Treatment Series: Fresh and Frozen Embryo Transfer

When undergoing in vitro fertilization, (IVF) at Viera Fertility Center, our goal is to give you the best possible outcome. The baby you’ve been hoping for as a welcome addition to your family is on the horizon with the advanced technology we offer at our fertility clinic. Our goal is to make this process as seamless as possible for you.

There are a few ways we do this at our fertility center in Melbourne, Florida. In looking at how an embryo is transferred during IVF, we either use a fresh or frozen embryo transfer. Each method has its benefits and reasoning. We help determine which is the right one to use in each individual patient’s case. In this treatment series, let’s explore some of the details surrounding how fresh and frozen embryo transfers work at our clinic.

The Beginning of the IVF Journey

Before any embryo transfer takes place, the female patient’s eggs must be harvested. This involves hormone medicine to stimulate the ovaries, produce enough eggs, and get ready to harvest the unfertilized ones. The next step, once that has been done, is to take those eggs to our lab for fertilization. Once that has been completed, the embryos are either ready for immediate implantation in a fresh transfer, or are going to be frozen for later use.

The Lining of the Uterus Will be Checked

Before implantation of either fresh or frozen embryos, the lining of the endometrium layer of the uterus will be checked with an ultrasound. The doctor is looking to make sure that the lining is thick enough and in good shape for the transfer. That way the odds of embryo implantation will be greater when all of the right factors come together.

Reasons for a Frozen Embryo Transfer

There are many reasons why a frozen embryo transfer may be used. Sometimes the patient has fertilized embryos that were previously created during a prior IVF cycle that wasn’t successful. Those frozen embryos can still be used for a new cycle.

Some other factors include the patient not being able to tolerate a fresh embryo transfer, due to ovarian hyperstimulation. That may lead to the uterus not being in the right state to accept the embryo. In that case, a frozen transfer is the better option.

Another reason is that if the couple is interested in genetic testing, it’s only possible to do it on frozen embryos. In order to go through that process, the embryos need to be in a state where they are as protected and secure as possible.

How a Fresh Transfer Works at Viera Fertility

A fresh transfer is usually performed several days after the retrieval. The eggs have been fertilized in the lab by the sperm, either from a donor or your partner, and are ready for immediate implantation. The timing has to be carefully monitored to create the optimal environment for the embryo to implant into the uterine wall. Keep in mind that any viable embryos which aren’t going to be used in the fresh transfer can be frozen for later use.

The Chances of IVF Success With Either Type

Overall, the success rates for fresh or frozen transfer end up being pretty equal. Although there has been some evidence lately that frozen embryos have a better success rate. However, the technology is so advanced with both types of IVF that they are both currently effective processes to use.

Contact Your Trusted Fertility Specialists

Your specialists at Viera Fertility will evaluate and recommend the best option for you for the best chances of conceiving a healthy pregnancy. We know how difficult and hopeful this process will be for your entire family. Our friendly experts explain everything fully. Thus, you will know and understand each step of the process, no matter which procedure you decide. Turning patients into parents is the main and most important goal we strive for in our fertility clinic work. Contact us today and let’s get started down the path to parenthood.