Frozen Embryo Transfer

A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a type of IVF treatment where a cryopreserved embryo created in a full IVF cycle is thawed and transferred to a uterus. FET typically uses “extra” embryos a couple has from a previous conventional IVF cycle. A cryopreserved embryo can also be a donor embryo.

It’s gaining popularity due to its safety and pregnancy success rates. During this procedure, a woman undergoes the standard IVF procedure.

How Frozen Embryo Transfer Works With IVF

FET is one way that we can avoid desynchronization. Delaying embryo transfer until a later cycle allows your hormones to normalize before proceeding and may give you a better chance at pregnancy.

Instead of implanting embryos while the body is still recovering from IVF, embryos are created and frozen. Once the body has had a chance to recover from the stress of IVF and has returned to a more normal cycle, the embryos are thawed and implanted.

This procedure is also used by families who wish to choose the gender of their child. They may want to do so to ensure a balanced representation of the sexes, or for any other reason. During the first cycle, the embryos are created, biopsied, tested and then frozen.

An embryo transfer is scheduled at a later date, once the biopsy results have been returned and the female partner has recovered from her egg retrieval.