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Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
Frozen embryo transfer (FET) means an embryo frozen from an earlier IVF cycle is thawed and placed into the womb in a later, separate cycle. It is used when embryos remain after a fresh transfer, when freezing the whole batch is the safer choice, or when the womb lining needs more preparation time. The embryos are frozen and stored in our own laboratory in Goa, and most of your visits can be planned close to where you live.
If you have just been told your embryos will be frozen this time, or you already have embryos in storage from an earlier attempt, the natural question is whether "frozen" is somehow a lesser option than "fresh." It is not a fallback. For many couples it is the safer, better-timed choice.
Why embryos get frozen in the first place
- Extra embryos after a fresh transfer — kept for a future attempt without another egg collection
- Avoiding OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, where the ovaries over-respond to fertility injections) — when this happens, freezing the whole batch and transferring later, once the body has settled, is often the safer route
- The womb lining needs more time — for example, after a finding on hysteroscopy that needed treating first
How embryos are frozen and stored
Embryos are frozen by vitrification, a rapid-freezing method used in modern IVF laboratories, and kept in our own laboratory until you are ready for the next step.
What an FET cycle involves
There is no egg collection this time, which makes it a gentler cycle than a fresh one. The womb lining is prepared with hormonal support and checked by scan, and most of these visits can be planned close to where you live. Once the lining is ready, the transfer itself is done here in Goa, with our own laboratory alongside. The transfer procedure is the same as in a fresh cycle: a soft, thin tube, no anaesthesia, over in minutes.
Consultations with Dr. Mayur Pai are at whichever Heartbeats clinic is nearest you: Panjim, Margao, Mapusa or Vasco. If you consult at our Panjim, Margao or Vasco clinic, we send a car for you: free car pickup and drop from your home to our location, for consultations and treatment days alike.
Is a frozen embryo as good as a fresh one?
An embryo that survives the thaw is treated exactly the same as a fresh one from that point on. One honest limitation worth knowing beforehand: not every embryo survives freezing and thawing, so the number in storage is not automatically the number of attempts you will get. We tell you what survived on the day, before proceeding. As per medical science, a strong embryo will easily survive freezing and thawing while a poor quality embryo may not survive.
Timing
Unlike a fresh transfer, which follows egg collection on a fixed schedule, an FET has real flexibility. Once the lining is ready, the date can often be arranged around your own convenience — work, travel, or simply being ready — within reason. Talk to us about what timing suits you.
Questions couples ask about FET
How long can embryos stay frozen?
Embryos can remain viable in careful storage for a long time. Exact timelines and any regulatory limits are discussed with you directly.
Does a frozen embryo transfer need anaesthesia?
No. It is the same as a fresh transfer - a soft, thin tube, no cutting, no anaesthesia, over in minutes.
Do I have to travel far for an FET cycle?
Every step is done here in Goa, and most visits while the lining is prepared can be planned close to where you live. If you consult at our Panjim, Margao or Vasco clinic, we offer free car pickup and drop from your home to our location, for consultations and treatment days alike. Reception plans the days with you.
Will all my frozen embryos definitely survive thawing?
Most survive, but not always all. We tell you exactly what survived on the day of transfer, before going ahead.
Can we choose when to do the transfer?
Yes, once the lining is ready, timing has real flexibility. Discuss what suits you and we will plan around it.
Why would my whole batch of embryos be frozen instead of a fresh transfer?
Most often to avoid OHSS after a strong response to stimulation, or because the womb lining needs more time. We explain the reason on the day if it applies to you.
Your visit is confidential — nothing about you appears on this website or on social media.
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Fertility treatment depends on your individual assessment. Please consult a doctor about your own situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind, which is prohibited by law in India under the PCPNDT Act.