Curious about embryo freezing? Reach out to us for answers!
Embryo freezing is a fantastic way for couples or co-parents to preserve their fertility. It allows you to start a family when the time feels right for you. This option is also ideal for those currently undergoing fertility treatments who may need more than one cycle to conceive or want to consider having a sibling down the line.
So, what exactly is embryo freezing? It’s a process that helps you save your fertility, giving you the freedom to focus on other priorities while keeping the door open for future family plans. To freeze embryos, you’ll need to go through a partial IVF cycle. This involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, which are then fertilized with sperm in a lab. After developing for about five to six days, any viable embryos are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen for later use.
How Does Embryo Freezing Work?
The embryo freezing process can take around four weeks and generally follows these steps:
- Stimulating the Ovaries: You’ll start with daily injections at home to promote follicular growth, typically for about 14 days.
- Suppressing Your Menstrual Cycle: A second daily injection is introduced to halt your natural hormone production and control egg release.
- Monitoring Progress: Regular pelvic scans will track the development of your follicles, helping determine the best time for egg retrieval.
- Egg Retrieval: Once the follicles are ready, an injection matures the eggs for collection. A needle is gently inserted through the vaginal wall to retrieve the eggs one by one. Don’t fret; you’ll be sedated to minimize any discomfort.
- Fertilization: In the lab, healthy eggs are fertilized with sperm. A method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used if sperm count or quality is an issue.
- Embryo Development: The fertilized eggs will develop into embryos over five to six days, monitored by an EmbryoScope™ to identify the strongest ones for freezing.
Who Benefits from Embryo Freezing?
- Not Ready for Kids Yet: If you’re not emotionally or financially prepared to start a family, freezing embryos allows you to wait until the timing is better.
- Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals: Those starting hormone therapy or planning gender-affirming surgery may find their fertility impacted and should consider freezing embryos.
- Fertility-Impacting Conditions: Conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or treatments like chemotherapy can affect fertility, making embryo freezing a viable option.
- Armed Forces Members: If you’re in a hazardous job, preserving your fertility can be important due to potential risks.
Costs of Embryo Freezing
Here’s a general breakdown of the costs associated with embryo freezing, including a fertility assessment:
- Fertility Assessment: £590 (includes consultation and fertility tests for couples)
- Embryo Freezing Cycle: £5,195 (covers egg retrieval, fertilization, and freezing)
- Storage Fees: £370 per year
If you have questions about pricing or the embryo freezing process, our team is ready to help you navigate your next steps with confidence.
Success Rates
We estimate that about 90% of eggs and embryos survive the freeze-thaw process. The chances of pregnancy using frozen embryos depend on factors like the age of the eggs at collection; women under 35 typically have a higher success rate. For a deeper dive into success rates, check out our egg freezing success rates page.
Ready to embark on your embryo freezing journey? Our patient support team is here to help you understand your options and book your consultation with a fertility expert.
Also, if you’re considering early child education, you might want to check out this blog post about tips for when your little one begins kindergarten. And if you’re looking into improving fertility, you can find helpful information about fertility supplements at Make a Mom. For those pondering fertility treatments, this resource from March of Dimes is a great place to start.
In summary, embryo freezing is a proactive way to protect your fertility, allowing you to pursue family planning on your own timeline.