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Stimulation of the ovaries often leads to the creation of excess embryos which cannot be transferred in the same treatment cycle. With your consent, good quality embryos may be stored by freezing (cryopreservation) for possible transfer at a later date.
Our current policy is to only freeze embryos that have reached the blastocyst stage with few exceptions. Selection of the embryos to be frozen is at the discretion of the embryologist. The embryos are stored at -1960C. At that temperature, there is no evidence of deterioration over time.
Before cryopreservation can proceed, the relevant section of the HFEA forms must be completed. The HFEA has approved storage of frozen embryos to a period of five years and extension, in some cases, to ten years. You must state the period of storage you desire. We recommend that you choose an initial five year period, remembering that you have the statutory right to change your mind at any time by simply writing to us. Do not hesitate to contact the Centre if you have any concerns regarding your embryos.
A fee is charged to cover the cost of the elaborate freezing procedure and is forwarded to you after your treatment. Embryo storage for the first two years is free of charge. At the Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, embryo storage is reviewed annually after the first two years. Thereafter, an annual storage and administration fee is levied for embryos remaining in storage.
It is of paramount importance that you notify us of any change to your address or telephone number while your embryos are in storage at the Centre.
If we are unable to contact you following the completion of your consented storage period, by law your embryos must be discarded.
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