Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycle

One of the treatment methods under the great title of IVF is the transfer of frozen embryos to the uterus to complete the pregnancy period naturally. This process takes place after the wife undergoes the traditional IVF technique, which provides the opportunity to freeze excess embryos to save time and money and to maintain the wife's health from re-taking hormonal stimulants.

Although fresh embryos are generally better than frozen embryos, in some cases, frozen embryos may be necessary and therefore more desirable. Also, embryo freezing process has largely improved, thus it has got high success in retaining more embryos that have been frozen.

It takes approximately 22 days to transfer frozen embryos and implant them in the uterus.

Gynecologists, obstetricians and infertility specialists can rely on some of the reasons and factors for resorting to thawing frozen embryos and implanting them in the uterus, including:

• Failure to complete the pregnancy after undergoing IVF process.
• The desire of the husband and wife to repeat the experience of having a child.
• Protection the wife from exposure to hyper ovulation, especially if she has polycystic ovaries.
• Save the financial costs of complete repeating of IVF steps.

The wife undergoes a series of tests to prepare for the transfer of frozen embryos, including:

• Blood tests.
• Ultrasound examination of the uterus to ensure the integrity of the inner lining of the uterus.

Frozen embryos transfer may involve some risks and complications, including:

• Multiple pregnancies.
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Infection.
• Some embryos do not survive after thawing.

Frozen embryo transfer consists of the following step:

1. Give the wife estrogen hormone, medications and supplements for a period of two weeks starting from the last day of the menstrual cycle; these drugs include hormones inhibitors produced naturally in the body from the wife’s pituitary gland.
2. Repeat blood tests and ultrasound examination to the uterus after two weeks.
3. Give the wife hormonal supplements of progesterone (to increase the thickness of the inner lining of the uterus) for a period to be determined by a gynecologist, obstetrician and infertility specialist, which depends mainly on the age of embryos when frozen and on the initiation date of progesterone intake.
4. Embryo transfer to the uterus (If the embryos are frozen on the fifth day, the embryos are transferred to the uterus on the sixth day after starting progesterone intake).

*In some cases hormone stimulants are replaced based on the normal ovulation period, where ovulation is monitored through tests (blood tests and radiation imaging), and frozen embryos are usually transferred a few days after the ovulation period depending on the age of embryos when preserved (the third or fifth day).

After the completion of a series of procedures and steps for the transfer of frozen embryos, the wife is asked to wait for two weeks to examine the pregnancy and verify whether or not confirmed. The success of the pregnancy through the transfer of frozen embryos may be higher in some cases because the lining of the uterus which is allowed to grow well by taking progesterone.

The wife can practice her normal life after undergoing the technique of IVF after the transfer of frozen embryos, but one of the most important tips for the success of IVF in general is to make sure to avoid stressful activities and try to rest as much as possible, especially during the first three days and abstain from sexual intercourse for about a week, also it is preferred to drink large quantities of water.