Following Up Pending Embryo and PGT Results from Home

Confirm the contact plan before you leave

Before departure, ask the clinic to record a named recipient for embryology and PGT result notifications, plus a backup contact. This is a logistics step, not a clinical one. Confirm:

• Who will send updates (embryologist, nurse, coordinator, or portal administrator).
• Which channel will be used: secure patient portal, email, phone, or a coordinator message.
• Whether the clinic will contact you directly or only through your coordinator.
• How the clinic handles time-zone differences and which hours updates are usually sent.
• What identification or consent the clinic needs before sharing results with anyone else.

Ask for this in writing, such as a copy of your contact preferences or a portal message you can keep. If you use a coordinating service, confirm that the clinic has your written consent to share results with that service and that the service will pass them to you without delay.

How clinics typically notify patients remotely

Notification methods vary by clinic and by the type of result. Common routes include a secure portal message, an email with a document attached, a phone call, or a message from your named coordinator. Some clinics send a short update first and schedule a call for detailed discussion.

If you are in a different time zone:

• Ask the clinic to state the time zone it uses in messages.
• Give a preferred window for calls and a second window if the first is missed.
• Confirm whether the clinic will leave a voicemail or send a portal message if you do not answer.
• Check that your portal notifications are enabled and that your contact details are current.

Do not rely on a single channel. If you expect a portal message, also confirm that the clinic has an email or phone number it can use if the portal is unavailable.

What a pending embryo update and a PGT report generally include

An embryo development update usually reports the number of embryos still in culture, their stage or grade on that day, and whether any have been biopsied or frozen. A PGT report generally states which embryos were tested, the testing status, and a result category for each embryo. The exact wording and categories depend on the laboratory and the test performed.

PGT-A assesses chromosome number in cells sampled from an embryo. Testing has limitations and can produce incorrect findings. A mosaic PGT-A result is inferred from intermediate chromosome copy-number findings in a biopsy sample; technical factors can contribute, and a sampled result does not establish the cell composition of the whole embryo. PGT-M concerns a known monogenic condition, while PGT-SR concerns chromosomal structural rearrangements; these tests address different questions.

These are general descriptions, not interpretations of your own report. Do not try to classify your embryos or decide on transfer from a portal message alone. Ask a licensed clinician to explain what your report does and does not show for your situation.

Request a clinician explanation of your results

You can ask a licensed clinician about your own reports, options, risks, and individual chances. The coordinator role is limited to logistics and communication, not diagnosis or prescribing. When you request an explanation, ask for either a remote consultation or a written summary that you can review and share.

Questions you may put to the treating clinician or genetic counsellor include:

• What does this result mean for this embryo, and what uncertainty remains?
• How do the reported categories apply to my situation?
• What are the options, and what are the known risks or limitations of each?
• What would you need to know from my local clinician, if anything?
• What follow-up or monitoring would you recommend, and who would provide it?

Ask the clinic to send the explanation in writing if you want a record for your local clinician. If a written summary is not available, ask whether the consultation can be recorded or whether you may take notes.

If an expected update does not arrive

Use a simple escalation sequence:

1. Check your portal, email spam folder, and voicemail, including any secondary contact you listed.
2. Contact your named coordinator or the clinic’s patient contact and state the update you expected, the date you expected it, and your preferred reply channel.
3. Ask for the named clinician or embryologist responsible for your case if the first contact cannot answer.
4. Request a written reply with the next expected update date.

Keep a short log of when you contacted the clinic and what you were told. This helps you and your local clinician follow the sequence without repeating the same request.

Store and share results with a local clinician

Download or save every report as a PDF and keep a copy in a folder you can access from home. Label files with the date and report type. If you need to share results with a local clinician, send the original documents rather than retyping numbers, and include the clinic’s contact details so the local clinician can request clarification if needed.

Ask the clinic whether it can provide a short cover summary in English for your local clinician. If you use a coordinating service, you can ask it to help with document transfer and appointment scheduling; scope and fees are confirmed individually.

Next-step checklist

• Confirm the named recipient and backup contact for results.
• Confirm the notification channel and time-zone plan.
• Ask what a pending update and a PGT report will contain.
• Request a clinician explanation by remote consultation or written summary.
• Save all reports and share originals with your local clinician.
• If an update is late, contact your coordinator and ask for the named clinician.

If you need help preparing records, scheduling a remote consultation, or keeping follow-up communication moving after you return home, you can contact the coordination team to discuss what support is possible for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask the clinic to send PGT results to a family member or my local doctor?

Many clinics require your written consent before sharing results with anyone else. Ask the clinic what consent it needs, who can receive results, and whether it will send documents directly to a local clinician. The coordinator can help with the logistics of that request, but the clinic decides what it can share and with whom.

What should I do if I receive a PGT report but do not understand the categories?

Do not interpret the report on your own. Ask the treating clinician or genetic counsellor to explain what the report does and does not show for your embryos and your situation. You can request a remote consultation or a written summary, and you may ask about options, risks, and individual chances.