Concierge fertility · United Kingdom
Embryo freezing in the UK, done by an HFEA-licensed lab.
Vitrification of surplus IVF or ICSI blastocysts, or a full freeze-all cycle when the biology asks for one — arranged with an HFEA-licensed embryology lab, and stored under the 55-year rule that came in with the Health and Care Act 2022.
Why patients choose us
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HFEA-licensed clinics, not brokers
Every embryology lab in our network is HFEA-licensed. Vitrification protocols, witnessing and cryostorage are all audited to the UK regulator’s standard.
- 02
Freeze-all only when it earns its place
Fresh transfer is still the right call for some cycles. We tell you when a freeze-all strategy genuinely improves the odds — and when it doesn’t.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What embryo freezing and storage costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our HFEA-licensed partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm all-in figures — including storage and any future FET.
In short
Freeze-all IVF cycle in our UK network: £6,500–£9,500, storage £300–£500 / year.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-all IVF cycle (all-in) | £6,500–£9,500 | 2–3 weeks | Vitrified day 5–6 |
| Freeze surplus embryos (add-on to IVF) | £600–£1,200 | Same cycle | Vitrified day 5–6 |
| Annual embryo storage | £300–£500 / yr | Ongoing | Renewable to 55 yrs |
| Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | £1,800–£3,500 | 3–5 weeks | Beta hCG at 10–12 d |
| Endometrial prep (medicated / HRT) | £300–£700 | Within FET | Included in some clinics |
| PGT-A add-on (per embryo) | £350–£600 | 2–3 weeks | Report before FET |
Prices vary by clinic, by protocol (IVF vs ICSI, PGT-A add-on), and by whether storage is billed annually or as a multi-year block. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right lab, the right protocol, the right consent.
Fertility clinics vary widely on freeze-all strategy, thaw survival rates and how carefully they explain the 55-year storage law. We put the numbers and the paperwork on the table before you commit.
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Fresh or freeze-all?
For some cycles fresh is still best. For others (OHSS risk, PGT-A, endometriosis) freeze-all wins — we explain which fits.
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Whose embryos, whose consent?
Under HFEA rules both partners must consent to storage and use — and either can withdraw. We make sure you understand the paperwork.
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What about the 55-year limit?
The 2022 law lets you store embryos for up to 55 years, but you must reconfirm consent every decade. We flag the renewal date.
The journey
From enquiry to cryostorage — what happens, in order.
One point of contact from first message through vitrification and, when you are ready, frozen embryo transfer.
Phase 1 · Before the cycle
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · Collection & freeze
2–3 weeks of stimulation, then the lab
Phase 3 · After
Storage, then FET when you choose
- 01
Before
You tell us where you are
A short, confidential form. Age, AMH if you have it, previous cycles, and whether this is a freeze-all plan or surplus embryos from a fresh cycle.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right HFEA-licensed lab, the right protocol, and an indicative all-in cost — including storage and future FET.
- 03
Before
Consent and paperwork
Both partners complete HFEA consent forms (WT for storage, MT for embryo use). The 55-year storage limit and 10-yearly renewal are explained in plain English.
- 04
Cycle
Egg collection and fertilisation
Egg retrieval under sedation, IVF or ICSI fertilisation, then embryos cultured to day 5 or 6 in the lab.
- 05
Cycle
Blastocyst grading and vitrification
Embryologists grade each blastocyst (Gardner: expansion, ICM, TE), then vitrify the viable ones — a rapid-cooling technique with cryoprotectants.
- 06
Cycle
Cryostorage confirmed
Straws are logged, double-witnessed, and stored in vapour-phase liquid nitrogen. You receive written confirmation of grades, numbers and storage location.
- 07
After
FET when you are ready
When it is time, endometrial prep (natural, modified natural or HRT), warming of a single blastocyst, and a straightforward transfer. Pregnancy test 10–12 days later.
Typical stimulation-to-freeze: 2–3 weeks. FET when you’re ready — storage renewable in 10-year blocks to 55 years.
When it helps
When freezing embryos is the right call.
The clinical situations where freeze-all or surplus embryo freezing genuinely improves outcomes, plus the OHSS red flag.
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OHSS risk at trigger
High follicle count or peak oestradiol makes fresh transfer risky. Freeze-all and transfer in a later, calmer cycle.
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Elevated progesterone at trigger
A premature progesterone rise closes the implantation window. Freezing and returning in an unhurried FET protects live-birth chances.
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Poor or thin endometrium
A lining that hasn’t built up on the day of trigger is a reason to freeze everything and prepare the endometrium properly next time.
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PGT-A (genetic testing)
Trophectoderm biopsy needs the embryo vitrified while results come back. Freezing is built into the plan, not a fallback.
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Endometriosis or adenomyosis
Uterine conditions often do better with a segmented cycle — stimulate, freeze, then transfer once the uterus is optimally prepared.
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Elective single embryo transfer
Freezing surplus good-quality blastocysts lets you transfer one at a time and cut the twin risk without losing future chances.
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Surplus embryos after fresh IVF
Any viable blastocysts not transferred on day 5 are vitrified for future FETs — a second, third or fourth chance from one egg collection.
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Red flag: severe OHSS symptoms
Rapid abdominal bloating, breathlessness or reduced urine after egg collection is an emergency — same-day A&E, not a clinic call.
Protocol options
One name, several protocols.
What each freezing and transfer protocol actually involves — and which one fits which situation.
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Freeze-all IVF cycle
Stimulate, collect, fertilise, culture to blastocyst, vitrify everything. No fresh transfer — FET follows in a later cycle.
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Surplus embryo freezing
A fresh transfer goes ahead; any additional viable blastocysts are vitrified for future FETs from the same egg collection.
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ICSI + freeze
ICSI is used where sperm parameters are borderline; resulting blastocysts are frozen using the same vitrification protocol.
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PGT-A biopsy + freeze
Day 5–6 trophectoderm biopsy for aneuploidy screening. Embryos vitrified while genetics come back, then euploid ones prioritised for FET.
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Natural-cycle FET
You ovulate naturally; the clinic times warming and transfer to your own LH surge. Fewest drugs — best for regular cycles.
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Modified natural FET
Your cycle plus a trigger injection to time ovulation precisely. A middle-ground protocol.
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Medicated (HRT) FET
Oestrogen and progesterone build the lining artificially. Predictable timing — useful for irregular cycles or donor-embryo transfers.
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Cryostorage renewal / transfer
Extend storage in 10-year blocks (to the 55-year maximum under the Health and Care Act 2022), or transfer straws between HFEA-licensed clinics.
Our vetted UK network
HFEA-licensed labs, we picked them.
A small panel of embryology labs across the UK, all HFEA-licensed, all vitrifying rather than slow-freezing. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every embryology lab in our network.
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HFEA-licensed embryology labs, not brokers or agents
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Vitrification (rapid cooling) only — no slow-freeze protocols
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Double-witnessing at every step, electronic or two-person
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Blastocyst survival rates published and audited annually
Safety, consent and outcomes
What to expect — honestly.
Vitrified blastocysts are one of the great success stories of modern fertility medicine. What matters is understanding thaw survival, live-birth rates and the HFEA consent framework you are signing into.
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Vitrification, not slow freeze
Every clinic in our network uses vitrification — rapid cooling with cryoprotectants that prevents ice-crystal damage. Slow freeze is obsolete for embryos.
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Thaw survival 95%+ for blastocysts
Good-quality vitrified blastocysts survive warming in around 95 to 98 per cent of cases. Your clinic should publish its own numbers.
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Live-birth rates match fresh — sometimes better
For freeze-all cycles, live-birth rates are comparable to fresh transfer, and in some groups (OHSS risk, endometriosis) genuinely better.
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Both partners must consent
Under HFEA rules, both gamete providers must consent to storage and use. Either partner can withdraw consent at any time, which triggers a cooling-off period before disposal.
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55-year storage limit
The Health and Care Act 2022 extended the maximum storage period to 55 years, renewable in 10-year blocks. Clinics must confirm your ongoing consent every decade.
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Disposal options if not used
When storage ends you choose: allow to perish, donate to another person or couple, or donate to training and research. Each option needs its own consent form.
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Single embryo transfer is safer
Transferring one blastocyst at a time cuts the twin and triplet risk to near zero. Freezing surplus embryos means you don’t lose the chance of a second child.
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Self-pay storage costs
Annual embryo storage typically runs £300 to £500 in the private sector. Some clinics offer discounted multi-year blocks.
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Red flags after collection
Severe abdominal pain, rapid weight gain, breathlessness or reduced urine output after egg collection can signal OHSS — call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your embryology report
Your embryology report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever HFEA-licensed lab you use, the report you receive after vitrification keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Embryology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the Gardner grades and storage paperwork before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Cycle summary and consent status
Which cycle, IVF or ICSI, dates of stimulation and collection, and confirmation both partners’ HFEA consent forms are on file.
- 02 Embryology
Fertilisation, culture and grading
Number of eggs collected, mature (MII), fertilised (2PN), and reaching blastocyst. Gardner grades for each — expansion (1–6), ICM (A–C), trophectoderm (A–C).
- 03 Storage
Number vitrified and location
How many blastocysts were vitrified, on which day (5 or 6), the straw IDs, and the HFEA-licensed lab where they are stored.
- 04 Impression
Next steps and storage renewal
Read this first: recommended FET protocol, when to start, and the date your first 10-year storage consent is due for renewal.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most UK private medical insurance policies exclude fertility treatment, including embryo freezing and storage — plan for self-pay. We confirm any partial cover (for investigations or complications) before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about embryo freezing.
Quick answers on the HFEA storage law, consent, freeze-all vs fresh, and how much it really costs.
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What is the difference between embryo freezing and egg freezing?
Egg freezing vitrifies unfertilised eggs — a solo decision. Embryo freezing vitrifies eggs that have already been fertilised with sperm (IVF or ICSI), which brings both gamete providers into the HFEA consent process. Either partner can withdraw consent at any time, and that triggers disposal after a cooling-off period.
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How long can embryos be stored in the UK?
The Health and Care Act 2022 extended the maximum storage period for embryos to 55 years. Clinics are required to seek your renewed consent every 10 years — miss the renewal, and the clinic must let the embryos perish. Ask your clinic to flag the renewal date in writing.
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Why choose a freeze-all cycle instead of a fresh transfer?
Freeze-all is genuinely better when there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a premature progesterone rise at trigger, a thin endometrium, endometriosis or adenomyosis, or you are doing PGT-A. In those groups, live-birth rates match or beat fresh transfer.
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How successful is a frozen embryo transfer compared with a fresh one?
Overall, live-birth rates per transfer are broadly similar for fresh and frozen. In segmented (freeze-all) cycles, FET can outperform fresh transfer because the uterus isn’t recovering from stimulation. Individual results depend on age at egg collection and embryo grade.
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What is vitrification and why does it matter?
Vitrification is a rapid-cooling technique using high concentrations of cryoprotectants — the embryo drops to –196°C so fast that no ice crystals form. It has replaced the older slow-freeze method entirely for embryos because thaw survival is much higher, typically 95 to 98 per cent for good-quality blastocysts.
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What are the disposal options if we don’t use our embryos?
Three routes are allowed under HFEA rules: allow the embryos to perish, donate them to another person or couple hoping to conceive, or donate them for training and research. Each requires its own signed consent — you can change your mind at any time before disposal.
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How much does embryo storage cost in the UK?
In the private sector, annual embryo storage typically costs £300 to £500. Many clinics offer discounted multi-year blocks (5 or 10 years upfront). A full freeze-all IVF cycle runs £6,500 to £9,500, and a subsequent FET £1,800 to £3,500.
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What happens if my partner and I separate?
Either partner can withdraw consent for storage or use of the embryos at any time. Once consent is withdrawn, the clinic enters a 12-month cooling-off period during which you can both reconsider. If consent is still withdrawn at the end, the embryos must be disposed of — they cannot be used by one partner alone.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Egg freezing
Vitrification of unfertilised eggs — a solo decision.
Learn more -
Embryo donation
Donating surplus embryos to another person or couple.
Learn more -
Egg collection & transfer
The IVF and ICSI steps that come before the freeze.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more
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