Frozen Embryo Transfer
Hundreds of thousands of babies have been born from cryopreserved embryos
There is no indication of any increase in the rate of birth defects, and the implantation rate of the thawed embryos is equal to the “fresh”, unfrozen embryo implantation rate.
Frozen Embryo Transfer
Embryo cryopreservation, thawing, and Frozen Embryo Transfer are considered to be very safe procedures.
The uterine lining (endometrium) is prepared for embryo implantation by taking estrogen and progesterone supplementation. These medications are administered until the placenta is able to produce enough estrogen and progesterone to sustain the pregnancy resulting from Frozen Embryo Transfer.
Once the medications are discontinued, the pregnancy is indistinguishable from natural conception, and your obstetrical care should be no different than if you conceived without any treatment.
The cost of Frozen Embryo Transfer at Bay IVF is $4,270, but it is included in the IVF Duo and IVF Trio Financial Plans.
Frozen Embryo Transfer Treatment Process
1 — Endometrial stimulation
Your treatment is always individualized to maximize the probability of a successful outcome. You will receive your personalized endometrial stimulation calendar.
2 — Frozen embryo thawing procedure
The start of the thawing procedure is carefully timed and performed at our Clinic on the day of your Frozen Embryo Transfer.
4 — Assisted hatching of embryos
A laboratory procedure that creates a “weak spot” in the eggshell of an embryo. This technique enhances the chances of the embryo hatching out of its shell and successfully implanting.
3 — Culture of the thawed embryo(s)
The thawed embryos are being prepared for assisted hatching and embryo transfer.
5 —Embryo transfer
One or two embryos are carefully loaded into the tip of a thin embryo transfer catheter. The catheter is then guided through the cervix to the top of the endometrial cavity, where the embryo(s) are gently released.
6 — Embryo implantation
After the embryo transfer, the endometrial lining gently supports the embryo(s) within the top of the uterus. There are no restrictions on your physical activity.
Below is an example of endometrial stimulation for Frozen Embryo Transfer. Your individualized protocol may take less or more time to complete.
Frozen Embryo Transfer Procedure
Preparation of endometrial lining
There are several forms of endometrial lining stimulation protocols, each with many modifications. Your treatment is always individualized.
The treatment begins with taking oral contraceptives. They are started within the first four days of the beginning of a menstrual cycle. A few days after the last pill, you will have a menstrual period, and the endometrial stimulation will begin at that time.
The endometrial lining preparation is straightforward, and you should not expect any side effects.
The ultrasound picture shows a well-developed endometrial lining ready for embryo transfer.
Frozen embryo thawing procedure
You will need to decide and communicate to us whether you would like to thaw and transfer one or two embryos. Please let us know if you need help with this decision.
Selecting one or two embryos will eliminate the risk of a high-order multiple pregnancy (triplets or more). With this approach, most pregnancies from cryopreserved embryos are single-baby pregnancies.
Culture of Embryos
After thawing, the embryos are briefly cultured before their transfer into the uterus. The culture results in the re-expansion and “rehydration” of the embryos.
This picture shows an advanced stage of blastocyst development. Notice the central fluid-filled cavity. The cells within the blastocyst have already differentiated into the inner cell mass (at seven o’clock) that will give rise to the fetus and the trophectoderm cells that will form the future placenta.
At this stage, the embryos are still microscopic, invisible to the naked eye.
Assisted hatching of embryos
Assisted hatching is a laboratory procedure used to create a “weak spot” in the eggshell of an embryo. Since embryo freezing commonly hardens the embryo’s eggshell, assisted embryo hatching is always a part of the Frozen Embryo Transfer treatment.
This picture shows an embryo after assisted embryo hatching with an opening breaching the eggshell at the 12 o’clock position.
Embryo Transfer
Just before the embryo transfer, the embryo(s) is/are placed into the tip of a thin embryo transfer catheter. The catheter is then passed through the cervical canal, reaching within 15 mm of the top of the uterine cavity, where the embryos are gently released.
The embryo transfer usually takes only a few seconds to complete, and no rest is required afterward.
Embryo implantation
After the embryo transfer, the endometrial lining gently holds the embryo(s) within the upper part of the uterus. There are no restrictions on your physical activity during this period.
This picture shows a healthy blastocyst in the process of “squeezing out” of its eggshell. Once fully hatched, it will stay in the uterus unattached for about a day and then implant.
A blood pregnancy test is done 10 days after the embryo transfer. If the test is positive, an ultrasound examination is scheduled two weeks later to visualize the implantation site and check for a heartbeat within the embryo. Once a heartbeat is detected, there is a 95% probability that the pregnancy will result in a live birth.
Bay IVF Early Pregnancy Heartbeat
With vitrification, the embryo survival rate is very close to 100%.
FAQ — Find Answers to Your Queries
Here are some of the most commonly asked fertility-related questions. A more comprehensive FAQ selection is available on the FAQ page.
Do medications used in the IVF treatment have any side effects?
Most patients should expect minimal, if any, side effects from the medications used in In Vitro Fertilization. You should be able to continue with your everyday activities during the treatment.
How long does it take to complete a cycle of IVF?
It typically takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the start of your treatment to the egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?
Your egg retrieval should be a very comfortable experience as we use effective pain and relaxation medications. Most patients will sleep through the 5-10 minute egg retrieval procedure. Some may experience mild menstrual-like cramping.
What is ICSI, and how does it affect my embryos?
n the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure, a single sperm is directly inserted into the center of an egg. ICSI has been widely used since 1993, and approximately 2 million babies have been born worldwide without significant side effects through the use of ICSI.
I am over 40. Should I plan to do PGT?
You may consider adding Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to your In Vitro Fertilization or Donor Egg IVF treatment. If you choose to do so, it eliminates the need for amniocentesis. While adding PGT to these treatments has not been proven to improve the chances of a successful outcome consistently, it can help reduce the risk of miscarriage.
How many embryos should we transfer?
We adhere to the recommendation of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine that most patients should consider transferring only one or two embryos. While we will always provide guidance, the ultimate decision of whether to transfer one or two embryos will be up to you.
Is bed rest recommended after an embryo transfer?
From a conception standpoint, it is not recommended to rest immediately after embryo transfer. Recent studies have shown that remaining active and moving around after the transfer can increase the probability of implantation. Therefore, it is advised to start moving around immediately after your transfer.
I am from the LGBTQ+ community. Can I have my treatment at Bay IVF?
Yes! We take pride in being one of the first fertility clinics in Northern California to offer In Vitro Fertilization services for lesbian partners. Our clinic is LGBTQ+ friendly and experienced in both lesbian IVF and Reciprocal IVF.
Meet Your Doctor
- Dr. Polansky received his medical diploma from Charles University in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 1978.
- After completing his OB/GYN residency at Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO, he graduated from the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship at Stanford University in 1985.
- In the same year, he co-founded the Stanford IVF Clinic.
- Dr. Polansky obtained board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1986 and became REI subspecialty board certified in 1988.
- In 1987, he left Stanford University and established Nova IVF.
- In 2011, he founded Bay IVF, where he provides advanced fertility treatments with a holistic approach, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques.
- Dr. Polansky personally performs ultrasound examinations, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and ovarian and endometrial stimulations for his patients.
- He is deeply committed to his patients and is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Frank Polansky, M.D.
Initial Appointment Questions
When you call to schedule your consultation, one of our Front Office Coordinators will ask you a short series of questions regarding your reproductive history.
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your height
- Your weight
- Do you know which treatment you plan to have?
- How many times have you been pregnant?
- For each of your pregnancies, what was the conception date? (month and year)
- What was the outcome?
- Were the pregnancies with your current partner?
- If known, what is the cause of your infertility?
- What is your average cycle length? (number of days between onsets of your periods)
- Are you currently taking any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Are you allergic to any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Your partner’s name (if applicable)
- Your partner’s date of birth (if applicable)
- What is the length of your relationship with your current partner? (years and months)
- When was the last time either of you used any contraception?
- Is the male partner currently taking any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Is the male partner allergic to any medications? If yes, which ones?
- What is the total number of pregnancies the male partner has ever caused?
- Has the male partner ever caused a pregnancy without the ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) procedure?
- Has the male partner had a vasectomy or vasectomy reversal?
- If available, for each Semen Analysis, please give the date (day, month, and year), volume, concentration (sperm count), percentage of motile sperm, and percentage of morphologically normal sperm.
- Have you ever had any treatment for, or problems with, your lungs, heart, blood and blood vessels, breasts, digestive system, genito-urinary system, thyroid disease, diabetes, or neurological disorder? (female partner only)
- For each X-ray of your uterus and Fallopian tubes (hysterosalpingogram), laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, or laparotomy, please give the procedure date (day, month, and year) and the findings.
- If available, for each FSH, LH, estradiol (estrogen, E2), and AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) test you have had, please give the date of the test (day, month, and year) and the result.
- Have you done any intrauterine inseminations (IUI)? If yes, how many?
- Have you had ovarian stimulation with injectable medications?
- For each IVF treatment you have had, please provide the following information if available: Date (month and year), the dose of medications to stimulate your ovaries, your highest estrogen level, number of ovarian follicles that developed, number of eggs retrieved, whether ICSI was done, number of embryos available, number of embryos transferred, number of embryos frozen, and the treatment outcome.
- Have you ever smoked cigarettes? If yes, how many cigarettes a day during the last three months? (Please remember that you must not smoke during your treatment.)
This is Erica
She will be providing you with exceptional support throughout your treatment journey at Bay IVF.
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your height
- Your weight
- Do you know which treatment you plan to have?
- How many times have you been pregnant?
- For each of your pregnancies, what was the conception date? (month and year)
- What was the outcome?
- Were the pregnancies with your current partner?
- If known, what is the cause of your infertility?
- What is your average cycle length? (number of days between onsets of your periods)
- Are you currently taking any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Are you allergic to any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Your partner’s name (if applicable)
- Your partner’s date of birth (if applicable)
- What is the length of your relationship with your current partner? (years and months)
- When was the last time either of you used any contraception?
- Is the male partner currently taking any medications? If yes, which ones?
- Is the male partner allergic to any medications? If yes, which ones?
- What is the total number of pregnancies the male partner has ever caused?
- Has the male partner ever caused a pregnancy without the ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) procedure?
- Has the male partner had a vasectomy or vasectomy reversal?
- If available, for each Semen Analysis, please give the date (day, month, and year), volume, concentration (sperm count), percentage of motile sperm, and percentage of morphologically normal sperm.
- Have you ever had any treatment for, or problems with, your lungs, heart, blood and blood vessels, breasts, digestive system, genito-urinary system, thyroid disease, diabetes, or neurological disorder? (female partner only)
- For each X-ray of your uterus and Fallopian tubes (hysterosalpingogram), laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, or laparotomy, please give the procedure date (day, month, and year) and the findings.
- If available, for each FSH, LH, estradiol (estrogen, E2), and AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) test you have had, please give the date of the test (day, month, and year) and the result.
- Have you done any intrauterine inseminations (IUI)? If yes, how many?
- Have you had ovarian stimulation with injectable medications?
- For each IVF treatment you have had, please provide the following information if available: Date (month and year), the dose of medications to stimulate your ovaries, your highest estrogen level, number of ovarian follicles that developed, number of eggs retrieved, whether ICSI was done, number of embryos available, number of embryos transferred, number of embryos frozen, and the treatment outcome.
- Have you ever smoked cigarettes? If yes, how many cigarettes a day during the last three months? (Please remember that you must not smoke during your treatment.)
This is Nisha
Your invaluable resource for effortlessly managing your appointments at Bay IVF.
Your Initial Visit at Bay IVF
Attending a new patient appointment at a fertility clinic can be stressful. Our primary objective is to ensure that your initial visit is friendly and relaxing. We encourage you to ask questions at every step of the process.
1 — When You Arrive
You will be welcomed by one of the clinic receptionists. One of our nurses will measure your height and weight and take your blood pressure
2 — Meet Your Doctor
Dr. Polansky will ask you a series of clarifying questions and then provide you with a summary of the factors contributing to your infertility
4 — Exam Room
One of the nurses will escort you to an examination room. Your examination will begin with listening to your lungs and heart
3 — Ask Your Questions
You will then have a discussion with him about the most suitable reproductive treatment(s) for you. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have
5 — Ultrasound of the Ovaries
The next step is a pelvic ultrasound to examine the uterus and ovaries. This ultrasound will help determine the number of antral follicles present within the ovaries
6 — Financial Part
Following that, you will have a discussion with one of the financial advisors regarding the financial aspects of your treatment, including potential treatment financing options
8 — Support 24/7
If you have any questions after leaving the clinic, please feel free to reach out to us via phone call, text, or email. Open and discreet communication is an integral part of the care we provide at Bay IVF
7 — What About Time?
Your entire visit is expected to last approximately one hour
Schedule Your Initial Consultation With Dr. Polansky
Online (free) or In-Person
Call or Text Us: 650-322-0500
You can also complete the form below to request your initial consultationWe look forward to meeting you at Bay IVF and, when your treatment is successful, celebrating your new pregnancy!