Frozen embryos
Treatment using frozen embryos
Frozen-thawed
embryos can either be transferred in a spontaneous cycle, or in an
artificial cycle, as this approach means that we can be certain that
the uterine mucosa is suited to receive the embryo.
In
the spontaneous cycle, the women receives an injection for ovulation
induction once the leading follicles has the correct size, and the
thawed embryos are transferred 3 days later when they were frozen as 4-cells, and 6 days later when they were frozen as blastocysts.
From April 2010 we only freeze embryos that have developed to the blastocyst stage.
In an artificial cycle the woman takes tablets containing the sex
hormone oestradiol for 10-14 days. An ultrasound scan is then performed
to assess the development of the uterine mucosa. If the mucosa is
satisfactory, a date is fixed for the embryo transfer (approximately on
the third day of progesterone treatment).
You
must start inserting Progestan suppositories or Crinone gel into the
vagina four days before the embryo transfer, and you must continue
taking the oestradiol tablets and the progesterone after the embryo
transfer.
Fourteen
days after the transfer, a pregnancy test will be made. The chance of a
positive test is about 25%. If you are pregnant, we will give you an
appointment for a pregnancy scan about three weeks later. It is of
utmost importance that you continue the medical treatment with both
oestradiol tablets and vaginal progesterone until the end of pregnancy
week 10. Otherwise, you will have a menstrual bleeding and a
miscarriage.
In 15-20% of the cases no embryos will have survived the thawing and divided further.