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“Growing up, I had always sensed a quiet, lingering disconnect,” Stacy Since tells Rescripted. “A feeling of not quite fitting in that I couldn’t put into words.”
At age 41, Since discovered she was conceived via a donor egg.
Once she learned the truth about her conception, this newfound knowledge “shattered everything,” Since says. “That revelation reshaped how I saw myself and, ultimately, how I approached my fertility journey.”
That new approach was a fierce determination to conceive and carry a biological child: “I knew firsthand that biology wasn’t everything, but I also understood the weight of that missing piece,” she says. “This realization would shape the biggest decision of my life — choosing to transfer embryos that didn’t pass PGT-A testing and were considered non-viable.”
Since’s leap of faith not only resulted in pregnancy but also a healthy son with no genetic abnormalities at birth.
What is PGT-A?
PGT stands for “preimplantation genetic testing,” explains Jessica Ryniec, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at CCRM Fertility in Boston. There are several types of PGT, with the “A” standing for “aneuploidy, or an abnormal number of chromosomes,” she says.
“Aneuploidy is the most common cause for both failed implantation and miscarriage.” So the purpose of PGT-A “is to identify embryos with aneuploidy to deselect these and only transfer euploid embryos, the ultimate goal of which is to improve IVF outcomes.”
Since’s decision to transfer embryos that didn’t pass PGT-A testing carried significant risks.
“It was a decision most doctors wouldn’t have recommended,” acknowledges Since, “but for me, it wasn’t just about statistics. It was about the chance — however small — that I could carry my own child, and I wasn’t ready to let that go.”
“After 11+ egg retrievals, every embryo I created was labeled ‘abnormal,’” Since tells Rescripted. “The experts said they wouldn’t survive. That they weren’t viable. That I should move on, consider donor eggs, and accept that I would never have a biological child.”
But Since refused to take no for an answer. “Deep down, I had this hidden glimmer of unrealistic hope — one I couldn’t quite explain but refused to ignore. I had seen a few articles about embryos that didn’t pass PGT-A testing, still resulting in healthy pregnancies.”
The facts about PGT-A
For Since, this wasn’t just about her desire to have a biological child: “It was about having the full picture before making a decision,” she says. Since feels that many women “are encouraged to pursue donor eggs before fully exploring all their options.” She goes on to say that she has “immense respect for every woman’s fertility journey,” with the understanding that, “for many, donor conception is the right choice.”
Since believes that “too often, women are told that transferring an abnormal embryo isn’t even worth trying.” But, she continues, “Science is evolving, and some embryos labeled ‘abnormal’ by PGT-A testing can, in fact, develop into healthy babies.”
Eventually, Since found a fertility clinic that she credits with “prioritizing education and informed decision-making rather than rushing me into a choice.” She recognizes that “not all women have this experience, which is why I share my story — to highlight the importance of having a medical team that supports individualized care.”
But Since’s story does not mean patients shouldn’t put stock in PGT-A testing.
“PGT-A can be a powerful tool, but the value depends on the specific platform used, and I believe this leads to most of the controversy,” says Dr. Ryniec. “Even though the core technology of each platform is similar, there can be differences in how the DNA is amplified and assessed, and different cutoff points used for defining aneuploid vs. mosaic vs. euploid embryos” (mosaic = a mix of normal and abnormal cells; euploid = a chromosomally normal embryo).
She says that a PGT-A test “is very good” at identifying euploid embryos, but “the bigger concern would be the chance of calling a euploid embryo aneuploid, particularly because these embryos are usually deselected and not transferred.”
Dr. Ryniec also points out the sensitive nature of PGT-A tests: Because they are “screening tests” and not “diagnostic” ones, results aren’t always clear — and “don't always fit into two boxes aneuploid or euploid, but can be mosaic (based on intermediate results).”
She explains further: “[PGT-A] samples 4-10 cells from the outer cells that become the placenta and uses that as a proxy for the entire embryo, but some embryos (or even all at some point in development) contain both normal and abnormal cells. This can lead to mislabeling. When we see cases of embryos labeled as aneuploid leading to a healthy live birth” — as in Since’s case — “this is most likely actually due to mislabeling, NOT self-correction.”
Taking a leap of faith
Since connected with a doctor who “shared emerging research with me – insights that changed everything.” The research was about chaotic embryos.
“Chaotic embryos have undergone PGT-A testing with multiple chromosomal abnormalities detected,” explains Dr. Ryniec. “Most experts consider these embryos to have low or no reproductive potential; not suitable for transfer.”
According to Since, the research her new doctor shared about chaotic embryos said that “40% of the time, when retested, they were actually normal.” These insights ultimately persuaded Since to transfer two abnormal embryos.
While Since’s decision did result in a healthy, live birth, it is critical to consult with your fertility team before choosing to transfer abnormal embryos. “There is very limited evidence of chaotic embryos actually being euploid, but there still is a margin of error in results,” says Dr. Ryniec. “There is currently no strong, peer-reviewed evidence supporting the transfer of chaotic embryos.”
“I knew the odds weren’t in my favor,” acknowledges Since. “I knew I might be setting myself up for heartbreak. But also knowing that I had exhausted every option and that this choice — this chance — was mine to take.”
Rewriting the narrative
Following her embryo transfer, two pink lines “revealed the impossible”: Since was pregnant. Despite her initial excitement, she referred to her pregnancy as “the beginning of a long and terrifying road.” She had no idea if she would even deliver a live “miracle baby” or if he would be born with a serious genetic condition.
After nine months, Since delivered a healthy baby boy: “The day I held him in my arms, I knew I had rewritten the narrative that had been forced upon me.”
Since tells her story not only to share about her “miracle baby” but to give voice to the countless women she says “are being told ‘no’ too soon.” She believes “women deserve better conversations, better options, and better doctors who empower them instead of discouraging them.”
She continues: “They deserve to understand all of their choices, to ask questions without fear, and to have medical teams who support informed, individualized decisions. If something doesn’t feel right, they should feel confident seeking second opinions, advocating for more research, and trusting their instincts in their fertility journey.”
That being said, there are still serious risks to transferring aneuploid embryos. “The most common risk is not getting pregnant,” cautions Dr. Ryniec, “followed by getting pregnant and having a miscarriage.” She also acknowledges the “rare” risk of “having a baby born with chromosomal abnormalities that can lead to birth defects and developmental abnormalities.”
Regardless of the PGT-A results — even if they are of euploid embryos — Dr. Ryniec highly recommends that fertility patients “pursue prenatal genetic screening and diagnostic tests” to rule out any further potential abnormalities.
“Looking at my son now, I see something I never had growing up — a reflection of myself,” Since tells Rescripted. “I fought for him because I knew, in a way few people do, what it means to long for that connection. And now, holding him in my arms, I know that the fight was worth it.”
Sarene Leeds holds an M.S. in Professional Writing from NYU, and is a seasoned journalist, having written and reported on subjects ranging from TV and pop culture to health, wellness, and parenting over the course of her career. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Vulture, SheKnows, and numerous other outlets. A staunch mental health advocate, Sarene also hosts the podcast “Emotional Abuse Is Real.” Subscribe to her Substack, the Critical Communicator, and follow her on Instagram, BlueSky, or Threads.