The frozen embryo transfer works in almost the same way as the fresh embryo transfer. The only difference being that the embryos which have been created and frozen need to be thawed before use.
Many cycles of IVF/ICSI will result in the freezing of embryos. There are a number of different reasons for this. In modern fertility treatment the freezing of all of the embryos is becoming more common. If you have embryos frozen, we will plan a frozen embryo transfer when you wish to become pregnant.
Under the care of your fertility doctor, you will be given oral or injectable fertility medications to stimulate your body to thicken the lining of your uterus.
The development of the uterine lining will be measured by trans-vaginal ultrasound scans. Once the desired thickness is reached, the embryo transfer will be scheduled.
The final preparation for the embryo transfer involves the use of progesterone to prepare the uterus for being a receptive environment to an embryo.
The frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a simple theatre procedure that does not usually require anaesthesia.
The embryos are placed back into the uterus by the doctor by way of a small catheter inserted through the cervix. The fluid containing the embryo(s) is pushed through the cervix and into the uterus.
The correct positioning of the embryo(s) is confirmed by abdominal ultrasound, so you are required to have a full bladder for the procedure.
Under the care of your fertility doctor, you will be given oral or injectable fertility medications to stimulate your body to thicken the lining of your uterus.
The development of the uterine lining will be measured by trans-vaginal ultrasound scans. Once the desired thickness is reached, the embryo transfer will be scheduled.
The final preparation for the embryo transfer involves the use of progesterone to prepare the uterus for being a receptive environment to an embryo.
The frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a simple theatre procedure that does not usually require anaesthesia.
The embryos are placed back into the uterus by the doctor by way of a small catheter inserted through the cervix. The fluid containing the embryo(s) is pushed through the cervix and into the uterus.
The correct positioning of the embryo(s) is confirmed by abdominal ultrasound, so you are required to have a full bladder for the procedure.
No, this isn’t a service we provide. If we believe you would benefit from this service, our team will refer you on.
The longest time a human embryo has been stored is around 30 years, but once embryos have been frozen, they can be stored indefinitely. Having your embryos frozen gives you many opportunities to grow your family in the future.
Any patient, no matter the amount of time between embryo freezing and thawing, can expect nearly the same potential for success as they experienced with the fresh IVF cycle that the frozen embryos came from. In some cases, an FET cycle can result in a higher success rate than those of a fresh cycle because of the opportunity to optimize the lining of the uterus before implantation.