Over the past decade, a game-changing advancement in fertility treatments has emerged: vitrification. This innovative flash-freezing technique is used to preserve eggs and embryos for future use. Unlike traditional cryopreservation methods that often led to ice crystal formation and reduced viability, vitrification has significantly improved success rates for frozen embryo transfers (FET). According to Dr. Emily Ross, a specialist in reproductive medicine, “Vitrification has doubled the ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in recent years, making FETs a more reliable option.”
To undergo a frozen embryo transfer, you typically start with a fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, which may yield extra embryos. Vitrification allows these embryos to be safely frozen, enabling patients to return for a transfer later.
Who Can Benefit from Frozen Embryo Transfers?
FETs are available for anyone with surplus frozen embryos from a fresh IVF cycle, whether using their own eggs or donor eggs. This option is especially useful for those who either didn’t achieve a pregnancy in their first attempt or want to expand their family later after a successful fresh cycle.
Why Choose FET Over Another Fresh IVF Cycle?
Opting for a frozen embryo transfer can be more cost-effective and less invasive than another fresh IVF cycle since there’s no need for egg retrieval. “FETs offer a more predictable timeline, making it easier to schedule the transfer,” Dr. Ross explains. This predictability stems from the fact that the embryos don’t require the same development time as in fresh cycles.
How Do Success Rates Compare?
Remarkably, the success rates for frozen embryo transfers have increased, sometimes surpassing those of fresh transfers. For instance, in 2023, women under 35 had a 51% ongoing pregnancy rate with FETs, compared to 48% with fresh cycles. This improvement is credited to more balanced hormone levels and the use of high-quality blastocyst-stage embryos in FETs.
What’s Involved in a FET Cycle?
Patients interested in FET need to contact their fertility clinic to begin the process. Initially, their medical records will be reviewed to ensure everything is up to date, including necessary tests like blood work and a mock embryo transfer. Most patients will take oral contraceptives before starting hormonal injections to prepare the uterine lining. After a few monitoring appointments, the actual frozen transfer will occur, followed by a pregnancy test about two weeks later.
What Medications Are Used?
Unlike fresh IVF cycles, FETs do not involve ovarian stimulation medications. Instead, patients will primarily use estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for the embryo transfer. Estrogen is administered via injections while progesterone is given daily after the uterine lining check. Patients typically continue these medications until their pregnancy test.
Financial Considerations for FETs
For those with frozen embryos, financial programs like the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program can provide a safety net. Once enrolled, patients pay a flat fee for unlimited FET cycles using their vitrified embryos. They can either achieve a successful pregnancy or receive a full refund if they withdraw from the program or use all their embryos without success.
Additional Advantages of FETs
FETs have also transformed practices in reproductive medicine. They support elective single embryo transfer (eSET), which promotes safer singleton pregnancies. Thanks to advancements in embryo culture, it’s now possible to accurately identify the highest quality embryos, allowing for more successful single transfers. Moreover, FETs enable patients to freeze all embryos for later use, particularly useful if they need to undergo genetic testing or if progesterone levels are elevated.
In conclusion, frozen embryo transfers are reshaping fertility treatments by offering patients greater flexibility and improved success rates. Whether after a failed attempt or for future family planning, FETs not only simplify the process but also enhance the overall chances of conception. For more information on family building options, you can read about them on this excellent resource.
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