Freezing of embryos in IVF has been found to give a 60 per cent success rate in pregnancy, but two factors also play an important role the age of the mother and the ability of the embryos to take the stress of freezing. This method has been practiced in the West and also in Indian fertility clinics, but the two factors play a crucial role in allowing it to be a successful pregnancy.

Senior Infertility Specialist at Rainbow Hospitals, Dr Preethi Reddy G. explained, “Frozen embryo transfer is also called segmental transfer which is being practiced since a decade. In India too, this facility is available in the registered and specialized IVF centres. There is better pregnancy outcome with frozen transfers compared to fresh ones which are found at the clinical level too. The reason for doing this is that in frozen transfers the embryos are exposed to more natural environment in the uterus and hence the outcome is better. But not all embryos are able to withstand the stress of freezing and that is a major hitch. When we find that they cannot take it we have to transfer fresh embroys only.”

Senior infertility specialist, Dr Radikha Reddy explained, “While these techniques are available, the age of the woman also is an important factor in the success rate of pregnancy. In a woman, who is 28 years of age the outcome would be good in either frozen or fresh transfer rather than a woman who is 38 years of age.”

With IVF becoming a main line of treatment for infertile couples, the success rate of the procedure is a major concern which is evaluated between 41 to 60 per cent.