A translocation is a structural chromosome rearrangement in which a piece of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome. In a balanced translocation, all the genetic material is present but rearranged, and the carrier is usually healthy; in a reciprocal translocation, segments are exchanged between two different chromosomes, while in a Robertsonian translocation two particular chromosomes fuse together. An inversion, where a chromosome segment is reversed within the same chromosome, is a related structural rearrangement often discussed alongside translocations. People with a balanced translocation can be at higher chance of producing eggs or sperm with unbalanced chromosome material, which is linked to recurrent pregnancy loss or, less commonly, a child with health problems from unbalanced chromosomes. A karyotype test can identify a translocation, and couples affected may be offered genetic counselling and, in some cases, PGT-SR during IVF to help select embryos with balanced or normal chromosomes for that rearrangement.
Also known as: balanced translocation, reciprocal translocation, Robertsonian translocation, inversion
Related India guides
Sources
- ICMR Standard Treatment Workflows (icmr.gov.in/standard-treatment-workflows-stws)
- Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (fogsi.org)
Last reviewed: 9 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.