Completing the IVF process with embryo transfer

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a highly effective fertility treatment that involves several steps, including embryo transfer. During this important step at our New Braunfels fertility center, Susan Hudson MD transfers a healthy embryo to the female patient’s uterus. It is an exciting time for our patients.

How embryo transfer works

After retrieving a patient’s eggs, we send them to the laboratory for fertilization. There, expert embryologists expose the eggs to sperm from the male partner or a sperm donor. The next day, our team examines the embryos that have resulted from fertilization. Our technicians then monitor them until it is time for the transfer at our New Braunfels fertility center.

• Before embryo transfer, we will prescribe progesterone to the mother to ensure that the embryo will have the proper hormonal support after transfer. She’ll continue taking progesterone until about week 10 of pregnancy.
• When the embryos have reached the proper stage of development, the team will send one healthy embryo to our office for the procedure. Our team can freeze the remaining healthy embryos.
• The female patient will arrive at our office. We use a small catheter under ultrasound guidance to deposit the embryo into the uterine lining, where it will hopefully result in a healthy pregnancy.

Frozen embryo transfer works the same way, except our team will thaw the frozen embryo before transfer. Frozen embryos at our New Braunfels fertility center have a 95% successful thaw rate. Because the embryos have already been frozen at the optimal stage of development, they are ready for transfer after thawing.

At our New Braunfels fertility center, we recommend that the woman rests on her back after the transfer. She will continue taking progesterone to boost the chances of a successful pregnancy as she waits for her pregnancy to be confirmed with a blood test about two weeks later.

Minimizing risks of having a pregnancy with multiples

IVF has come a long way from the early days, where news stories of multiple pregnancies in IVF abounded. However, IVF technology has improved and allows our New Braunfels fertility center to transfer a single embryo. This is the best way to promote pregnancy success while avoiding the risks of having a multiple pregnancy.

To learn more about IVF, or to pursue fertility treatment, please contact our office.