One of the few

As I was looking at FET stats again, it hit me that they represent a small percentage of the transfers done. For example, in 2005 at the clinic in Chicago of those 37 and younger using non-donor eggs, 10% of the cycles they did were FETs (257 fresh compared to 30 FET). Their success rates that year (live birth rate for those 37 and younger) were 44% for fresh and 27% for FET. Those same stats at NYU were 43% for fresh and 35% for FET. The FET represented 13% of the transfers done in that age group (97 FET compared to 651 fresh). Finally, at my clinic over a three-year span (2003-2005), 21% of their cycles were FET (36 FET compared to 133 fresh). Their success rates for women 37 and younger were 25% for FET and 27% for fresh. So at my clinic Dr. Awad was correct in saying that the fresh and frozen success rates are about equal; the only difference is that they usually transfer 2-3 embyros on average, and we only have one. But the bottom line is that I am encouraged in two regards: #1 the FET success rate is not much lower than the clinic in IL and #2 it truly is a blessing to have even one frozen embryo. It seems 80-90% of couples don't have that option.