This procedure allows you to use these embryos at a later date – rather than having another IVF cycle.
After a cycle of IVF or ICSI, you may have leftover embryos that have been frozen.
Embryos may also be frozen for other reasons, such as due to social or medical reasons (whereby embryos may have been frozen rather than transferred as part of a fresh cycle).
When the embryos are ready to be used, they will need to be thawed before they are transferred into the patient’s uterus. Across the UK, around 90% of embryos survive the thawing process.
According to the HFEA, success rates for IVF using frozen embryos have been increasing year-on-year, and are now comparable to rates using fresh embryos.
National birth rate per embryo transferred using woman’s own eggs and partner sperm, 2017:
Further information can be found on the HFEA website.