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Preservation

Embryo freezing

Embryo freezing is a way of preserving your fertility as a couple or co-parents so that you may try for a family at a time that is right for you. It is also an option for those already undergoing fertility treatment who may need to have more than one cycle to achieve a pregnancy or to try for a sibling later on.

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What is embryo freezing?

Embryo freezing is a method of preserving your fertility as a couple or co-parent, giving you the time to focus on what matters right now, whilst allowing you to try for a family at a time that's right for you.

To freeze embryos, you'll need to undergo a partial IVF cycle to retrieve eggs from the ovaries which are then fertilised with sperm in a lab. These are left to develop into embryos over five to six days and any healthy embryos are frozen and safely stored in liquid nitrogen for future use.

Treatment

How does embryo freezing work?

To freeze your embryos, you will have to go through a partial IVF cycle, taking you up to the fertilisation stage. The embryo freezing process can take up to four weeks and looks something like this:

Step one

Stimulating the ovaries

A daily injection is used at home to stimulate follicular growth within the ovaries. This increases the number of eggs that are collected.

In most cases, this is a 14-day course of hormone medication.

Step two

Suppressing the natural menstrual cycle

A second daily injection is then added at home to stop natural hormone production and control when your eggs are released.

Suppressing your natural menstrual cycle

Step three

Monitoring progress

Pelvic scans will be performed to check the development and growth of the follicles in the ovaries. This will determine when the eggs are collected from the follicles.

Step four

Egg retrieval

Once the follicles have reached the correct size, an injection will be given to mature the eggs for collection. A needle is then gently guided through the vaginal wall taptuo cre the eggs one by one. Don’t worry, you will be sedated for this part of the procedure to ensure no pain or discomfort.

Step five

Fertilisation

Healthy eggs are combined with sperm in the lab where they reach and penetrate the egg naturally. A method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single healthy sperm is injected directly into the egg, may be used for cases of low sperm count or quality.

Step six

Embryo development

Fertilised eggs are left for five to six days to develop into mature embryos. These are monitored using an EmbryoScope™ which helps us select the strongest embryos for freezing.

Who can embryo freezing benefit?

Those not ready to start a family yet

You may consider freezing embryos for later a pregnancy if you don’t yet feel emotionally or financially ready or have personal or career goals to achieve first.

How much does it cost for trans women and non-binary people

Transgender and non-binary people

If you're starting hormone replacement therapy or plan to undergo gender-affirming surgery, you're ability to conceive naturally will be impacted

Those with a condition affecting your fertility

Conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis in females, as well as cancer treatments like chemo and radiotherapy can impact your fertility.

Those in the Armed Forces

If you’re working a job deemed as “hazardous” you may wish to preserve your fertility due to risk of injury or exposure to harmful chemicals.

How much does embryo freezing cost?

You'll find a breakdown of a typical embryo freezing cycle below, as well as the cost of a fertility assessment to help provide you with the answers you need to plan for your future.

*Any medication required throughout your treatment will be an additional cost. **All prices are subject to a regional variation.

Fertility assessment

£590

Includes consultation

Fertility tests for couples

Embryo freezing cycle

£5,195

Includes egg retrieval, fertilisation and freezing

Embryo freezing costs

Storage

£370

Paid annually

Our treatments

How successful is embryo freezing?

We estimate that 90% of eggs and embryos survive the freeze-thaw process.

The likelihood of getting pregnant with frozen embryos depends on several factors. One of the most important is the age of the eggs when collected; women who freeze their eggs before 35 years old generally have a higher chance of conceiving.

Additionally, the success rate is influenced by the number of mature eggs retrieved during the collection process. For more information, you can refer to our egg freezing success rates page.

Embryo freezing FAQs

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