Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access

Abstract

A Call for Increasing Capacity of PGT Services in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study For the Accessibility To PGT

Yazeed Albalawi, Dina Al-Kuhaimi, Wafa Qubbaj, Serdar Coskun and Khalid Awartani*

Objectives: To assess the demographic characteristics and outcomes of couples undergoing Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH and RC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: For this retrospective study, information was extracted from the hospital electronic database and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) unit medical records.

Results: The number of couples with known genetic mutations participating in the In-Vitro Fertilization-Preimplantation Genetic Testing (IVF-PGT) treatment process over the period of 2018 to 2020 was 1,454. The mean and Standard Deviation (SD) of age was 33.3 (4.9). The majority of the patients (35%) belonged to the 31-35-year-old age group, followed by the 18-30-year-old age group, accounting for 28%. The study also analyzed the number of healthy children, (those not affected by genetic diseases). The results showed that 59% of couples had only 1 normal child, 33% of couples had 2 normal children, and only 11% of couples had 3 or more normal children. The average waiting time for IVF-PGT treatment cycles was 15.4 months. Among all participants in the study, 5% of them have a baby from the previous PGT cycle. Following their treatment during the study period, the age group of 21-25 years old had the highest age-specific live birth rates (28%), and women over 40 years old had the lowest rates, (2.5%).

Conclusion: We concluded that there is an urgent need to improve the capacity of PGT services in Saudi Arabia to reduce waiting time and to avoid delays in treatment that negatively affect live births and the success rate of PGT.

Published Date: 2022-02-28; Received Date: 2022-02-01