not something that can be determined.
Embryo grading is a tool to help medical professionals asses the quality of your embryos and determine which embryos have the best chance of developing into a pregnancy.
Embryo grading, depending on when it occurs, looks at a variety of factors to assign a grade that will determine which embryos are selected for the embryo transfer process.
If grading is done on day three after fertilization, also known as the cleavage stage, they will be graded on:
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Number of cells
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Appearance of cells
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Degree of fragmentation
Day three embryos are then given a letter grade with the letter C being considered a nonviable embryo that won’t be transferred
Here’s what day 3 embryo grading and success can look like:
Grade Description Live Birth Rate A Cells are similar, no fragmentation is seen 40-50% B Cells are similar, fragmentation is minimal (0-10%) 30-40% C Cells are mostly similar, fragmentation is moderate (11-25%) 15-25%
Day five embryos have reached the blastocyst stage.
A blastocyst is a cluster of dividing cells made by the embryo's continued development. That necessitates a different grading scale to determine what embryos are best for the transfer process.
At this point, there are two cell types:
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Inner Cell Mass (ICM): A ball of cells that will eventually grow into the fetus.
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Trophectoderm Epithelium (TE): A sheet of cells that will form the tissues needed during the pregnancy like the placenta.
The ICM and TE both play big parts in a healthy pregnancy and these embryos are tested using the Gardner system.
Blastocyst development stage: Expansion and hatching status. ICM quality. TE quality.Gardner Blastocyst Grading System
Is There a Correlation Between Embryo Grade and Gender?
Yes, there is a significant gender-related difference in the developmental stages of the embryo.
A study done in an IVF and preimplantation genetic diagnosis lab found that male embryos were 2.6 times more likely to produce a blastocyst graded 5 or 6 vs. female embryos.
Embryo Grading, Gender and Preimplantation Genetic Testing
As someone who has been waiting to experience being a parent, you have probably thought about it extensively, from the memories you will make to your parenting style.
One of the many things you may have thought about is the gender of your child, but when it comes to embryo grading and gender, that’s typically determined through PGT.
PGT is a screening test for embryos created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) that analyses the embryo before the transfer takes place.
There are two types of PGT: preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M).
For couples with a history of hereditary genetic conditions, PGT-M can detect abnormal embryo genetics that can result in diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell and more.
PGT-A assesses the chromosomal makeup of your embryo and allows you to be sure that the embryo that is selected for transfer has the right number of chromosomes.
This reduces the chance of a miscarriage and failed IVF cycle, as well as reduces the risk of your child being born with chromosomal abnormalities that can lead to conditions like Down Syndrome
Because its intended purpose is assessing embryo chromosomes, PGT-A is the genetic testing that allows for gender selection.
PGT-A and Gender Selection
The gender of your child is determined by the chromosomes in the egg and sperm. Female eggs just have an X chromosome while male sperm either has an X or Y chromosome.
An embryo will be female if a sperm with an X chromosome fertilizes the egg (XX embryo) and male if the sperm has a Y chromosome (XY embryo).
PGT-A can detect the chromosomal makeup of embryos which means the desired embryos of the preferred gender can be selected for transfer. This method is close to 100% accurate, outpacing other techniques with success rates no higher than 75-80%.
PGT requires the assistance of reputable medical professionals like a fertility clinic. Contact us today for a reputable list of clinics near you that you can choose from to take another step in the journey of a lifetime.