Fertility treatments
Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
Also called: Frozen embryo replacement (FER)
An embryo frozen during an earlier IVF cycle is thawed and placed in your womb. No stimulation or egg collection is needed, so it's simpler and cheaper than a fresh cycle.
3–5 weeks
£1,900–£2,900
Part of a 'full' NHS cycle
Who it's for
- Anyone with frozen embryos from a previous cycle
- 'Freeze-all' cycles, e.g. after embryo testing or to avoid OHSS
- People who stored embryos for fertility preservation
Key facts
- Frozen transfers made up almost half (48%) of UK IVF cycles in 2024.
- Can be done in a natural cycle or a 'medicated' cycle with oestrogen and progesterone.
- Most embryos survive thawing with modern fast-freezing (vitrification).
What happens
- 1
Prepare your womb lining
Either track your natural cycle with scans, or take oestrogen tablets/patches then progesterone.
- 2
Thaw and transfer
The embryo is thawed on the day and transferred, like a fresh transfer.
- 3
Pregnancy test
About 10–14 days later.
How long it takes: About 3–5 weeks from the start of your cycle.
Success rates
- HFEA now reports fresh and frozen transfers together: 30% births per embryo transferred in 2024 (using the age at which the eggs were collected).
Each clinic's published rates – compared with the UK average – are on its profile in the clinic finder.
Costs
Usually £1,900–£2,900, plus annual storage fees while embryos are kept.
| What | Price | Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Embryo thawing and transfer | £1,900 | ARGC |
| Frozen embryo replacement | £2,595 | Herts & Essex |
| Frozen embryo transfer | from £2,870 | TFP Fertility |
| Embryo storage per year | £300–£444 | ARGC, Concept, TFP, Herts & Essex |
NHS funding
- NICE says a 'full cycle' includes transfer of all fresh and frozen embryos from one egg collection – but some areas only fund the fresh transfer, so check your local policy.
Risks and side effects
- Generally lower risk than a fresh cycle. Very small chance an embryo doesn't survive thawing.
Sources
Prices are examples from clinics' published price lists, checked November 2026. They change – always get a written quote.