When you get in vitro fertilization (IVF), you will use a fresh or frozen embryo transfer. A woman can use frozen eggs from a donor or their own eggs. While doctors prefer to use fresh eggs, they may use frozen embryos left from a previous IVF cycle.
Why Do Women Get a Frozen Embryo Transfer?
Through the best IVF frozen embryo transfer in Chicago, you have a way to conceive after a fresh IVF transfer fails. During a typical IVF treatment, you may produce more than one embryo. For younger women, a doctor will only implant one embryo at a time. Because of this, there may be additional embryos left after your initial treatment. If your initial IVF treatment does not work, your doctor may do a frozen embryo transfer procedure.
Before your doctor removes your eggs, he or she will talk to you about embryo cryopreservation. Through cryopreservation, you can make sure that your doctor saves any extra embryos for the future. Freezing extra embryos allows you to save money. It also means that you can avoid having to get another cycle of injections and medication to produce more eggs. You may also want a frozen embryo transfer after a successful IVF procedure if you want to give your IVF-conceived child a sibling. Through embryo cryopreservation, you can technically preserve your extra embryos indefinitely.
If you have a high risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), your doctor may want to use a frozen embryo transfer. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome usually only occurs during a fresh embryo transfer cycle.
Some women get a frozen embryo transfer procedure because they froze their eggs during their youth and now want to use those healthy eggs. Often, couples will choose to have genetic screening before the doctor implants any eggs. This screening takes time, so it is difficult to complete it fast enough to do a fresh embryo transfer.
How Does the Transfer Actually Work?
When you get the best IVF frozen embryo transfer in Chicago, you will use either a hormonally supported cycle or a natural cycle. Hormonally supported cycles are more common because the doctor can control when the transfer occurs. With this cycle, hormonal support begins once your last menstrual cycle ends. Blood work and a baseline ultrasound allow the doctor to see if you are ready for estrogen supplementation.
Estrogen supplementation lasts for two weeks and gives you a healthy endometrial lining. Then, your doctor gives you progesterone support, as well. At this point, your doctor will set a date when the frozen embryo transfer will occur.
With a frozen embryo transfer, you have fewer risks than you do with a full cycle of IVF, as your doctor does not have to use ovarian stimulating drugs.
There is a chance of multiple pregnancies if the doctor implants multiple embryos. In addition, there is a minor risk of infection and a slightly increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.
Finding a Way to Achieve Your Dream of Starting a Family
If you have been having problems starting a family, Advanced Reproductive Center can help. Our team of compassionate fertility treatment staff, doctors, and nurses can help you diagnose the cause of your infertility. Once we know what the problem is, we can help you find the best solution.
At our treatment center, you can find fertility services such as:
- Frozen and fresh embryo transfers
- IVF
- Intrauterine insemination
- Fertility medications and surgeries
Our goal is to help you achieve your dreams of starting a family. Find out how we can help by calling us at 312.485.4847.
