What to Expect During a Frozen Embryo Transfer

When you are matched with your donor family, the excitement about moving closer to pregnancy begins. Suddenly everything will start moving very quickly – you’ll sign the paperwork, the embryos will be shipped to your clinic, and your doctor will help you prepare for the frozen embryo transfer. Many women wonder what it is like to go through the frozen embryo transfer process. While the experience will vary from woman to woman, here is an idea about what you can expect:

• You and your doctor will begin preparing your womb to receive embryos.  You and your doctor may agree to simply use your regular menstrual cycle rather than medication.
• You and your doctor will agree upon the number of embryos you will thaw and the number of embryos you are willing to transfer.
• The embryos will be thawed in the lab and observed by the embryologist.  Viable embryos will continue to have cell division and may be allowed to grow another day or more in the lab.
• The actual transfer is quite simple. The doctor inserts a catheter through your cervix, then the embryos are inserted into your uterus.  The doctor often uses visual technology and can even use procedure called ‘assisted hatching’ to improve the chances of implantation.
• You’ll be advised to take good care of yourself for the next several days. A happy, healthy and well-rested mom has a better chance of successful implantation.

After the frozen embryo transfer is complete, you’ll take a pregnancy test in two weeks to see if you are pregnant. The process of becoming pregnant with your adopted embryos is painless and has a high rate of success when compared to many other alternative family building methods. If you are interested in learning more about the frozen embryo transfer process, visit www.embryoadoption.org.

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