If you are undergoing IVF and you produce multiple good embryos, you have the option to store these for your use if either your cycle in unsuccessful, or you have a baby and wish to be able to add to your family in the future.
So what happens to your embryos? Our expert team of embryologists will study all your embryos when they are first fertilised with your partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm, either through IVF or ICSI. They are closely monitored during this crucial development stage and we are able to tell which embryos will be suitable for transfer.
We select only the best embryo for transfer. If you have a good prognosis for your IVF/ICSI cycle, we will transfer only one embryo as per our Single Embryo Transfer (SET) policy. Dependent upon your age however, and your medical history, we may decide in consultation with you that transferring two embryos gives you the best chance of success.
Any remaining good quality embryos will be stored by us in our state-of-the-art laboratory. They are frozen and when you decide to use them, we carefully time your treatment cycle so that they are thawed and ready when you need to use them.
Your embryos will be analysed carefully once thawed by our embryologists. It’s important to remember when using frozen embryos that not all your embryos may survive the freeze/thaw process. Most of the frozen embryo cycles we carry out at Manchester Fertility are done as a natural cycle, which means the transfer is timed for when you are ovulating. We also carry out hormone-controlled embryo replacement cycles, which are recommended if you have irregular periods or problems with ovulation.
On the morning of the date of your embryo transfer, we will contact you to let you know you have embryos which are suitable for transfer. The actual transfer procedure is carried out as a “walk-in, walk-out” procedure, under ultrasound guidance.
The next stage is what many of our patients say is the most anxious and stressful time – the waiting between embryo transfer and finding out if it’s been successful and you’re pregnant.
We know how difficult this time can be for you and how you may be feeling, so remember if you want to talk to us at anytime about any concerns you have, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you through this stage of your treatment, even if it’s just providing a listening ear.
At Manchester Fertility we have consistent results using frozen embryos. Our current clinical pregnancy rate for frozen embryo transfer is 31% per transfer.
Last updated: 8th March 2013
