Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
Since 2012, Dominion Fertility has adopted a “freeze all” embryo approach for IVF in which no fresh embryo transfer is performed. This approach optimizes successful outcomes while reducing the risk of certain complications of fertility care.
Moreover, a frozen embryo transfer can be a good option for many patients. In most respects, it is a lot simpler than a fresh IVF cycle because you don’t have to undergo egg retrieval and there is a minimal number of hormone injections.
At Dominion Fertility, we are proud that our success rates with frozen embryos are outstanding. We take excellent care of your frozen embryos and the chance of an embryo failing to survive the thawing process is very small.
If you have embryos stored at another fertility clinic and wish to become a patient at Dominion Fertility, we are happy to help facilitate the transfer of these embryos to our center. We invite you to contact our fertility specialists or make an appointment to get started today!
Build Your Family Through Frozen Embryo Transfer
Reasons behind our universal freeze-all policy
Reason #1: It’s safer for you and better for your pregnancy.
One of the most vexing problems with IVF has been the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Freezing all the embryos from an IVF cycle and performing a frozen embryo transfer (FET) at a later date can reduce the risk and severity of OHSS.
In addition, several studies have shown that performing an embryo transfer in a stimulated cycle can lead to an increase in pregnancy-related complications such as first and third-trimester bleeding. During a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycle your hormone levels are ideal leading to a better outcome for you and your baby.
Reason #2: Most patients choose Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
PGT allows us to determine which embryos are genetically normal so we can maximize pregnancy rates with elective single embryo transfer and decrease the risk of miscarriage. However, PGT results are not available for about a week following the biopsy of the blastocyst stage embryo necessitating the freezing of all embryos following the biopsy.
The Two Types of FET
There are two types of frozen embryo transfer cycles (FET): Natural Cycle FET and Medicated FET.
Natural Cycle FET
If you have regular periods, you may not need estrogen medications to prepare for a FET.
If you choose the option of a Natural Cycle FET, you will be monitored periodically (using blood work and sonograms) during the first half of your cycle. When you have a follicle that is ready to ovulate and your endometrial lining looks good, a trigger injection (HCG) will be given to induce ovulation. This allows us to time the embryo transfer.
The transfer will occur one week after the HCG injection. Since an egg is released following the HCG shot, it is important that you avoid conceiving with that egg if your situation does not preclude natural conception!
While Dominion Fertility has had several success stories involving Natural Cycle FET, this process can come with risks that your doctors will discuss with you at the time of your visit.
Primarily, without the advanced scheduling of medicated FET, there is no guarantee that the laboratory will be able to support your optimal time of implantation.
Additionally, if your natural cycle produces suboptimal estrogen levels and endometrial development, the FET will need to be postponed until your next cycle. This can lead to the need for repeated treatments, greater costs, and more exhausting time requirements for patients. In fact, it can take 3-4 natural FET cycles to achieve the results of a medicated FET cycle.
To support the greatest possible chances of success with our treatments, Dominion Fertility only offers medicated FET services at this time.
Medicated FET Cycles
Some women benefit from taking medications to prime the endometrium for an embryo transfer. Additionally, a medicated FET cycle offers more control for patients who require advanced planning for the timing of the transfer. If you choose this option, you would begin estrogen medications just after the beginning of your menses.
As we do for a Natural Cycle FET, you will be monitored periodically (using blood work and sonograms). When hormone levels are optimal and the endometrium is ready, then we start progesterone and the transfer is performed about a week later as planned.