Becoming pregnant using surrogacy and IVF is made possible through a procedure called the embryo transfer— when your medical team moves the embryo from the lab and into your or your surrogate’s uterus.
This means that pregnancy can happen within days or weeks. If you have an embryo and are looking for a surrogate, you can get help here and find a surrogate in an average of 1 - 6 months.
If you still need to create embryos for IVF or surrogacy, we can help you find a fertility clinic. Contact us today and begin preparing for surrogacy to speed up your timeline.
Read on to learn about the significance of the embryo transfer and what it entails.
Definition of an Embryo Transfer
Embryo transfer is the last step in IVF and an essential part of surrogacy journeys. It is a medical procedure that moves a developing embryo to the intended mother’s or a surrogate’s uterus in a medical setting.
Before the embryo transfer, these steps must be completed:
Eggs are retrieved and sperm is collected or an egg and/or sperm donor is acquired Eggs and sperm are combined in a medical setting to create embryos Embryos are observed for development, and the embryos that have higher likelihood of success are prepared for freezing or transfer
Embryo Transfer Process
The embryo transfer process has specific procedures that are followed within fertility clinics and medical offices. Some medical practitioners may have variations in the exact details of how the process works, but here are the basics:
The recipient of the embryos tracks their menstrual cycle with medical help and may receive medication to influence her cycle Embryos are prepared for transfer (if frozen, they are thawed) The recipient of the embryos goes to a medical office, where a catheter is inserted through her cervix into her uterus and the embryo is placed in her uterus through the catheter
Types of Embryo Transfers
Depending on your situation, embryo transfer definitions may vary based on process and procedures. These variations can be categorized by who the embryo is being transferred to, when the embryo transfer takes place and at what stage of development the transfer takes place.
Who: IVF Embryo Transfer Definition
In standard IVF, the embryo is transferred to the intended mother’s uterus by a catheter inserted through her cervix.
Who: Surrogate Embryo Transfer Definition
The surrogate embryo transfer definition is generally the same as the IVF embryo transfer definition, but instead of the embryo being transferred to the biological mother or hopeful parent, instead the embryo will be transferred the surrogate’s uterus.
When: Fresh Embryo Transfer Definition
Fresh embryo transfer means that the embryos that will be transferred to the uterus directly and will not be frozen and stored beforehand. A fresh embryo transfer typically happens 3-5 days after the egg retrieval.
Since embryos can’t survive indefinitely outside of the body, this type of embryo transfer requires careful cycle tracking and coordination at your fertility clinic so that the embryos are created within a timeframe that they can be transferred to the uterus.
Explore the factors that influence the success of frozen embryo transfers and what to expect during the process. Read more about frozen embryo transfer success rates and feel more confident in your path to parenthood.
When: Frozen Embryo Transfer Definition
Embryos are frozen in specialized processes to preserve them if there will be a gap of time between when they are created and when they are used to become a pregnancy.
Frozen embryo transfer refers to an embryo transfer where the embryos have been cryogenically frozen and stored previously. The embryos are thawed before they are transferred on the day of the procedure.
Freezing embryos gives you flexibility in your timeline of using them, but not all embryos are able to be frozen, and there is a risk that some embryos may be lost in the freezing and thawing process.
What stage: Day 3 Embryo Transfer Definition
Embryo transfers happen after an egg has been fertilized and given time to develop outside of the body. The earliest common time to transfer an embryo is 3 days after the egg has been fertilized, which is referred to as a “day 3 embryo transfer.”
What stage: Day 5 Embryo Transfer Definition
Day 5 embryo transfers are embryo transfers that occur 5 days after an egg has been fertilized outside of the body. This is the most common time to transfer an embryo in IVF due to the developmental timeline of an embryo.
How Does Embryo Transfer Work in Surrogacy?
Embryo transfer works generally the same when you have a surrogate, but rather than the embryo being transferred to the uterus of the intended parent, instead the embryo will be transferred to the surrogate’s uterus so that the surrogate can carry the pregnancy.
Embryo Transfer Success Rates
Embryo transfer success rates often measure what percentage of transfers result in pregnancy or live birth, depending on the statistics you are looking at.
Transfer success rates are commonly affected by factors like:
- Embryo quality and development
- Age of the recipient of the embryo
- Age of the egg and sperm providers at time of donation
- Genetic and metabolic problems that affect embryo development
If you have embryos ready for transfer, you can start surrogacy and get matched with a surrogate in an average of 1 - 6 months. Learn more about surrogacy when you contact our specialists.
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FAQ
What does embryo transfer mean?
Embryo transfer is the process of moving an embryo or embryos into the uterus through medical intervention.
What is the difference between embryo transfer and IVF?
Embryo transfer is the last stage of IVF. IVF is a multi-step process in which an embryo is formed outside of the body in a lab environment, then moved from the lab environment to the uterus in the embryo transfer process.
What is the process of embryo transfer technique?
The process of embryo transfer involves inserting a catheter through the cervix and into the uterus, then embryos are transferred through the catheter into the uterus, where they can continue developing.