This is often an integral stage in the IVF process. Spare embryos from your IVF treatment can be frozen for future use, giving you an opportunity to conceive without undergoing a full IVF cycle It can also maximise your chances of success if you wait for your body to return to normal before implantation.
This is often an integral stage in the IVF process. Spare embryos from your IVF treatment can be frozen for future use, giving you an opportunity to conceive without undergoing a full IVF cycle It can also maximise your chances of success if you wait for your body to return to normal before implantation.
For many couples or individuals who are undergoing IVF or ICSI, the treatment often produces spare embryos that can be frozen. This can provide reassurance for you in case the procedure is unsuccessful or because you wish to try for siblings in the future.
Depending on the quality of the embryos they can be kept in cryostorage in the clinic and a frozen embryo transfer, or FET, performed at a later stage. Embryos can be stored for up to ten years under current guidelines from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
There are many different ways to prepare the body for a frozen embryo transfer, all of which require the endometrial thickness (womb lining) to be increased in preparation for an embryo to implant.
Ultrasound scans are performed to measure the thickness of your endometrium, and at the appropriate time we arrange your transfer.
Transferring a frozen embryo then follows the same procedure as embryo transfer in a normal, IVF cycle. Once the embryo is thawed, it is assessed in the laboratory to ensure it is of suitable quality. Approximately 80% of frozen embryos survive the freezing and thawing processes. Success rates depend on the development stage and quality of the embryo when it was frozen.
It is then placed in the uterine cavity, guided by ultrasound. A pregnancy test is arranged 10 to 12 days later to assess success.
How successful is frozen embryo transfer?
Improved techniques and technology mean that freezing embryos and then thawing them before implantation has become increasingly successful. Clinical studies have now shown that it can improve the chances of IVF success to implant the embryos in a non-stimulated cycle rather than directly after collection.
Does the length of time that the embryos are stored affect success?
The embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen at temperatures of -196oC so they do not develop or deteriorate over time and can be used many years later. Currently, they can be stored for up to ten years.
When you are ready and the time is right for you, the next step is to contact us and we will help you arrange a face-to-face, telephone or video-call introduction with one of our consultants.
You can do this by filling in the contact form below or by giving one of our friendly team a call on +44 (0) 203 263 6025.
We really look forward to getting to know you and helping guide those next steps toward your dream family.
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8 Welbeck Way London W1G 9YL
