Do you know that FET is a crucial step in the IVF procedure? Yes, inserting the fertilised embryo into the woman’s uterus is essential in all IVF procedures. Many couples are interested to know what happens after this transfer. With some risks related to the FET process, fertility experts take precautions and provide the highest quality of care. Let us explore the step-by-step process of FET in the IVF procedure.
What is Frozen Embryo Transfer?
FET is the final step of the IVF journey, where the embryos are carefully placed in the woman’s uterus. Before this, fertility drugs were used to encourage the production of eggs by the ovaries, which are subsequently fertilised in a laboratory.
Because the embryos must adhere to the uterus for pregnancy to commence, they are only transferred once they have begun to mature. While there are a few risks involved, doctors are dedicated to minimizing them and ensuring the best care for the couple.
Why do You need a Frozen Embryo Transfer Procedure?
A few days before the FET, doctors will select the best eggs available for transfer to the womb. They usually assess the eggs through non-invasive procedures, such as metabolomic profiling.
FET may be recommended by doctors for various reasons to address specific medical conditions. With this technique, many women who face similar challenges have been able to conceive.
For Whom FET is Intended?
Frozen embryo transfer can be apt for people who are suffering from the below conditions as follow:
- Ovulation disorders: The number of eggs is likely to reduce in females with age or infrequent menstrual cycles, and conception will become a little hard.
- Blocked fallopian tubes: Without the proper path to the uterus, conception becomes much more difficult. Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes don’t allow the fertilised eggs to get to the uterus, conception possibilities will reduce.
- Endometriosis: A condition whereby tissue starts to develop outside the uterus makes conception more complicated in a woman.
- Premature ovarian failure: Conception can be difficult in this condition in which the ovaries stop producing eggs or oestrogen and fail to function normally.
- Uterine fibroids: Implantation of the egg can be prevented in this condition by the tiny filament-like growths made of tissues and muscles in the uterus thus preventing pregnancy.
- Hereditary disorders: Women who have some hereditary conditions may have a harder time getting pregnant.
- Low sperm count: In some cases, a woman needs a transference of an embryo where her male partner has a low sperm count or poor quality.
Step By Step Procedure of Embryo Transfer
On a specific day of the menstrual cycle, called the “implantation window,” when the uterus is almost ready, the frozen embryos are transferred.
Step-by-step process for frozen embryo transfer:
Before starting FET, the patient usually undergoes a pelvic scan to look at the endometrial lining, a hysteroscopy, and general examinations.
There are two main types of FET procedures:
1. FET with Hormone Replacement:
- Hormone Medication: To thicken the uterine lining, oestrogen is administered. Once it is thick enough, progesterone is added, and a date for embryo transfer is scheduled. In the process, suppressive injections are sometimes used.
- Embryo Transfer: Before transferring the embryo, it can be unfrozen and examined to understand its quality. This can be done a few days after beginning progesterone.
- Pregnancy Test: A pregnancy test is conducted 12–14 days after the embryo transfer. If positive, progesterone levels are checked. If negative, the period starts, and hormone treatment stops.
2. Natural Cycles (No Hormones):
With tests and scans, the doctor tracks spontaneous ovulation. On the chosen day following ovulation confirmation, the embryo is transferred to the uterus.
Follow-up Appointment:
If the pregnancy test is positive, three weeks following this, a vaginal ultrasound is scheduled to determine the heartbeat and number of embryos. The possibility of miscarriage is low if successful. In the case of FET failure, a follow-up with the doctor is recommended.
Benefits of Frozen Embryo Transfer
- Safe Embryo Transfer and Save For Future Use: Transferring several embryos at a time can lead to risky multiple pregnancies like triplets or more. To avoid this, most doctors freeze the remaining embryos and transfer only one at a time.
- If the Patient Wishes to Have Another Child: After a good IVF cycle, a lady may use frozen embryos from the very first cycle if she needs to have another baby. She can now employ these frozen embryos for a later FET, as embryos survive for several years.
- Genetic Screening: At the implantation stage, more advanced screening procedures like PGD and PGS test for embryos with chromosomal abnormalities. For a woman to have a problem-free pregnancy, these procedures take place just a couple of days after conception.
- For Women with OHSS: It is a dangerous syndrome that can occasionally be brought on by reproductive medications. If this occurs, the embryos are saved for a future pregnancy, and the embryo transfer is postponed until the woman is well.
Where do frozen embryos become stored?
In hospitals or reproductive clinics, frozen embryos are kept in a specially constructed lab. They can be safely preserved for up to ten years and are closely watched.
Costs of FET- Frozen Embryo Transfer
It is very important to discuss the process and the expected outcome with your doctor, along with the cost of FET. The process comes with several costs related to the treatment. FET generally ranges between ₹70,000 to ₹1,25,000.
The above cost includes the transfer procedure, hormone support, and monitoring. Since a natural cycle does not require fertility medications, it is relatively cheaper. However, this does not include storage costs, IVF costs, and embryo freezing costs.
Success Rate of Frozen Embryo Transfer
Some of the factors that determine the success of frozen embryo transfer include:
- Success rates are usually higher among younger women.
- Conception may be harder for the longer duration of infertility.
- Pregnancy is likely to occur when the embryos are healthier.
- Better results are usually obtained from frozen embryos on days three to five.
- The prepared uterus has a greater chance of implantation due to its thickened uterus lining.
The success rate for transfer is 50–60% with FET. FET babies mostly have good health and a decent birth weight.
Conclusion
More couples are choosing Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) and seeing success as the number of infertility cases rises. Doctors can now more accurately diagnose reproductive problems and suggest the appropriate therapies due to advanced technologies.
FET and IVF can be investigated as alternatives if other techniques prove unsuccessful. FET success rates have considerably increased, and many couples are still encouraged by the continuous improvements in fertility treatments.
