Frozen Embryo Transfer Schedule: Your Complete FET Cycle Timeline in India

Amira, 34, from Addis Ababa, looked into frozen embryo transfer options. Her local clinic quoted ETB 180,000. Through Divinheal, she had her frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle in Delhi for ₹1,10,000 (£780 / AUD 1,680) — covering monitoring, the transfer, and her first follow-up. She is now 22 weeks pregnant.

This guide gives you a clear look at the FET process. You will learn what the cycle looks like day by day. You will see what each plan involves. You will get costs for India vs. the UK, Australia, and Ethiopia. And you will see how Divinheal helps plan your trip.

What Is a Frozen Embryo Transfer? The Basics Explained

A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is when one or more embryos are thawed and placed in the womb. The embryos were made in a past IVF cycle and frozen using vitrification — a fast-freeze method. Unlike a fresh IVF cycle, FET does not require you to undergo collection again.

What Is a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)?

During your first IVF cycle, any extra embryos are vitrified (frozen at -196°C) and stored. When you are ready to try for a baby, those embryos are thawed. They are placed in the womb in a shorter, separate cycle called the FET cycle.

The transfer takes about 10–15 minutes. A doctor uses a thin, flexible tube — called a catheter — guided by an ultrasound scan. The tube goes through the cervix (the opening of the womb) to place the embryo inside. Most patients say it feels like a routine cervical smear — slightly uncomfortable but not painful. No anesthesia is needed.

Day 3 vs. Day 5 Embryo Transfer: What’s the Difference?

The stage at which your embryo was frozen determines its age at transfer:

Most fertility doctors prefer day 5 (blastocyst) transfers. By that stage, the embryo has already grown well. Day 3 transfers are still a good choice when fewer embryos are on hand.

FET vs. Fresh Transfer: Which Is More Successful?

Many large studies — including a 2018 NEJM trial by Shi et al. — found frozen transfers produce similar or higher live birth rates than fresh transfers. This is true for women who ovulate normally. A fresh transfer happens right after egg collection, when the womb is still affected by hormone drugs. In a frozen cycle, the womb has had time to settle. That creates better conditions for the embryo to attach.

HFEA 2022 data shows frozen embryo transfers now make up over 60% of all transfers in the UK. That is up from under 40% a decade ago.

Your Frozen Embryo Transfer Schedule: A Step-by-Step FET Calendar

Your FET timeline depends on whether you choose a natural cycle or a medicated (programmed) cycle. Here is how each one works.

Week 1–2: Initial Assessment and Cycle Planning

Days 1–7 (pre-cycle): Your concern doctor checks your history and review past IVF reports. Baseline blood tests (FSH, LH, oestradiol, AMH) and a baseline ultrasound scan check your womb and ovaries. In India, Divinheal can set up some of these tests at a partner clinic in your home country before you fly. This cuts the time you need to spend in India.

Days 7–14: Depending on your plan, you may start oestrogen to build the womb lining (endometrium — the inner layer of the womb). Your clinic then books your first scan to check the lining’s thickness.

Natural FET Protocol: Timeline and Monitoring

Natural FET uses your natural ovulation process. There is no need to take oestrogen pills during the initial stages of ovulation. The following is a typical time schedule for natural FET:

Natural FET is suitable for patients with regular, predictable cycles. It requires more frequent monitoring but uses fewer medications.

Medicated (Programmed) FET Protocol: Timeline and Monitoring

A medicated cycle uses oestrogen and progesterone to build the womb lining on a fixed plan. It runs apart from your natural cycle. This is the most common plan for patients flying from abroad. The transfer date can be set weeks ahead, which makes booking travel easier.

Medicated FET is ideal for international patients as the transfer date can be scheduled weeks in advance, making flight and accommodation booking easier.

Transfer Day: What Happens on the Day of Your Embryo Transfer

Transfer day is usually the shortest day of your FET cycle. It is also the most meaningful. Here is what to expect:

• Your embryo lab specialist thaws the stored embryo(s) in the morning. Modern vitrification gives survival rates of 90–95% per embryo at NABH-accredited Indian clinics.

• Come to the clinic with a partly full bladder — this helps the ultrasound scan during the transfer.

• The process takes 10–15 minutes. You will feel mild pressure, like a smear test.

•  After the transfer, you rest in the recovery room for 30–60 minutes.

• Most clinics send you back to your place to stay the same day. No bed rest is needed — gentle walking is fine.

The Two-Week Wait: Your Post-Transfer FET Calendar

After the transfer, you keep taking progesterone. Then you wait 10–14 days for your beta-hCG blood test — the test that checks for the pregnancy hormone in your blood. Here is a day-by-day guide to what is happening inside:

When Is the Best Time in Your Cycle for FET?

The best time for a frozen embryo transfer is during the ‘window of implantation’ — the 24–48 hour period when the womb lining (endometrium) is most ready to accept an embryo. In a natural cycle, this window opens 5–7 days after ovulation. In a medicated cycle, it opens about 5 days after progesterone starts.

For patients with recurrent implantation failure (two or more FET cycles that did not result in pregnancy despite good embryos), the ERA test (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis — a biopsy that maps your personal implantation window) can show if your window is ‘displaced’ and the timing needs to change. Many NABH-accredited Indian clinics offer ERA alongside standard FET.

What Day of Your Cycle Is FET Usually Done?

In a medicated plan, FET is usually done on day 17–19 of your cycle — 5 days after progesterone starts. In a natural plan, it is usually day 19–21 about 5–7 days after confirmed ovulation. The exact day is always set by your scans and blood tests, not a fixed date on a calendar.

FET Cost in India vs. UK, Australia, and Ethiopia

All costs below are for the FET process only — assuming embryos are already frozen from a past cycle. If you also need a full IVF cycle to create and freeze embryos, that is a separate cost (see table below).

Why FET Is More Affordable in India

India has lower costs for medical facilities, medicine supply, and specialist fees. Add a high number of IVF cases at major centres, and patients pay much less. Quality is kept high through NABH accreditation (India’s national hospital quality standard, like the CQC in the UK or ACHS in Australia) and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) protocols for fertility treatment.

Complete FET Cost Comparison Table

References: Apollo Fertility India; Max Healthcare; NHS England; HFEA; Monash IVF Australia; Semen Analysis Index 2024. These are estimated figures for 2024/2025. Always seek a written quotation prior to proceeding, .

What Is Included in Your FET Cycle Cost?

A standard FET cycle at NABH-accredited Indian clinics usually covers: womb lining prep (oestrogen and monitoring), 2–4 monitoring scans, embryo thawing, the transfer itself, and a short rest period after. Medicines are usually charged separately.

Always ask your clinic in writing what is included, what costs extra, and whether there is a package price for multiple FET cycles if the first does not work.

Frozen Embryo Transfer Success Rates: What the Data Shows

FET Success Rates by Age (HFEA Data)

Live birth rates per frozen embryo transfer cycle, based on HFEA 2022 data (UK):

Source: HFEA Fertility Treatment Trends 2022. Indian clinic reports at NABH-accredited centres are used for comparing.Individual results may vary. Ask your specialist to provide the clinic related data.

Success rates of ‘60% per transfer’ for under-35s come up often in marketing. The national average is 38–45%. Top clinics may reach 50–55%. Be careful of clinics that quote figures above 60%.

Critical Days After FET: What Affects Implantation?

In the 72 hours after transfer, the embryo may start to attach to the womb lining. During this window:

• Keep taking all prescribed medicines exactly as told. Missing a progesterone dose can harm the womb lining.

• Avoid hard exercise, heavy lifting (over 5kg), hot baths, and swimming.

• Gentle walking is fine — strict bed rest has no proven benefit.

• Avoid alcohol, smoking, and too much caffeine.

• Avoid sexual intercourse for 5–7 days post-transfer.

After the first 72 hours, normal light activity is fine. Movement does not dislodge the embryo.

Signs of a Successful FET: What to Look For

Early signs of implantation may include: light spotting (implantation bleeding) around days 3–5 post-transfer, mild cramping (more of a twinge than a dull ache), breast tenderness, tiredness, and more urination in the days before your blood test.

Important: These signs can also due to progesterone hormone, not a pregnancy. Their absence does not mean the transfer failed. The only sure proof is the beta-hCG blood test. Do not use home urine tests before day 10 post-transfer — hCG levels are too low to detect reliably.

When Do Most IVF Transfers Fail?

Most IVF and FET failures happen in one of three windows. First, embryo arrest — the embryo stops growing before or just after transfer (usually in the first 72 hours). Second, implantation failure — the embryo does not attach to the womb lining. This most often happens between days 3–6 post-transfer. Third, biochemical pregnancy — the embryo implants and produces hCG (found by the blood test), but the pregnancy does not develop further, usually before week 5.

After two or more failed FET cycles with good embryos, most doctors suggest checking womb factors (ERA test, hysteroscopy — a camera look inside the womb), immune factors, and sperm DNA fragmentation before the next attempt.

What Is the Hardest Stage of IVF?

This varies by patient. But the two stages most patients describe as hardest are:

• The two-week wait — 10–14 days of not knowing between transfer and blood test. Anxiety peaks here. Divinheal contacts offer daily check-ins during this period for patients abroad.

• Receiving a failed result after a transfer — especially after more than one. At this point, emotional support and a clear ‘next steps’ plan from your doctor are key.

The injection phase (for the original IVF egg collection cycle) is physically the hardest due to daily shots and monitoring. The FET cycle itself is usually much lighter.

Why Choose India for FET? Clinics, Specialists, and Value

India’s IVF sector has grown fast into one of the world’s largest. There are over 2,000 fertility clinics across the country. Major centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad have NABH status. Many also hold JCI (Joint Commission International) status — an international standard accepted by UK and Australian health regulators.

• NABH-accredited clinics follow ICMR national protocols for consent, lab standards, and safety of patient.

• Many senior fertility doctors have trained at UK or Australian centres and bring international methods back to India.

• Major centres like Apollo Fertility, Max Healthcare, Nova IVF, Indira IVF, and Cloudnine have dedicated teams for international patients.

• Lab technology — time-lapse incubators, AI embryo selection, vitrification systems — matches Western centres at a fraction of the cost.

Why Divinheal Is the Right Choice

Divinheal is not a clinic or a referral list. It is a medical travel service that works only with NABH-accredited fertility clinics. Here is what Divinheal provides:

• Matching you with the right clinic for your FET plan and needs.

• Providing your clinic’s invite letter for your Medical Visa.

• Arranging airport transfers, a place to stay near your clinic, and daily logistics.

• A dedicated contact as your single point of call throughout.

• Secure transfer of all medical reports to your home specialist after your cycle.

• Remote follow-up appointments after you return to the UK, Australia, or Ethiopia.

Planning Your FET Trip to India: A Country-by-Country Guide

Physical Preparation Before Your Transfer

In the weeks before your FET, your doctor will prescribe oestrogen tablets or patches to build your womb lining. Take these exactly as prescribed — missing doses disrupts the hormone balance needed for implantation. Most plans also recommend:

• Folic acid 400mcg daily (or 5mg if you have risk factors).

• A balanced diet with enough protein and iron; no alcohol or smoking.

• Light exercise (walking, yoga) is fine; avoid hard workouts during the cycle.

• Cut caffeine to under 200mg per day (about one coffee).

Travel Logistics: UK Patients

Indian Medical e-Visa (e-MV): UK Patients will need to obtain this visa online on indianvisaonline.gov.in. The invite letter from your clinic will come from Divinheal. This process should be done at least two weeks prior to your trip; the application of the e-Visa will take 3-5 days.

For a medicated FET cycle, allow for ten to twelve days in India. Take the oestrogen at home and travel to India where you will have the scans on days 10 or 12 after you are there. You stay for the transfer and 1 or 2 days of rest. Travel back to the UK by day 3-4 after the transfer. You can have the beta-hCG blood test conducted either by your NHS GP or private clinic.

Travel Logistics: Australian Patients

The trip from Australia to India is done via flights to Delhi (11-13 hours) or Mumbai (10-12 hours). At least 2 weeks before your travel, you will have to apply for the Indian Medical e-Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in.

Travel Logistics: Ethiopian Patients

Most Ethiopians would have to travel by plane from Addis Ababa to Delhi, with a stopover at Dubai. The flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines and flydubai are well-coordinated; their flight time can last around 7–9 hours. The Indian Medical Visa application of Ethiopian passport holders is handled at the Indian Embassy located at Bole Road, Kirkos Sub-City, Addis Ababa.

Divinheal has a local contact in Addis Ababa who helps with papers — including the clinic’s invite letter, money documents, and translation if needed. A FET trip usually takes 10–14 days. Follow-up care can be set up with a local Ethiopian specialist, with medical reports shared securely by your Indian clinic.

 The difference in the cost of FET between Ethiopia and India is quite high. In Ethiopia, there are costs of ETB 80,000-ETB 160,000 ($1,400-$2,800) in the country's private hospitals. However, the availability of advanced laboratories and blastocyst stage implantation is less in other parts of the country except Addis Ababa. In India, the price ranges from

Can You Take Wegovy or Weight-Loss Medication During FET?

Wegovy (semaglutide) and other GLP-1 receptor agonists (also sold as Ozempic) are weight-loss and diabetes drugs. They are now widely used. If you take Wegovy or a similar drug, you must discuss this with your fertility doctor before starting your FET cycle.

Current guidance from the HFEA, ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine), and most NABH-accredited Indian clinics says to stop semaglutide at least 2 months before an embryo transfer. The reasons:

• GLP-1 drugs slow digestion and may affect how well oestrogen tablets are absorbed

• There is not enough safety data on semaglutide in early pregnancy

• These drugs reduce calorie intake, which may not be right during a fertility cycle

Do not stop Wegovy without medical guidance if you take it for type 2 diabetes. Your GP or endocrinologist should be part of the talk.

After the Transfer: What to Expect

Post-Transfer Instructions and Care

Right after your transfer, your clinic confirms your medicine plan — usually continuing progesterone until the blood test and, if positive, until at least 10–12 weeks. Oestrogen may continue too in a medicated cycle.

For the rest of your stay in India, Divinheal’s contact stays in daily touch. Most patients fly home 3–4 days after transfer. Flying after a transfer is safe and does not affect implantation.

Common Symptoms During the Two-Week Wait

During the two-week wait, your body is taking in progesterone (and possibly oestrogen) on top of your natural hormones. Symptoms from these drugs — bloating, breast tenderness, tiredness, light cramping — are the same as early pregnancy signs. That is why you cannot know from signs alone whether the transfer worked.

Light spotting (implantation bleeding) is common around days 3–6 post-transfer. It does not mean the transfer failed. Heavier bleeding should be reported to your clinic. If you have severe stomach pain, fever, or heavy bleeding, contact your clinic or local emergency services right away.

When and How to Take a Pregnancy Test

The beta-hCG blood test — a blood draw that measures the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) — is the only reliable way to confirm pregnancy after FET. Your clinic will book this 10–14 days post-transfer.

If you are back in the UK, Australia, or Ethiopia by then, Divinheal links up with a local lab to run your blood test. Results go straight to your Indian fertility team. Your Indian specialist then contacts you with the result and next steps.

Home urine tests can give false negatives before day 10 because hCG levels are too low. They can also give false positives if you had an hCG trigger shot. Wait for the blood test.

Patient Stories

Stories are illustrative composites based on typical patient journeys. Names changed for privacy. Individual outcomes vary.

Sara & Ben, Sydney, Australia

Sara and Ben had two failed fresh IVF transfers in Sydney at AUD 11,000 each before choosing to use their banked frozen embryos at an Indian clinic through Divinheal. “The medicated FET cycle cost us AUD 2,100 in India — that’s less than a fifth of what we’d spent on each fresh attempt. We flew in on day 10, had our scan and transfer, and flew home on day 14. Our son was born nine months later.”

Liam & Chloe, Manchester, UK

Before Chloe and Liam decided to fund their own IVF in India, they had failed twice from NHS-funded FETs. "Everything was arranged for us, the letter for the visa, the apartment near the clinic in Delhi, and the translation of Chloe’s NHS records. The ERA showed that Chloe’s implantation window was delayed by 24 hours, and it was the right timing in the third try. We will have our baby in November." Cost in India: INR 1,85,000

Tigist, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tigist, 36, had two embryos stored from an IVF cycle at a private clinic in Addis Ababa. She contacted Divinheal after being quoted ETB 140,000 locally for the FET procedure. “Divinheal’s Ethiopia contact helped me with my visa papers and booked me on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Delhi. The whole trip was 12 days. The FET cost me ₹1,10,000, including medicines — less than what I’d have paid at home, and the lab was much better equipped. My daughter is eight months old now.”

Final Thoughts

A frozen embryo transfer is one of the best paths to a baby for patients who already have frozen embryos. The FET cycle is shorter and less demanding than a full IVF cycle. In many cases, it is more successful too.

India’s NABH-accredited fertility centres deliver FET cycles at ₹60,000–₹1,50,000 — 55–65% less than comparable care in the UK or Australia — using the same technology, protocols, and quality standards. For Ethiopian patients, the combination of cost savings and access to advanced blastocyst-stage transfer and ERA testing makes India a strong option.

Ready to plan your FET cycle? Contact Divinheal today for a free initial consultation, a personalised FET timeline, and a written cost estimate from NABH-accredited clinics in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified fertility specialist before making any treatment decisions.