Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is the transfer of an embryo that was created in an earlier IVF cycle, vitrified (fast-frozen) and stored, then thawed and placed into the uterus in a later, carefully prepared cycle. It avoids repeating ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, and lets the transfer happen when the body and the uterine lining are at their most receptive. At Aansh Hospital & IVF Center — a government-registered Level-2 ART clinic (Reg. No. MH/AC/2024/15441/L2/Chandrapur/132) — embryos are stored, thawed and transferred in our in-house embryology lab.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO · Last updated June 2026

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO. Last updated: June 2026.

Information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Outcomes depend on individual clinical factors.

The thaw and transfer are carried out in our in-house embryology lab by Senior Clinical Embryologist Aayush Agarwal, Ph.D., with the cycle planned by Dr. Shweta Agarwal (MBBS, DGO). In Marathi and Hindi, FET is referred to as फ्रोझन एम्ब्रियो ट्रान्सफर, a step within "test tube baby" (टेस्ट ट्यूब बेबी) treatment.

Why is FET increasingly preferred?

Frozen embryo transfer has become a routine and often preferred approach because separating the transfer from the stimulation cycle can be safer and gives more flexibility. The main reasons are:

Avoiding OHSS (the "freeze-all" strategy): After ovarian stimulation, hormone levels are high and the uterine environment is not always ideal. For women at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) — including those with high AMH or PCOS — all embryos can be frozen and transferred in a later cycle, which removes the OHSS risk associated with a fresh transfer.
Letting the body recover: A separate cycle allows hormone levels to return to baseline and the uterine lining to be prepared on its own, rather than during the artificial hormonal surge of stimulation.
Allowing genetic testing (PGT): When preimplantation genetic testing is planned, embryos are frozen while results are awaited, then a tested embryo is transferred in a later FET.
Timing and flexibility: FET can be scheduled around the optimal endometrial window, around medical needs, or around family planning — and surplus embryos from one stimulation can be used across several future attempts.

How is the uterus prepared — natural vs medicated cycle?

Before a frozen embryo is transferred, the uterine lining (endometrium) is prepared so it is receptive to implantation. There are two main approaches, chosen to suit your cycle:

Natural-cycle FET: Used for women with regular, predictable ovulation. The cycle is monitored by ultrasound and hormone tests, and the transfer is timed to your natural ovulation, with minimal or no medication.
Medicated (hormone-prepared) FET: Oestrogen and then progesterone are given to build and prepare the lining on a controlled schedule. This suits women with irregular cycles or where precise timing is needed, and gives flexibility over the transfer date.

Your doctor recommends the approach that fits your cycle, with monitoring to confirm the lining has reached an appropriate thickness before the transfer is scheduled.

What does the FET cycle involve, step by step?

An FET cycle is simpler than the original IVF cycle — there is no ovarian stimulation or egg retrieval:

Endometrial preparation: The uterine lining is prepared by a natural or medicated cycle, monitored by ultrasound (and hormone tests) until it is suitably thick and receptive.
Embryo thaw: On the day of transfer, the selected embryo is warmed (thawed) in the laboratory and assessed for survival. Vitrified blastocysts generally survive thawing well.
Embryo transfer: The thawed embryo is loaded into a fine, soft catheter and gently placed into the uterus under ultrasound guidance — a quick, usually painless outpatient procedure needing no sedation, comparable to a routine speculum examination.
Luteal phase support: Progesterone (and sometimes oestrogen) supports the lining to help implantation.
Pregnancy test: A blood beta-hCG test about 10–14 days after the transfer confirms the result.

You can usually return to normal activity the same day as the transfer.

Fresh vs frozen transfer — what's the honest picture?

Both fresh and frozen transfers are established, effective approaches, and neither is universally "better" — the right choice depends on your situation. A fresh transfer places an embryo in the same cycle as egg retrieval. A frozen transfer places it in a later, separately prepared cycle.

A frozen transfer is generally preferred when:

There is a risk of OHSS (a freeze-all is the safest course).
Genetic testing (PGT) is being done.
The uterine lining or hormone levels in the stimulation cycle are not ideal.
Flexibility in timing is needed.

A fresh transfer may be appropriate when none of these apply and the cycle conditions are favourable. The decision is individualised by Dr. Shweta Agarwal based on your hormone levels, lining, OHSS risk and embryo status — not on a single headline figure. Reaching transfer, fresh or frozen, does not guarantee pregnancy, which still depends on age, embryo quality and uterine factors.

What does a frozen embryo transfer cost?

An FET cycle generally costs less than a full IVF cycle, because it does not involve ovarian stimulation medication, egg retrieval, or fertilisation. The cost covers endometrial preparation and monitoring, embryo thaw, and the transfer; ongoing embryo storage may be billed separately. You receive a transparent written estimate before the cycle begins.

See /costs-emi for current pricing information. Final cost depends on individual clinical evaluation.

0% EMI options are available (3–24 months).
See the IVF cost & 0% EMI page for the full breakdown, including embryo freezing and storage.

Frequently asked questions

What is a frozen embryo transfer (FET)?

An FET is the transfer of an embryo that was created in an earlier IVF cycle, frozen by vitrification, then thawed and placed into the uterus in a later prepared cycle. It avoids repeating ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, and lets the transfer happen when the uterine lining is most receptive.

Is FET better than a fresh transfer?

Neither is universally better — it depends on your situation. A frozen transfer is generally preferred when there is OHSS risk, when genetic testing (PGT) is planned, or when the lining or hormones in the stimulation cycle are not ideal. A fresh transfer may suit favourable cycles. The choice is individualised, not based on a single figure.

Is the frozen embryo transfer procedure painful?

No. The transfer itself is a quick outpatient procedure that usually needs no sedation and is comparable to a routine speculum examination. The embryo is placed through a fine, soft catheter under ultrasound guidance. Most women feel little or no discomfort and return to normal activity the same day.

What is a "freeze-all" cycle, and why is it done?

In a freeze-all cycle, all embryos are frozen rather than transferred fresh, and the transfer happens in a later cycle. It is used mainly to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) — a risk after stimulation, especially with high AMH or PCOS — and when genetic testing is planned or the lining is not ideal for a fresh transfer.

How is my uterus prepared for the transfer?

The lining is prepared by either a natural cycle (timed to your own ovulation, with minimal medication) or a medicated cycle (oestrogen and progesterone on a controlled schedule). The choice depends on whether your cycles are regular. Monitoring confirms the lining is suitably thick and receptive before the transfer is scheduled.

Do frozen embryos survive the thaw?

Vitrified (fast-frozen) embryos, especially blastocysts, generally survive thawing well because vitrification prevents damaging ice crystals from forming. Each embryo is assessed for survival after thawing and before transfer. There is a small chance an individual embryo does not survive, which is discussed as part of planning.

How long can embryos stay frozen before an FET?

Embryos can remain frozen for many years without their quality declining, because vitrification pauses all biological activity at very low temperature. Healthy pregnancies have resulted from embryos stored for well over a decade. Your embryos remain in our in-house, monitored storage until you are ready for transfer. See embryo freezing.

Who performs the thaw and transfer at Aansh?

The embryo thaw and laboratory work are performed in our in-house embryology lab by Senior Clinical Embryologist Aayush Agarwal, Ph.D., and the transfer is carried out by Dr. Shweta Agarwal. Your embryos remain in our care throughout, backed by our government Level-2 ART registration.