- 2601 Lake Dr, Ste 301, Raleigh, NC, United States, North Carolina
- info@carolinaconceptions.com
- (919) 782-5911
After an egg is fertilized during IVF, it can either be transferred immediately into the uterus (fresh embryo transfer), or it can be preserved for future transfer (frozen embryo transfer). A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a procedure where a previously frozen embryo from an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is thawed and placed into the uterus. At Carolina Conceptions Fertility, we performed 863 FETs in 2024 with a 75% clinical pregnancy rate and a 70% ongoing pregnancy rate.
FET can provide patients flexibility alongside excellent success rates. There are a variety of reasons FET may be a good choice for a patient, including:
The thought of an embryo being frozen and stored away can be worrying, but this process is actually very safe for the embryo. Freezing embryos does not cause decreased pregnancy rates.
Our lab uses vitrification, a rapid-freezing technique that prevents ice crystals from forming inside the embryo. At least 95% of embryos survive the thawing process, maintaining high success rates.
In fact, Carolina Conceptions recently completed a retrospective study to compare the pregnancy rates of fresh vs. frozen embryo transfers in women 35 years and older. The data found in this study suggests frozen embryo transfers increase pregnancy rates in women age 35 years and older.
Additionally, you do not need to be concerned about how long you can safely keep an embryo preserved, because the quality of an embryo frozen for one year is the same as one that was frozen for a decade! Interestingly – there have even been babies born from embryos that were “older” than the gestational mother!
If you already have frozen embryos prepared, the process typically takes about 6 weeks.Â
For a few weeks leading up to the transfer, the patient will be given a variety of hormonal medications to prepare the body for implantation and give the best odds of a successful implantation. During this time, we will perform ultrasounds and lab work so we can monitor the patient’s progress and adjust treatment as needed.
When the uterus is ready, a thawed embryo is placed directly into the uterine cavity during a quick and painless procedure that uses a small catheter placed through the cervix.
To manage any minor discomfort or cramping afterwards, patients can take acetaminophen. We do not recommend aspirin or ibuprofen, as these medications may affect implantation. While we recommend that patients abstain from high impact or intense activity on transfer day, bed rest is not necessary.
While this waiting period can be stressful, remember that rest beyond your normal activities is not needed, and light movement is safe. We know waiting two weeks is easier said than done – we recommend advice given by Reproductive Psychologist, Dr. Ryan Blazei, in “Take Control Over Your Two Week Wait.”
About 10 days after transfer, we will perform a blood test to confirm whether the cycle was successful. Taking an at-home tests isn’t recommended before this, due to high chances of inaccurate results.
