Procedure guide · Reproductive medicine
Embryo freezing stores embryos created from eggs and sperm for use in a future pregnancy. It often follows an IVF cycle when suitable embryos are left over. It can also preserve fertility before cancer treatment. Because the embryos belong to two people, both partners usually need to consent to their storage and use.
What is embryo freezing?
The National Cancer Institute describes embryo cryopreservation as freezing and storing embryos for use in a future pregnancy. The NHS notes that suitable embryos left after an IVF cycle may be frozen for later attempts. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust explains the later step. Frozen embryos are thawed and placed in the womb after hormone preparation.
Who may it suit?
The NHS trust says embryo freezing suits people in a stable relationship with a partner who produces sperm, or people using a sperm donor. People who want to decide alone how stored material is used may prefer egg freezing. Your fertility specialist will discuss which is more suitable.
Creating embryos needs ovarian stimulation and egg collection. So the same risks apply as in IVF. These include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and small risks from egg collection.
Consent from both partners
Guy’s and St Thomas’ explains that both partners must give written consent before frozen embryos are used. If one partner withdraws consent, the embryos cannot be used. Ask the Indian clinic how its consent forms handle storage, separation and death.
Which reports does a specialist usually ask for?
Send both partners’ fertility test results. For the woman this usually means hormone tests and ultrasound reports. For the man it means a semen analysis. The NHS says blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are needed before IVF. If you have embryos stored elsewhere, send the storage records and laboratory reports. If you are preserving fertility before cancer treatment, include the oncology plan.
How do you plan the trip?
If embryos will be created in India, plan the trip like an IVF cycle. That means stimulation, monitoring, egg collection and fertilisation. Both partners usually need to sign consent in person. The partner providing sperm attends unless a frozen sample is used. Before you leave, get written details of how many embryos are stored and at which clinic. Ask how storage renewal is handled from abroad. A frozen embryo transfer is a separate later trip.
What should you ask the clinic?
- Is the clinic registered on the National ART and Surrogacy Registry?
- What do the consent forms say if we separate or one of us dies?
- How long can embryos be stored, and how is renewal handled from abroad?
- Can embryos be moved to a clinic in another country?
- How will you contact us about storage, and what if you cannot reach us?
- What preparation is needed for a later frozen embryo transfer?
Questions people ask
Do both partners need to agree to use frozen embryos?
The NHS guidance says yes. Both partners must give written consent before frozen embryos are used. If one withdraws consent they cannot be used. Ask the Indian clinic to explain its own consent rules in writing.
Is a frozen embryo transfer a separate trip?
Usually yes. The stored embryos are thawed and transferred after the womb is prepared with hormones. The clinic will explain the preparation and how much of it can be done at home before you travel.
Can embryos be frozen before cancer treatment?
Sometimes. The NCI advises talking with your doctor and a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins. Guy’s and St Thomas’ notes that stimulation can delay chemotherapy and that sometimes treatment cannot wait. Your teams decide together.
Sources
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust: Freezing eggs or embryos
- National Cancer Institute: Female fertility and cancer
- NHS: IVF
- National ART and Surrogacy Registry
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.