Embryo freezing cycle with IVF/ICSI
An embryo freezing cycle, also known as embryo cryopreservation, is part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle.
What is Embryo freezing cycle with IVF / ICSI about?
An embryo freezing cycle, also known as embryo cryopreservation, is part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle. It involves the preservation of all embryos suitable for freezing and storage at a very low temperature to maintain their viability for future use. This is done for patients who wish to preserve embryos in order to attempt to have a child in the future or for patients who are at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, have high progesterone levels before egg collection or whose endometrium is not ready for embryo implantation. In all these cases a fresh embryo transfer will not go ahead and all embryos that have developed to the right stage and quality will be frozen and stored.
How does Embryo Freezing with IVF / ICSI work?
The process begins with ovarian stimulation, which includes fertility medications being administered to stimulate the ovaries in order to produce multiple eggs. Once the follicles have grown to a certain size, a trigger injection is administered to induce egg maturation and a minor surgical procedure called egg collection is performed. The collected egg/s are then fertilised with sperm in the laboratory and this can be done through either IVF or ICSI. The suitable embryo/s are frozen with a technique called vitrification and stored in cryogenic storage tanks until the patient is ready for a frozen embryo transfer cycle.
When is the Embryo freezing cycle recommended?
Recommending embryo freezing cycle with IVF / ICSI is made in consultation with the clinical team, depending on the circumstances of the patient undergoing fertility treatment. Embryo freezing might be recommended in the following situations
- Fertility preservation for medical or social reasons
- Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
- High progesterone during ovarian stimulation
- Endometrial problems
Success rates of Embryo Freezing Cycle with IVF / ICSI
Success rates of frozen embryo transfers after embryo freezing cycles with IVF or ICSI can vary based on several factors, including the age of the woman, the quality of the embryos, and the reason for fertility treatment. They are very similar to the success rates for fresh embryo transfers
It is important to remember that success rates can have their limitations when you compare them with your own experiences or diagnosis.
How much does an embryo freezing cycle with IVF/ICSI cost? Embryo freezing cycle with IVF/ICSI £4,895
This includes
- A consultation with one of our clinicians to plan for the treatment
- All required screening blood tests (minimum Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Rubella)
- A teaching session with the member of the nursing team to
- teach drug administration
- support you with the consenting process
- A consultation with one of our embryologists
- A baseline scan
- Stimulation scans
- Blood tests if required
- Egg collection
- Conscious sedation
- Sperm analysis and preparation
- ICSI injection of all mature eggs or IVF insemination
- Embryo culture to the blastocyst stage (day 5)
- Embryo freezing of all suitable embryos
- 1 year storage of the frozen embryos
- The use of AI algorithms to assist us in assessing embryo quality
