As more people in China marry later in life and the number of remarried families increases, age-related fertility challenges have become increasingly common. Many couples wait until they are financially stable before planning for children, only to find that their fertility has declined compared with earlier years.
Because appointments and treatment schedules at some fertility centers in China can involve long waiting periods, many families consider Thailand, where assisted reproductive services are relatively well developed and travel is comparatively convenient. However, many people still do not fully understand what third-generation IVF in Thailand involves. Here, Jiabao Libao explains: Who is third-generation IVF in Thailand suitable for?
1. Women Aged 35 and Above
After the age of 35, female fertility generally declines, while the proportion of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities tends to increase. These changes can be associated with a higher risk of implantation failure, miscarriage, and other pregnancy complications.
Third-generation IVF in Thailand may include preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), which can help identify embryos with the expected number of chromosomes before transfer. For some older patients, this may help doctors select embryos more appropriately and reduce the likelihood of transferring embryos with certain chromosomal abnormalities.
2. People With Repeated Implantation Failure or Recurrent Miscarriage
Some couples may have no obvious structural or medical abnormalities but still experience repeated failed embryo transfers or recurrent early pregnancy loss.
In certain cases, chromosomal abnormalities in embryos may be one of the possible contributing factors. IVF combined with appropriate preimplantation genetic testing can provide additional information about embryo chromosomal status and may help doctors make more informed decisions about which embryos to transfer.
However, repeated implantation failure and miscarriage can have many different causes, so a comprehensive medical evaluation is still necessary.
3. Families With a History of Inherited Genetic Conditions
If one or both partners carry certain single-gene disorders or known genetic conditions, there may be a risk of passing those conditions on to their children.
Depending on the specific diagnosis, preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) may be used to test embryos for particular disease-causing genetic variants before transfer. This can provide an additional reproductive option for families with clearly identified hereditary risks.
Whether PGT-M is appropriate depends on the exact genetic condition and should be assessed by reproductive specialists and genetic counselors.
4. Couples With Chromosomal Rearrangements
Some people are healthy themselves but carry chromosomal abnormalities such as balanced translocations, inversions, deletions, or duplications.
These chromosomal changes may increase the risk of miscarriage, implantation failure, or chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. In suitable cases, IVF combined with preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) may help identify embryos with a more appropriate chromosomal profile for transfer.
5. Families Seeking More Information About Embryo Genetic Status
Some families without a known infertility diagnosis may still want to better understand the genetic status of their embryos before transfer, particularly when age or previous reproductive history raises additional concerns.
Preimplantation genetic testing can provide specific genetic or chromosomal information about embryos, but it does not guarantee implantation, pregnancy, or the birth of a healthy baby. Whether testing is necessary should therefore be determined according to age, medical history, embryo numbers, and professional medical advice rather than being used routinely in every IVF cycle.
Overall, the main value of third-generation IVF in Thailand lies in preimplantation genetic testing and embryo selection based on specific medical indications. It may be more relevant for people of advanced reproductive age, couples with recurrent pregnancy loss, those with repeated implantation failure, and families with known genetic or chromosomal risks.
If you are considering IVF in Thailand, you can contact us for more information. We can explain the available options based on your individual circumstances and help you better understand which IVF approach may be appropriate for your needs.
