Category Archives: Frozen Embryos


Why Frozen Embryo Transfers Result in High IVF Pregnancy Success

Cryopreservation (3)Freezing quality embryos after a fresh IVF cycle will increase a couple’s chance of conceiving in the future. Look: Pregnancy success rates for a Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET) are higher than a fresh IVF transfer because a woman has the opportunity to wait until her uterine lining returns to an ideal state for embryo implantation. This is not even the best part. Through embryo cryopreservation technology, couples can avoid the financial and physical strain of undergoing multiple fresh IVF cycles.

Benefits of the Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

Through FET, couples can try again – sooner than later – if their fresh IVF cycle fails. If the fresh IVF cycle is successful, the couple can undergo a FET at a time when they decide to have more children in the future.

Bonus Benefits of FET

  • Couples can plan their family through gender selection
  • Couples increase their chances for a healthy singleton pregnancy
  • Healthy pregnancies have been achieved after an embryo has been frozen for up to 10 years

Through world class laboratory technology, our pregnancy success rates through FET has increased substantially in recent years. That’s not all. Only high quality embryos are cryopreserve to be later transferred in future FET procedures. This success has made FETs an increasingly popular option to consider before considering a subsequent fresh IVF cycle. Bottom Line: With FET, couples can increase their chance of pregnancy per fresh egg retrieval and ultimately save money by avoiding the expense of another fresh IVF cycle.

Frozen Embryo Transfer Procedure

To begin the FET procedure, hormone medication is administered to suppress the woman’s pituitary gland and reduce the chances of unexpected ovulation. Estrogen acts to thicken and mature the uterine lining – like the natural estrogen produced by a developing egg follicle during a normal menstrual cycle.

During estrogen administration, monitoring of the uterine lining is required.

  • Transvaginal ultrasound for the doctor to evaluate the thickness of the uterine lining
  • Blood tests for the doctor to evaluate the level of estrogen in the blood

Double Benefit of FET: Monitoring for timing of transfer during a FET cycle is more flexible than in a fresh IVF cycle. The FET procedure is much less stressful on patients because the transfer date can be adjusted.

Progesterone is a medication administered in preparation for the FET to make the uterine lining receptive to the implantation of the embryo.

  • Progesterone matures the uterine lining
  • Progesterone creates a window of implantation in anticipation of a set FET date
  • Lupron injections are ceased upon the beginning of progesterone administration
  • Embryos are scheduled for thaw in the laboratory
  • FET is scheduled on a set date
  • Progesterone is continued daily to help prepare the patient’s uterine lining for implantation of the fertilized egg – the embryo
  • After the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is scheduled on a date prescribed by the doctor through a blood draw

Healthy pregnancies have been achieved after an embryo has been frozen for up to 10 years. Pregnancy success through FETs is determined by the quality of the frozen embryo.

Single Embryo Transfers

Our fertility specialists promote the practice of Single Embryo Transfer (SET) to reduce health risks associated with multiple pregnancies and births. Cryopreservation of surplus embryos for future FET procedures is encouraged by the fertility specialists at New Hope Fertility NYC – in lieu of repeated, expensive fresh IVF cycles.

Pioneering Vitrification Method of Freezing Embryos

The flash-freezing technique of vitrification makes it possible to ready fresh embryos rapidly for cryopreservation. Using the vitrification method, embryos freeze quickly and damaging ice crystals do not form between cells. We are leaders in embryo cryopreservation. Dr. John Zhang was one of the first doctors in the United States to implement the vitrification method of embryo freezing.

World Renowned FET Expertise in NYC

It is important to work with a fertility specialist having the experience required to design a customized IVF treatment plan meeting your personal needs. To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. John Zhang at New Hope Fertility Centercall 917.525.5496.