Can someone talk to me about freezing embryos?

[Dexy007]

Have deliberately avoided putting this in conception / fertility as my husband and I do not (as far as we know) have fertility issues - we have never tried to get pregnant. But nor are we ready to be parents.

Embryo freezing is an option we are starting to think about because of our ages (early 30s). I know we do not have limitless time on our side.

Assuming we have good egg and sperm quality (TBC, but looking into how to go about getting the relevant tests), would anyone be willing to give me a dummy's guide to freezing embryos? I have looked at countless clinic's webpages but they are not generally very helpful because they all want you to call up and discuss bespoke tailored solutions. I have also tried searching mumsnet by am seeing lots of jargon and acronyms like 12WW and blastocysts etc and would be grateful to anyone who can explain the process in plain English.

What does it cost?

Do you need to have IVF, or not necessarily? (I have seen conflicting information about this as most clinics are starting from the assumption you are struggling to get pregnant, not wanting to keep options option for later down the line).

Thanks in advance

I realise this is a very old thread but I stumbled across it and got drawn in, and just wanted to say OP I hope it all went well, I think it’s a perfectly sensible choice to make, particularly at such a low cost! It’s disappointing that - alongside the helpful advice from some on this thread - there is so much small mindedness and unhelpful (in my view unwarranted) criticism.

It’s disappointing that - alongside the helpful advice from some on this thread - there is so much small mindedness and unhelpful (in my view unwarranted) criticism

Not sure sharing my lived experience of IVF and frozen embryo transfers as a matter of necessity, and all the emotional and physical effect that had (and still has) is really small minded or unwarranted criticism.

IVF should be a last resort to treat inability to conceive. It's damaging to the woman's body, it's resource intensive, and honestly the thought of creating embryos for absolutely no reason other than 'just in case' which can be destroyed on a whim makes me feel a bit sick. It's this treatment of IVF that leads to hysterical backlash against 'designer babies' and the like rather than seeking to treat infertile people with compassion.

I have no criticism of anyone sharing their own personal experience of IVF, but different people have very different experiences of it, and in my experience, it is much less emotionally gruelling for those who have not already been trying to conceive before starting it.

It’s an entirely personal choice whether to go down this route, with eyes open to all the risks and potential benefits. I have friends who froze their eggs, and personally if I were to do either, I would freeze embryos, because (if you have the embryos PGT-A tested) it gives you a much more accurate idea of the probability you’ll be successful in achieving pregnancy.

you can object to the availability of private health care generally on moral grounds, but I see no reason to object specifically to the availability of private IVF treatment, or people choosing to access it.

I have no difficulty with the existence of private IVF treatment or accessing it where there is a requirement.

I object to the concept of accessing healthcare a without clinical requirement, and doubly so where that treatment is used to create something to be destroyed if deemed unnecessary. Human gametes are heavily regulated in this country for a good reason. Having a system where you can pay for potentially unnecessary IVF without any clinical indication whatsoever would not be allowed by the HFEA and I'm glad. I find it quite sad that this kind of wasteful self-absorption is seen as a good idea.

Anyway we're never going to agree.