PGT-M for single-gene disorders in India

Families who already have an affected child, or carriers identified by screening, may want to avoid passing on the condition. PGT-M needs a custom test built around the family's known mutation, so planning begins months before IVF.

Thalassaemia is a common reason for PGT-M among families from South Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Some families also request HLA matching, so a future sibling could be a stem cell donor; this is complex and needs specialist and ethical review.

How this approach differs

PGT-M differs from PGT-A: it looks for one known mutation rather than counting chromosomes. Its accuracy is high but not perfect, which is why prenatal testing is still advised. The Act bans using embryo testing to choose a baby's sex, except where the law permits for sex-linked disease screening.

Who needs pgt-m for single-gene disorders

• Couples who are both carriers of the same recessive condition (e.g. beta thalassaemia)
• A parent with a dominant genetic condition such as Huntington's disease
• Families with an X-linked condition such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Couples who have had a child or pregnancy affected by a known gene mutation

How it is done

1. Genetic counselling confirms the exact mutation in both partners.
2. The lab designs a family-specific test, often using DNA from parents and sometimes an affected child.
3. The woman has IVF stimulation and egg collection; eggs are fertilised by ICSI.
4. On day 5 or 6, a few cells are taken from the outer layer of each blastocyst.
5. Embryos are frozen while results are processed, usually over a few weeks.
6. An unaffected embryo is thawed and transferred in a later cycle.
7. Confirmatory prenatal testing in pregnancy is usually recommended.

Before you travel to India

• Genetic reports confirming the mutation in both partners, from an accredited lab
• DNA samples from relatives if the lab requests them for test design
• Allow several weeks for test design before IVF begins
• Expect two trips: one for egg collection and biopsy, one for frozen transfer
• Talk to the clinic about storage of unaffected embryos you do not use

Recovery and flying home

• After egg collection most women recover within a day.
• Results are shared remotely while you are at home.
• The frozen transfer trip is short, often under a week.
• Arrange prenatal testing, such as CVS or amniocentesis, in your home country.

Risks

• No unaffected embryos in a given cycle
• Rare misdiagnosis because of the small number of cells tested
• Embryos may not survive biopsy or thawing
• Standard IVF risks for the woman

Alternatives

• Prenatal testing in a natural pregnancy, with decisions during pregnancy
• Donor eggs or sperm from a non-carrier
• Adoption

Hospitals in India for pgt-m for single-gene disorders

• Aster MedcityKochi
• Continental HospitalsHyderabad
• Apollo Hospitals, Navi MumbaiMumbai
• Aster CMI HospitalBengaluru
• Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research CentreMumbai
• Apollo Health City, Jubilee HillsHyderabad
• Lilavati Hospital and Research CentreMumbai
• Rainbow Children's Hospital & BirthRight, Banjara Hills, HyderabadHyderabad

How these hospitals compare

Specialists

• Dr Dakshayani DMGM Healthcare (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital)
• Dr Raman PatelZydus Hospital, Ahmedabad
• Dr Reitu PatelZydus Hospital, Ahmedabad
• Dr Thomas AliyattukudyLisie Hospital
• Dr Manisha Rajpal SinghFortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act No. 42 of 2021), PRS India

Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team. Last updated 2026-10-24. General information, not medical advice. Medical editorial board · Editorial policy · How we get prices