What is Aneuploidy?

There are several reasons an embryo may not implant. One common reason an embryo may not implant is if is aneuploid.

Aneuploidy is when a cell doesn't have the correct number of chromosomes (the long strands of DNA that carry instructions for the cell). It's kind of like the cell's instruction manual is missing pages, so it gets confused about what it's supposed to do, especially when it's growing.

When an embryo is aneuploid, it often can't grow properly or implant in the uterus. This is a big reason why embryos don't always result in a baby, especially as people get older.

Usually, aneuploidy occurs when an egg cell, which normally starts with 46 chromosomes, divides during ovulation to make a cell with 23 chromosomes. But as we age, this division process doesn't always go smoothly. Sometimes, even when we're younger, mistakes happen. If an egg cell doesn't end up with exactly 23 chromosomes and it's fertilized, the resulting embryo will have the wrong number of chromosomes, which is called aneuploidy. This is a common reason why embryos might not develop into babies.

We can't stop aneuploidy from happening (with current technology) but fortunately, if you are planning to IVF, it is possible to check if your embryo(s) are chromosomally normal (euploid) or abnormal (aneuploid).