The Basics

Fertility preservation techniques such as embryo freezing give women more options and flexibility when it comes to planning their family.

What Is Embryo Freezing (Embryo Cryopreservation)?

Around 50% of patients have surplus embryos after their IVF cycle. These can be frozen for future use, allowing for additional pregnancy attempts from a single IVF cycle.

Women may choose to freeze embryos for personal reasons or to preserve fertility before undergoing cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, which can harm their eggs.

How Does It Work?

Vitrification is an advanced cryopreservation technique that rapidly cools embryos, preventing ice crystal formation that can damage cells. This method significantly improves post-thaw survival rates, leading to higher pregnancy and live birth rates.

However, not all patients will have extra embryos for freezing. Only high-quality embryos are cryopreserved, as lower-quality ones may not survive the freeze-thaw process.

Patients often produce multiple viable embryos during IVF. Any embryos not transferred during the fresh cycle can be cryopreserved and stored for future use. This allows patients to limit the number of fresh transfers while preserving unused embryos for future pregnancies.

Frozen embryos can be stored for many years, and patients can often achieve multiple pregnancies from a single egg retrieval. These embryos can be transferred with minimal preparation of the uterine lining, and the timing of transfer is determined by the embryo's developmental stage at freezing.

Care Fertility Centre has achieved the highest success rates in the country for pregnancies resulting from frozen embryo transfers.

Embryo freezing involves cooling embryos to -196°C in liquid nitrogen. The freezing process includes placing embryos in solutions that gradually remove water from their cells, preventing ice damage. Upon thawing, the embryos are rehydrated and can be transferred during a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, allowing patients to avoid the need for another full IVF cycle. This reduces treatment costs and avoids the risks of egg retrieval and ovarian hyperstimulation.

Indications:

• Fertility preservation

• Genetic testing (CCS/PGS/PGD): embryos must be stored to await results

• Storage of surplus embryos from an IVF cycle

• Delay of embryo transfer for medical or other reasons after a fresh IVF cycle

FAQs

Get Your Questions About Embryo Freezing Answered

Fertility can be incredibly complex, and if you're struggling to conceive, navigating the many available treatments can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Care Fertility Centre is here to help Ottawa residents explore their fertility options. We're dedicated to educating our patients about various procedures, including embryo freezing. Our friendly team is ready to guide you through the process, success rates, and alternative approaches. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about embryo freezing to help you better understand this fertility option.

Who Should Consider Embryo Freezing?

If you’re struggling with fertility, freezing an embryo may be a viable choice for you. Many couples turn to the embryo freezing procedure if they haven’t been able to conceive a child after over two years of trying. We also recommend this option for people who fall into the following categories:

• LGBTQ+ couples who cannot have a child through traditional means

• People who take medication that impacts fertility

• Cancer patients who are about to begin chemotherapy

• Patients with genetic disorders that make conception difficult or impossible.

How Does Embryo Freezing Work?

The embryo freezing process involves several steps. First, patients are prescribed hormone medication, typically for 8 to 12 days, to stimulate the ovaries and promote the production of multiple eggs. Once the eggs mature, they are retrieved in a simple procedure. The collected eggs are then fertilized with sperm from either the male partner or a donor. After about five days, the fertilized eggs develop into embryos. These embryos are then flash-frozen and stored for future use.

How Long Can Embryos Stay Frozen?

Usually, we recommend that embryos stay frozen no longer than 10 years. However, some women have been able to store their frozen embryos for decades longer. Some studies have indicated that frozen embryos will last indefinitely.

How Many Embryos Should I Store?

In most cases, you can store as many embryos as you feel comfortable with. When you choose to transfer the embryos into the uterus, it’s a good idea to transfer at least two. Speak with your medical doctor and provider at Care Fertility Centre for a more specific answer about your unique situation.

What If I’m Older Than 38?

Women who freeze their embryos after age 38 may experience a reduced chance of successful pregnancy when the embryos are transferred. However, for those who freeze embryos at a younger age, pregnancy rates remain consistent even if the transfer occurs later in life. In short, the success of frozen embryos is more closely linked to your age at the time of freezing, rather than at the time of transfer. If you're over 38, we encourage you to consult with our team about alternative conception methods, including:

• Ovulation induction

• Intrauterine insemination

• Donor sperm

Is Embryo Freezing Safe?

Embryo freezing is quite safe. However, this fertility method is not without a few risks to be aware of. Some studies have shown a possible link between genetic abnormalities and children born via this procedure. As embryo freezing is a relatively new way to conceive, we do not fully understand the potential long-term health effects. Women who become pregnant through embryo freezing may also have a greater chance of birth complications and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, though the latter is very rare.

How Much Does It Cost?

Embryo freezing and similar fertility treatments can be expensive. On average, egg freezing costs over $10,000, with additional fees for developing the eggs into embryos. Additionally, there may be ongoing storage fees for frozen embryos. The total cost can vary based on individual circumstances and the clinic. At Care Fertility Centre, we strive to make embryo freezing as affordable as possible.

What Are the Benefits of an FET Cycle?

The frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle refers to the time you decide to implant the embryo into the uterus and try for a pregnancy. When compared with a fresh cycle, stimulated with in vitro fertilization, FET has plenty of benefits. Many couples choose this method because it requires less medication. Instead, an FET cycle uses estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy. Other reasons to opt for FET include:

• No need for anesthesia

• No additional egg retrieval procedure

• Less emotional and mental stress

• Have control over the number of embryos transferred

What Kind of Medications Will I Take During an FET Cycle?

In the time leading up to the FET cycle, you’ll take medication to decrease ovarian activity. This may be a type of birth control pill or a hormone injection. After about 10 days of taking this medication, we’ll administer the hormone estradiol. You can request that your doses of estradiol come from a pill, injection, or patch. Once you have high enough levels of estradiol, we’ll inject progesterone into the muscle or prescribe a pill. If the pregnancy is successful, you’ll continue to take estradiol and progesterone as prescribed. Should you have any concerns about these medications, feel free to address them with our staff.

How Is Egg Freezing Different?

Embryo freezing and egg freezing are often confused. While they aim for the same outcome, each procedure uses a different process. Embryo freezing involves fertilizing an egg and flash-freezing it once it becomes an embryo. Patients who choose egg freezing have their eggs frozen right away without being fertilized first. The question of egg freezing vs. embryo freezing is one best left to you and your fertility expert. Every patient is different, and we’ll make sure you get the personalized medical advice you need.

Which Procedure Is Better for Me?

There’s no good way to give accurate fertility advice without knowing your unique circumstances. What works for another couple may not be the right choice for you. If you’re considering egg or embryo freezing, we welcome you to meet with one of our fertility experts. We’ll consider your situation and recommend a treatment. Our team strives to provide personalized treatments for each of our patients.

Reach Out to Us With Additional Questions

Do you have additional questions about the cost of freezing an embryo or what to expect during the procedure? The team at Care Fertility Centre is always glad to listen to your concerns and provide answers to your questions. We know that struggling to get pregnant can be confusing, disheartening, and stressful, but we’re dedicated to being your rock during this difficult time. Our fertility care providers will work with you to choose the best treatment for your needs and family goals. Contact us today to set up your consultation at any of our Ottawa location.