While in vitro fertilization (IVF) has proven to be a successful fertility treatment, it comes with its own set of challenges. The process can be emotionally, physically, and financially draining for couples who undergo it.

In some cases, after several attempts, IVF may fail due to various reasons, leaving couples feeling helpless and hopeless in their pursuit of starting a family.

Thankfully, there’s another option: frozen embryo transfer (FET). As the name suggests, FET involves thawing previously frozen embryos and transferring them to the uterus.

This article will explore the viability of FET as an alternative fertility treatment when IVF fails.

What is frozen embryo transfer (FET)?

Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a fertility treatment that involves transferring previously frozen embryos to a woman’s uterus. The embryos may have been frozen from a previous IVF cycle or donated by another couple.

During IVF, eggs are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries, and sperm is used to fertilize them in a lab, resulting in embryos. The embryos are then transferred to the uterus in the hope of achieving pregnancy.

However, sometimes there may be surplus embryos that are not transferred during the initial IVF cycle, or couples may choose to freeze their embryos for future use.

The frozen embryos are stored in a cryopreservation facility and can be thawed and transferred during a FET cycle.

FET is a simpler process than IVF in that it doesn’t require the retrieval of eggs, which leads to fewer medications, less monitoring, and lower costs.

Why does IVF fail?

IVF failure can occur due to various reasons, including:.

Age-related infertility
Low ovarian reserve
Poor quality of eggs or embryos
Implantation failure
Genetic abnormalities

IVF success rates decline with age, and women over the age of 35 may have a higher chance of IVF failure. Low ovarian reserve refers to a low number of eggs or poor quality of eggs, which can reduce the chances of a successful IVF cycle.

Poor quality of eggs or embryos can also affect the chances of IVF success, as can genetic abnormalities in embryos.

Implantation failure occurs when the transferred embryo fails to implant in the uterus, which can be due to a variety of factors, including uterine abnormalities and hormonal imbalances.

The viability of frozen embryo transfer as an alternative

FET has proven to be an effective alternative to IVF, with several studies showing comparable success rates between the two treatments.

One study found that the implantation rates of FET were not significantly different from fresh embryo transfer, and that FET had a higher pregnancy rate than a second fresh embryo transfer cycle.

Another study found that frozen embryo transfers had a higher live birth rate than fresh embryo transfers, with FET resulting in a 7.9% higher live birth rate per initiated cycle compared to fresh transfers.

In addition, FET allows for a more flexible treatment schedule as it isn’t dependent on the retrieval of eggs. This means that couples can take more time to prepare for their FET cycle and can schedule it at a time that works best for them.

The process of frozen embryo transfer

The process of frozen embryo transfer is straightforward and involves several steps:.

Stimulation of the ovaries is not necessary since eggs are retrieved from a previous IVF cycle or donated by another couple
The endometrium, or the lining of the uterus, is prepared to receive the embryo through medications such as estrogen and progesterone
The frozen embryos are thawed and cultured in the lab to ensure their viability
The embryo is transferred to the uterus with the help of ultrasound guidance
A pregnancy test is taken approximately two weeks after the transfer to determine if pregnancy has been achieved

Costs of frozen embryo transfer

In comparison to IVF, frozen embryo transfer is a more affordable fertility treatment. The cost of FET varies by fertility clinic, but it’s generally lower than the cost of IVF.

FET doesn’t require the retrieval of eggs, which reduces the cost of medications, monitoring, and the need for anesthesia. Additionally, since embryos are already frozen, they don’t have to be created from scratch, which also helps lower the costs.

The emotional impact of IVF failure

IVF failure can take an emotional toll on couples who undergo the treatment. After multiple attempts, if IVF fails, it can leave couples feeling devastated and hopeless.

However, FET provides a renewed sense of hope to couples who are trying to conceive and can offer an alternative path towards starting a family.

Conclusion

IVF failure can be a difficult experience for couples, but FET provides a viable alternative to start a family. The procedure has been shown to be effective in treating infertility and has comparable success rates to IVF.

Additionally, FET is more affordable than IVF and offers a more flexible treatment schedule. If you’re a couple who has undergone IVF and it has failed, talk to your fertility specialist about the viability of frozen embryo transfer. It may provide you with a chance to start or expand your family.