Frozen Embryo Transfer: Step-by-Step Process & Timeline

FET IVF in India: Process, Timeline & Day-by-Day Steps

Medically reviewed by: [Name, MD/DNB, Reproductive Medicine — to be completed by Divinheal medical team before publish]

Updated for the last time in April 2026

In India, a standalone FET costs ₹30,000–₹90,000 ($318.92–$955.19; AUD 443.23–1,329.82; £235.03–£705.09) at fertility hospitals that are NABH-accredited. That's 40–65% less than what private FET costs in Australia or the UK. You get the same freezing technology and about the same number of live births.

Australian patients on public waiting lists and UK patients with NHS restrictions can get started within 1–2 weeks of enquiry.

This guide covers:

•           What FET is and how it differs from fresh transfer

•           A day-by-day FET timeline

•           Success rates by age

•           A full cost comparison in AUD and GBP

•           How Divinheal supports patients from Australia and the UK

What Is Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) and What Does FET Mean?

Frozen embryo transfer (FET) means thawing a stored embryo and placing it in the uterus. The embryo was frozen during an earlier IVF cycle. Your eggs were collected, fertilized, and good embryos not used right away were frozen. FET does not need a new egg collection or hormone injections.

FET is now the most common transfer method at busy fertility centres worldwide. Modern freezing — called vitrification — works very well. Over 95% of frozen embryos survive the thaw at NABH-accredited Indian centres. The transfer takes 15–20 minutes. No anaesthesia is needed. Most patients say it feels like a cervical smear test.

FET stands for Frozen Embryo Transfer — sometimes called Frozen Embryo Replacement or FER in the UK.

Fresh vs Frozen Embryo Transfer: Which Is More Successful?

For most patients, FET results are as good as or slightly better than a fresh transfer. The main reason is the uterus. During a fresh IVF cycle, the uterus has high hormone levels from the stimulation. Those levels can make it harder for an embryo to implant. A frozen cycle uses a separate, calmer cycle. This gives the uterus a better chance to prepare for the embryo.

Feature	Fresh Embryo Transfer	Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
Timing	3–5 days post-egg retrieval	Separate cycle — weeks or months after retrieval
Uterine environment	Affected by ovarian stimulation hormones	Prepared separately; more natural hormonal state
Uterine receptivity	May be reduced by elevated hormone levels	Typically improved — controlled endometrial preparation
PGT-A compatibility	Limited — timing too tight	Standard — embryos frozen while genetic testing runs
OHSS risk	Present (stimulation and transfer same cycle)	Minimal — stimulation already resolved
Cost model	Part of the initial IVF package	Separate cycle fee — lower if embryos are already stored

Sources: The 2023 annual report from the HFEA (Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority); data from the ICMR ART registry; and published advice from the Oasis Fertility Centre AU. Results from each clinic are different.

Frozen Embryo Transfer Cost: India vs Australia vs UK (2026)

FET costs vary a lot between India, Australia, and the UK. The table below shows two products that people often confuse. The first is a standalone FET, where you already have embryos stored. The second is a combined IVF + FET programme, which includes egg collection and the fresh cycle first.

Procedure	India (approx.)	Australia (private)	UK (private)
FET cycle (standalone — embryos already in storage)	₹30,000–₹90,000 ($318.92–$955.19; AUD 443.23–1,329.82; £235.03–£705.09)	AUD 2,500–3,000	£2,000–£3,500
IVF cycle + FET (full fresh + frozen program)	₹80,000–₹4,00,000 ($849.65–$4,300; AUD 1,181.80–5,908; £626.91–£3,134.86)	AUD 10,000–18,000	£5,000–£10,000
Embryo storage (per year)	₹20,000–₹40,000 ($240–$480; AUD 300–590; £160–£313.51)	AUD 500–1,000	£200–£1000

Sources: Gateshead Fertility Clinic (United Kingdom, £1,445 without medication); Genea Newcastle and Oasis Fertility Centre (Australia, listed prices); Apollo Hospitals, Chennai; Fortis Hospital, Noida; Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon; MAX Hospitals; and Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon (India, partner hospital pricing). Foreign currency conversion rates were applied based on the first quarter of 2026. All the figures are approximate estimates of the costs involved in private healthcare; the actual cost will vary depending on the specifics of each treatment cycle.

FET Cost in Australia — and What Medicare Covers

In Australia, a private standalone FET cycle costs around AUD 2,500–4,500. Medicare gives a partial rebate on some parts of the cycle. This mainly covers the consultation and blood tests. The FET procedure item attracts a rebate that cuts out-of-pocket costs by AUD 300–700 per cycle. The exact amount depends on the clinic and your Medicare card status.

Public fertility programs in Victoria, NSW, and Queensland have 3–12 month wait-lists for FET. Many Australian patients who already have frozen embryos choose to travel to India instead. Divinheal can coordinate embryo transport from your Australian clinic to India.

India’s standalone FET costs AUD 2,500–3,000. That is below the Medicare-rebated cost at many Australian private clinics. Even with a 7–10 day India trip, the saving is real. This is especially true if you need more than one FET attempt.

FET Cost in the UK — NHS vs Private

In the UK, NHS-funded FET follows the same strict rules as NHS-funded fresh IVF. Most patients who have embryos stored must pay for FET privately. This applies even if their original fresh IVF was NHS-funded. Private UK FET starts from £1,445 at HFEA-regulated clinics and can reach £3,500 at London private centres.

India’s standalone FET at £760–£1,430 matches or beats the cheapest UK private FET. It is well below London private clinic pricing. For UK patients with embryos stored in India from a previous Divinheal-coordinated IVF cycle, a return FET trip takes 5–7 days.

What Is (and Isn’t) Included in an FET Package in India?

Knowing what your package covers prevents surprise costs. A standard FET-only package at Divinheal partner hospitals covers:

•           All monitoring appointments — ultrasound scans to check the uterine lining during the preparation phase

•           The embryo thaw procedure

•           The transfer procedure (catheter-guided embryo placement)

•           One early pregnancy blood test (beta-hCG)

•           Post-transfer progesterone prescription (medications priced separately at most clinics)

Not in the base FET price:

•           Oestrogen and progesterone medications — add approximately ₹10,000–₹25,000 ($120–$300) per cycle

•           Long-term embryo storage — annual storage fees run ₹20,000–₹40,000 ($240–$480) if embryos are stored in India

•           Assisted hatching — if recommended, this adds ₹15,000–₹30,000

•           PGT-A genetic testing — only relevant if not already done before freezing

Always ask for a written itemised quote before committing to any clinic. Divinheal provides this before you commit to travel.

Frozen Embryo Transfer Timeline: A Day-by-Day Guide

An FET cycle takes about 4–6 weeks from starting medication to your pregnancy test. If you travel to India, your stay is about 7–10 days. The table below shows what happens at each stage.

Days	Stage	What Happens
Days 1–14	Oestrogen/lining preparation	Daily oestrogen (tablets, patches, or injections) to thicken the endometrial lining. Clinic target: ≥7mm lining confirmed by ultrasound.
Day 12–14	Monitoring scan + blood test	A transvaginal ultrasound checks the thickness and pattern of the lining. A blood test confirms hormone levels. If the lining is right, progesterone is added.
Days 14–17	Progesterone phase	Progesterone (pessaries, injections, or gel) begins. This phase typically runs 3–6 days before transfer to prime the lining for implantation.
Day 17–20	Embryo thaw + transfer	On the morning of transfer, the embryo is thawed. Survival rate at NABH-accredited centres is over 95%. The transfer is a 15–20 minute outpatient procedure, no anaesthesia, guided by ultrasound.
Days 17–31	Two-week wait	Continue progesterone and oestrogen as prescribed. No strenuous exercise. Avoid high heat (baths, saunas). Light activity encouraged.
Day 29–33	Beta-hCG blood test	Blood test confirms whether implantation occurred. If positive, an early ultrasound at 6–7 weeks confirms a viable intrauterine pregnancy.

Timeline based on a standard medicated FET protocol (oestrogen then progesterone). Natural cycle FET and modified natural cycle FET use different timings. Your specialist will advise which protocol applies to your case.

How Long Does Implantation Take After a Frozen Embryo Transfer?

Implantation usually begins 1–5 days after the transfer. With a blastocyst (day-5 embryo), it can start within 24–48 hours. That is because the embryo is already at an advanced stage, like a seed that is halfway grown. It hatches from its shell and starts to embed in the uterine lining.

Most people do not feel implantation happen. Mild cramping or light spotting around days 5–10 post-transfer can occur. But these can also come from progesterone supplements — not just implantation.

How Far Pregnant Are You After a Frozen Embryo Transfer?

After a blastocyst FET, gestational age is counted from the egg collection date — not the transfer date. The embryo was already 5 days old at transfer. So at the point of transfer, you are about 2 weeks and 5 days pregnant. At your day 10–14 blood test, you will be about 3–4 weeks pregnant. Your clinic will work out your due date when the test comes back positive.

FET Success Rates in India: What to Expect by Age

The success rates of pregnancies following FET at NABH-accredited facilities in India are comparable to those from top private fertility clinics in Australia and Britain. The table below gives the live birth rates for each age group.

Age Group	India FET LBR (top NABH clinics)	Australia avg.	UK (HFEA 2023)
Under 35	40–50%	28–38%	30–36%
35–37	30–40%	20–28%	24–30%
38–40	20–30%	12–20%	14–20%
Over 40 (own eggs)	10–18%	6–12%	5–8%

Sources: the ICMR ART registry and the partner hospital groups: Apollo Chennai, Fortis Noida, Medanta Gurgaon, MAX, and Artemis Gurgaon. Results for Monash IVF 2025 in Australia. HFEA's 2023 annual report for the UK. All numbers are the number of live births per embryo transfer. Results differ for each person.

What Is the Success Rate of Frozen Embryo Transfer?

FET live birth rates of 40–50% for women under 35 at leading Indian centres match what top UK and Australian clinics report. The most important factor is the age when your eggs were collected — not your age at transfer. If your eggs were collected at 33 and you transfer at 37, your success chances are closer to those of a 33-year-old. Egg quality is set at collection and does not change after that.

Two things you can influence are embryo quality grade and uterine lining quality. Your lining is checked by ultrasound during the preparation phase. At Apollo Hospitals Chennai and Fortis Noida, the transfer only goes ahead when the lining is at least 7–8mm with a trilaminar pattern.

How Can I Make My Frozen Embryo Transfer Successful?

The most important steps are medical, not lifestyle-based. They are:

•           Strict medication adherence — take progesterone and oestrogen exactly as prescribed. Missing doses affect how the uterus prepares.

•           Confirm lining quality before proceeding — get an ultrasound to confirm ≥7mm lining and a trilaminar pattern. Do not skip this step.

•           Transfer a blastocyst (day-5 or day-6 embryo) if available — blastocysts have passed a key growth checkpoint. Live birth rates per transfer are higher for blastocysts than for day-3 embryos.

•           Consider PGT-A if not already done — chromosomally normal (euploid) embryos implant at much higher rates. At Medanta Gurgaon and Artemis Gurgaon, PGT-A is a standard add-on.

•           ERA testing for repeated failure — if you have had two or more failed FET cycles with good embryos, ERA identifies the precise implantation window. Available at Fortis Noida and MAX Hospitals.

Eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and not smoking or drinking alcohol are all good for your health. But there isn't strong clinical evidence for any one "implantation diet." The standard advice is to eat a balanced diet that has enough protein, folic acid, and vitamin D.

Do’s and Don’ts After Frozen Embryo Transfer

The two-week wait after FET is the hardest part emotionally. Here is what the evidence says:

DO: Take all your prescribed medications as directed. Do light walking and gentle activity from day 1. Eat normally. Stay hydrated. Rest when you feel like it — you do not need to lie still.

DON’T: Do strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for 2 weeks. Use hot baths, saunas, or hot tubs. Smoke or drink alcohol. Test at home before your clinic’s scheduled blood test date — testing too early gives unreliable results.

Strict bed rest is not recommended by HFEA, ICMR guidelines, or leading fertility societies. A 2018 review in Fertility and Sterility found no evidence that bed rest improves FET outcomes. Light activity is fine — it helps circulation and mood.

Why Are IVF Babies Usually Boys? And Does FET Affect Gender?

Some large registry studies show a slightly higher rate of male births from IVF. The most likely reason is timing. Male embryos may develop to a little faster in standard lab conditions. This makes them slightly more likely to reach transfer quality. The difference is small and not seen in all studies.

Gender is not determined by FET alone. At fertilization, the sex of the embryo (XX or XY) is fixed. The PCPNDT Act prohibits gender selection for non-medical purposes in India. Hospitals that are Divinheal partners do not use it.

 

At What Age Is IVF Most Successful? IVF and FET work best when eggs are collected before 35. Live birth rates are highest for women in their mid-to-late 20s and fall measurably after 35.

Planning Your FET Trip to India from Australia or the UK

A standalone FET cycle — where embryos are already stored at an Indian partner hospital — needs about 7–10 days in India. This covers:

•           Days 1–3: Initial consultation, baseline blood tests and ultrasound, start of oestrogen medication. Some patients begin oestrogen at home before travel under remote monitoring.

•           Days 10–12: Blood test and lining monitoring scan

•           Days 14–17: Transfer day (depending on lining readiness)

•           Days 17–20: Rest period prior to departure; verified post-transfer medicine

 

Divinheal arranges the transportation of your embryos if they are kept outside of India. Liquid nitrogen containers are used to transport vitrified embryos. Your clinic in the UK or Australia will be familiar with this procedure.

 

Visa Requirements for FET Travel to India

A medical visa is mandatory for all citizens of Australia. You can apply for the visa at any of the following VFS Global offices located in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Processing of the visa takes approximately five to ten working days. Please apply for the visa at least three weeks before your scheduled trip.
Indian medical visas are also required for UK citizens. Apply in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, or London via VFS Global. Ten to fifteen working days are needed for processing. Apply at least three weeks before your trip. The patient coordinator at Divinheal walks you through the entire application process.

 

How Divinheal Supports Australian & UK FET Patients

The most common source of stress is not the medical procedure. It is logistics and uncertainty. Divinheal addresses both directly.

What Divinheal Coordinates

•           Clinic matching: matching each patient to the right NABH/JCI-accredited partner hospital based on embryo storage situation, required protocol (medicated FET vs natural cycle), and budget

•           Hospital appointment booking within 1–2 weeks

•           The partner hospital's invitation letter for a medical visa

•           Lodging close to the treatment facility (1-2 km), usually in a furnished flat

•           Airport transfers on arrival and departure

•           A WhatsApp-accessible patient coordinator throughout the stay

•           Embryo transport coordination for transferring embryos from a previous Australian or UK IVF cycle

•           Post-return telemedicine coordination — beta-hCG test on your return, early ultrasound review, and medication adjustment

•           Written clinical summary for your GP, ObGyn, or fertility specialist at home

Divinheal does not charge a placement fee. Partner hospital rates are direct patient pricing — not marked up. A written cost estimate in AUD or GBP is available before you commit to travel.

Patient Stories

Emily, 36, from Sydney, had two frozen embryos from a previous IVF cycle at a Sydney clinic. She waited 9 months on the public list for an FET appointment. Then she contacted Divinheal. Divinheal coordinated embryo transport from Sydney to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. Emily travelled for 9 days. Her first FET led to a confirmed pregnancy at day 12. Her total India trip cost — flights, serviced apartment, and the FET cycle — was AUD 4,200. Her private Sydney quote for the same FET cycle was AUD 4,500, before flights and without the coordination support.

The story is an illustrative composite based on typical patient journeys. Name changed for privacy.

Sarah, 38, from Manchester, had one embryo stored from an NHS-funded IVF cycle. Her NHS trust declined to fund the FET. A Manchester private clinic quoted £2,800 for the transfer. Divinheal matched her to Medanta Gurgaon in a 7-day trip. Her FET cost at Medanta was £1,050 all-in. Combined with flights and accommodation, her total spend was £2,100 — 25% less than staying in Manchester with none of the support.

The story is an illustrative composite based on typical patient journeys. Name changed for privacy.

Recovery After FET: What to Expect on Your Return Home

Physical recovery from FET is minimal. Most patients feel well enough to travel home by day 3–5 post-transfer. The two-week wait is the hard part — emotionally, not physically.

Divinheal’s patient coordinator stays reachable by WhatsApp throughout the two-week wait. They coordinate your pregnancy blood test at a local lab in Australia or the UK. Results are shared with your treating specialist in India and your home GP.

Divinheal schedules a telemedicine consultation with your treating doctor at six to seven weeks if the FET results in a positive pregnancy. This includes the plan for handing over the early ultrasound results to your doctor at home. For continuity of care, a comprehensive clinical summary is given.

Final Thoughts

One round of FET treatment in India with partner hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) ranges from ₹80,000 to ₹1,50,000 (USD $960–$1,800; AUD $1,480-2,775; GBP £760-1,430).

If you are an Australian patient with frozen embryos and face a 9-month public wait-list, India gives you access within 1–2 weeks. The same applies to UK patients whose NHS trust won’t fund a frozen transfer.

Contact Divinheal for a free case evaluation — including a written cost estimate in AUD or GBP, a clinic match based on your embryo storage situation, and a direct consultation with a reproductive medicine specialist.

Important: All figures have been provided based on projected private health care costs between 2025 and 2026. All monetary calculations based on currency conversion according to rates applicable in Quarter 1 of 2026. Individual variations may occur; success rate calculations are based on statistics obtained from registries of NABH- certified partner hospitals. Patient names have been modified to maintain confidentiality; the patient examples provided are composite representations. Prior to publishing, Divinheal medical personnel need to verify all medical references. For the benefit of Divinheal pipeline staff: Approximately 28% of the PAA searches were not fertility-related, including "Is FET a Scrabble word?" "Meaning of FET in Old English," and "FET acronym in electronics." It would be best to do a pipeline input verification check.