Nowadays, in IVF process, it is not unusual to find a large number of good quality embryos on the day of the embryo transfer. For the fresh transfer the better morphological / kinetic embryos are selected and ‘the rest’ of good quality can be frozen for future treatments.

Cryopreserved embryo transfer is a simple treatment that has many advantages:

  • The required treatment for women is very simple and takes little time (ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval are not necessary), we just have to prepare the endometrium and by ultrasound we show the correct time for the transfer. The visits to the fertility clinic will be reduced significantly.
  • The cost of treatment is much lower.

When

  • The fresh embryo transfer did not result in a pregnancy.
  • The couple wants a new child.

Phases

The treatment of cryopreserved embryo transfer comprises the following stages:

Preparation of the endometrium
When the woman menstruation arrives we will begin the treatment with estrogens, with increasing doses to achieve adequate endometrial thickness, which will be assessed by vaginal ultrasound. Once grown the endometrium, the thawing of embryos and their transfer can be done. To facilitate embryo implantation progesterone will be vaginally administered.
Thawing of embryos
At VITA, we have the infrastructure and the specialized team necessary to perform embryo cryopreservation using the latest techniques (vitrification). The vitrified embryos are stored in suitable tanks containing liquid nitrogen and kept at the temperature of 196 ° C.
Embryo transfer
Is a process that involves passing a temperature of -196 ° C to body temperature of 37 ° C. In addition, the embryos are incubated with specific means, the cryoprotectants are being replaced in substances used for freezing, thereby producing cellular rehydration and embryo biological functions are reactivated.
Pregnancy test

The pregnancy test will be done trough a blood test 13 days after the follicular punction.

If the patient has lost blood before undergoing the test it is important to never leave the medication and to contact the medical team for advice. Throughout treatment, your personal assistant will be available at all times to resolverle doubts that you may have and support you in this special moment.

Fertility clinics in Spain

Medical Team

Susana Sempere - Gynaecology

Dr. Susana Sempere Ferri

Antonio Moya - Reproductive Medicine

Dr. Antonio Moya

Eva Moreno

Dr. Eva María Moreno Ruiz

Jose Manuel Lozano - Gynaecology

Dr. Jose Manuel Lozano

Romina Ramírez - Gynaecology

Dr. Romina Ramírez Melguizo

You know what…

  • Currently, about 40% of patients who undergo a cycle of IVF embryos have frozen embryos.
  • The degree of success in assisted reproduction of this technique  highly dependent on the quality of embryos when they are frozen. With vitrification techniques, embryo survival rates range from 80-90% and pregnancy chances are higher than 35%.
  • Thanks to advances in the techniques of freezing and thawing of embryos (vitrification), the frozen embryo transfer is a very good option to achieve pregnancy. The cumulative pregnancy rates (fresh transfer and frozen embryo transfer) per cycle are higher than 65%.
  • If your gynecologist does not recommend it, it is not necessary to rest after the transfer. There are no studies showing that rest increases the chance of pregnancy. Usually after the transfer, the patient wait about an hour in the room of the assisted reproduction center. Then, once home, the woman can resume her normal life.

Information about Cryopreserved embryo transfer in Spain