Your Passport to Pregnancy
with Egg Donation
Frozen Embryo Replacement
Your cycle with UKCFA and CIC is likely to result in more embryos than can be replaced in the uterus in one treatment cycle. Our normal practice is to replace 2 good embryos and this means, with our embryo guarantee, you will have embryos remaining. You and your partner will need to consider what should happen to any remaining embryos.
To date, there is no evidence that the technique of cryopreservation of embryos is unsafe. The transfer of frozen embryos does not seem to increase the risk of obstetric or perinatal complications. The occurrence of birth defects is not increased in children conceived from frozen embryos, and their subsequent development appears normal. However, we cannot be absolutely certain that there are no long-term consequences of embryo cryopreservation using human embryos because the oldest children conceived from frozen embryos have not yet reached adulthood.
Embryos may normally be stored for five years but this can be extended to 10 years in certain circumstances.
It's important that if you have embryos in storage in Cyprus that you keep in touch and, if you change your address, let us have your new address and/or phone number. If the clinic is unable to contact you when the five or ten-year period expires, we will have no option but to allow your embryos to perish.
Management of frozen embryo replacement cycles with UKCFA
Frozen/thawed embryos can be replaced either in a natural cycle (if you ovulate naturally)or in a controlled Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)cycle, using medication to suppress your natural hormones.
In the UK you will be given a course of oestrogen tablets and progesterone pessaries to help the development of the endometrium. Monitoring is carried out by ultrasound scanning. When ovulation has occurred or when the endometrium is thick enough you can fly to Cyprus.
In Cyprus your embryos will be thawed for replacement. Not all embryos survive the freezing, storage and thawing process. CIC laboratory staff will assess your embryos to see if they are suitable for transfer. If they are, the embryo transfer can proceed.
After embryo transfer,if you have been following the HRT protocol you will be advised to continue taking the oestrogen tablets and the progesterone pessaries until a pregnancy test is performed 14 days after the transfer. If the test is positive you will be advised to continue with HRT until you are 12 weeks’ pregnant.