What happens with the extra embryos after achieving pregnancy

🗒️ Answer

After achieving pregnancy through in vitro fertilization (IVF), extra embryos that were not transferred may be preserved for future use. These embryos are typically frozen and stored through a process called cryopreservation. If the pregnancy does not proceed as hoped, these frozen embryos can be thawed and used in subsequent IVF cycles.

Alternatively, the parents can choose to donate the embryos to another individual or couple, or to scientific research, depending on ethical and personal preferences. In some cases, unused embryos may be discarded, though this is often a decision that requires careful consideration due to emotional and ethical factors [1], [2], [4].

🌐 Sources

1. lomalindafertility.com – What To Do With Frozen Embryos After IVF
2. indiraivf.com – What happens to unused embryos after IVF?
3. fertstert.org – Disposition of extra embryos
4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – The fate of surplus embryos: ethical and emotional impacts
5. whyy.org – After IVF, what happens to remaining embryos?
6. health.harvard.edu – Infertility: Extra embryos –– too much of a good thing?