What is Frozen Embryo Transfer?
FET is a relatively new type of fertility treatment. This procedure takes embryos that have been frozen for a period of time and replaces them in patients uterus after they have been thawed. FET is a relatively non-invasive procedure, which is why many couples choose to have it performed. It can be successfully performed on women who are experiencing either natural or controlled menstrual cycles.
Who Choose for Frozen Embryo Transfer Program?
Many couples choose to have FET performed if they have had previously unsuccessful IUI procedures or if they have had extra embryos remaining from an initial IVF cycle. Some couples do not like the idea of destroying embryos simply because they are “left over” from an IVF cycle. Other couples know or suspect that they will need to do IVF again in the future and prefer to freeze their embryos in order to make future IVF cycles less stressful physically for the female.
In order to perform IVF, numerous embryos are created in order to ensure that healthy and viable embryos are available for transfer. Many couples decide to freeze some of these embryos in order to allow them the opportunity to get pregnant again in the future or for use in a later IVF cycle. Couples receiving donated embryos also must go through the FET procedure, as all donor embryos need to be frozen for at least six months to ensure health and safety.
The preparation for Frozen Embryo Transfer:
If all is well; patient will start her oestrogen tablets (usually Oestradiol). Patient will be advised of the dosage required by the nursing staff at that time. Patient will return for a scan 8-10 days after the commencement of the tablet treatment. The scan will indicate whether the womb lining is growing sufficiently thick. Depending on these results, doctor may have to adjust the amount of tablets or even start patient on skin patches to ensure the correct development of the womb lining.
It may therefore be necessary to arrange further scans and blood tests as necessary until the womb lining is ready to receive the embryos. Once the womb lining is at least 8-10 mm thick, patient will be asked to start inserting either 2 progesterone (Cyclogest 400mgm) pessaries every night or a daily intra muscular injection of Gestone. Patient should continue with the oestrogen tablets and after 3 days of pessaries/injections patient will be ready for embryo transfer.
Patient will have discussed and decided on the appropriate amount of embryos to thaw at patient’s first visit with the nursing staff. The embryologists will then select out the best embryos that have survived the freezing and thawing process and transfer the best 2 embryos.
Proceduer for Frozen Embryo Transfer:
The embryo replacement (embryo transfer) procedure is quite simple and usually pain free. It may cause minimal discomfort and no anesthetic is used, although some women may need sedation or occasionally a general anesthetic. The male partner is usually invited to attend the procedure. The couple may also be able to view the embryos through a monitor before the embryos are replaced.
Some couples are concerned that their eggs, sperm or embryos may mix up with that of other couples. The probability of this happening in a good center is very low. The patient lies on a table or bed, usually with her feet in stirrups; some times the embryo transfer is performed with the patient in the knee-chest position. Using a vaginal speculum, the doctor exposes the cervix. The cervix is then cleaned with a little of culture medium or sterile water. One or more embryos suspended in a drop of culture medium are loaded in a fine plastic catheter so-called “embryo transfer catheter” with a syringe on one end. Gently and carefully, the doctor guides the tip of the catheter through the vagina and cervix, and deposits the embryos into the uterine cavity. The procedure may be guided by ultrasound scan to check the position of the catheter. The hue of ultrasound scan during embryo transfer appears to increase pregnancy rates. After the catheter is removed, it is handed over to the embryologist who will check it to ensure that no embryo remains. All the embryos replaced are transferred at the same time. Implantation begins three to four days later.
Successful pregnancy is related to the ease with which the embryos are transferred into the womb. Occasionally the position of the womb can make the transfer difficult. This may be overcome, to an extent, by a full bladder. A tenaculum may be applied to the cervix to straighten the uterus. If this fails, the doctor may use a stylet to negotiate the cervical canal. Very rarely, the cervix is too tight to allow the embryo catheter to pass through. In this case the doctor may resort to transferring the embryos through the muscle of the uterus (transmyometrial) or through the Fallopian tube if the tubes are healthy (TET).
Once the embryos have been replaced, patient may be asked to rest for a short while before going home. Prolonged bed rest of more than 20 minutes following embryo transfer has not been shown to improve pregnancy rates.
Occasionally, doctor may advice patient against having a fresh embryo transfer instead recommend freezing all embryos for later transfer. This may occur if patient have one of the following:
- If patient is at a high risk of developing a severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome as shown from the scan and blood hormone levels.
- If patient have vaginal bleeding around the time of embryo transfer.
- If patient’s endometrium is not well developed (less than 5mm thickness) or there are polyps, patient is unlikely to conceive as a result of fresh embryo transfer.
- If the doctor was unable to transfer the embryos fresh because of narrowing of the cervix.
Read : List of Top 10 IVF Specialist in India 2024
The embryo transfer and after:
The transfer itself is identical to previous embryo transfers patient will have had. Patient should continue patient’s oestrogen tablets and progesterone pessaries/injections on exactly the same dose as before until the results of patient’s pregnancy test come through. Patient will be asked to return to Halifax 12 days following patient’s embryo transfer for a pregnancy blood test.
If the test is negative, patient will be able to discontinue all her tablets and pessaries/injections, and patient will be given an appointment to see doctor in the clinic 2 to 4 weeks later. If the result is positive patient must continue on her medication for a further 10 weeks. This is to provide the pregnancy with the support it needs until it becomes self-sufficient.
Benefits of Frozen Embryo Transfer
If an IVF patient does not get pregnant with the first cycle, or if she gets pregnant and wants to have another child years later, the extra frozen embryos can be thawed and placed back into her uterus. In the frozen embryo transfer cycle, she does not need to use follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This cycle is much less complicated physically and financially. The cost of a frozen embryo transfer cycle is a fraction of the cost of a regular IVF cycle (approximately 20% cost of a fresh IVF cycle).
Success Rates of Frozen Embryo Transfer Program:
The success rate of a frozen embryo transfer is about half that of a fresh embryo transfer. As only approximately 60% of frozen-thawed embryos will survive, we like to thaw out more embryos than will be replaced so that we have more chance of having two good-quality embryos on the day of transfer.
Why travel to India for Frozen Embryo Transfer Program:
One of the pitfalls of modern lifestyle has been an increase in stress, and constant exposure to pollution. Sedentary habits and unhealthy eating practices have contributed to the many health problems seen in people today. Infertility in men and women is a rising cause for concern. The fertility treatments offered in India give hope to couples that wish to have children, but are unable to do so due to physiological or psychological problems. Treatments like IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and embryo freezing are expensive in the West, so couples opt to come to India to undergo treatment for infertility. In India, many super specialty hospitals offer the latest treatments for infertility. The Department of Urology and Nephrology at Indian Hospital offers the latest treatments for male infertility. Erectile dysfunction, varicocele and other causes of male infertility are treated using the latest techniques.
For More Information Call on : +91 7387617343 Email : [email protected] Direct Contact on Whatsapp : +91 7387617343 [contact-form-7 id=”536″ title=”Contact form 1″]KEYWORDS : IVF Treatment in India, IVF Treatment Cost in India 2024, frozen embryo transfer process step by step in hindi, on which day of cycle is frozen embryo transfer done, frozen embryo transfer timeline, disadvantages of frozen embryo transfer, low cost ivf treatment in chennai, baby boy through ivf in chennai, ivf chennai, cfc hospital issue, frozen embryo transfer timeline, on which day of cycle is frozen embryo transfer done, frozen embryo transfer process step by step, frozen embryo transfer on day 22 of cycle, medicated frozen embryo transfer timeline, frozen embryo transfer protocol, frozen embryo transfer tips, disadvantages of frozen embryo transfer