What it means

Frozen Embryo Transfer, or FET, is when an embryo that was previously frozen is thawed and then placed into the uterus. Instead of using a fresh embryo right after it is created, the embryo is stored and used later in a separate cycle.

When it’s used

It’s used when embryos are frozen after development, often at the blastocyst stage. The transfer then happens in a later cycle, which may be planned based on timing, recovery, or other factors.

Why people get confused

Some people think freezing means something went wrong or caused a delay. But in IVF, freezing is a common part of the process. It doesn’t mean the embryo is lower quality, and many transfers today are done this way.

Think of it this way

Instead of using the embryo immediately, FET is like pressing pause, then continuing at a later time when the body is ready.

What to expect

There is usually a gap between embryo creation and transfer. The process includes preparing the body again before placing the embryo. Even though the timing is different, the transfer step itself feels similar to a regular embryo transfer.