Concierge fertility · UK
Frozen embryo replacement cycles, the protocol chosen for you.
The transfer step downstream of vitrification — natural, modified natural, medicated HRT or ovulation-induction — arranged in an HFEA-licensed clinic under a named consultant. Not a template.
Why patients choose us
- 01
HFEA-licensed clinics, named consultants
Every partner clinic is HFEA-licensed and every cycle is led by a named fertility consultant — not an anonymous rota.
- 02
The protocol chosen for you, not the clinic
Natural, modified natural or medicated HRT — the endometrial preparation is picked for your cycle history, not the clinic’s default.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private FER/FET cycle costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner HFEA-licensed clinics. Some include storage; some quote it separately. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A private FET in our network: £1,500–£3,500 for the cycle, plus £300–£800 in medications.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Result timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural cycle FET (NC-FET) | £1,500–£2,800 | 2–4 weeks | Beta hCG day 9–11 |
| Modified natural FET (hCG trigger) | £1,800–£3,000 | 2–4 weeks | Beta hCG day 9–11 |
| Medicated / HRT-FET | £1,800–£3,500 | 3–5 weeks | Beta hCG day 9–11 |
| Ovulation induction FET (letrozole) | £2,000–£3,500 | 3–5 weeks | Beta hCG day 9–11 |
| FET medications (oestradiol + progesterone) | £300–£800 | Duration of cycle | Prescribed |
| Embryo storage (annual) | £300–£500 | Per year | HFEA-limited |
| Initial consultation | £200–£400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by protocol, by the medications you tolerate and by whether add-ons (endometrial receptivity tests, immune protocols, PGT-A management) are being used. NHS eligibility for FET varies by Integrated Care Board and is worth checking before self-funding.
The problem
The right protocol, the right lining, the right day.
Most FET failures are not the embryo — they are a lining that was rushed, a protocol borrowed from the last patient, or a transfer timed to the calendar rather than the cycle.
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Not sure which protocol fits?
Natural, modified natural, HRT or ovulation induction — chosen from your cycle history, not the clinic’s default.
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Worried the lining will not build?
A monitored preparation with oestradiol titration and a Plan B if the endometrium is slow to respond.
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Want the embryology done properly?
HFEA-licensed lab, vitrified blastocysts warmed the morning of transfer, re-graded before the catheter is loaded.
The journey
From enquiry to pregnancy test — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to the beta-hCG result — including the two-week wait.
Phase 1 · Before your cycle
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · Preparation and transfer
2–5 weeks in the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Two-week wait
- 01
Before
You tell us where you are
A short, confidential form. Where your embryos are stored, how many, day 5 or 6, previous cycles, and your last period date.
- 02
Before
We come back with a plan
Within one working day: which protocol fits (natural, modified natural, HRT or ovulation induction), an indicative price, and a named consultant.
- 03
Before
Baseline scan and consent
A pelvic ultrasound on day 1–3 (medicated) or mid-cycle tracking (natural). HFEA consent forms refreshed with both gamete providers.
- 04
Cycle
Endometrial preparation
Oestradiol from day 2 (HRT), or tracking scans and an LH kit (natural). Lining measured until it reaches >7–8mm with a trilaminar pattern.
- 05
Cycle
Progesterone and thaw
Progesterone starts once the lining is ready. The embryo is warmed on the day of transfer — modern vitrification gives 95%+ survival.
- 06
Cycle
The transfer itself
A 10–15 minute outpatient procedure under ultrasound guidance. No anaesthetic needed. Home within the hour.
- 07
After
Luteal support and pregnancy test
Progesterone continues for 10–12 weeks if pregnant. A blood beta-hCG test 9–11 days after transfer confirms the result.
Typical end-to-end: 4–6 weeks from enquiry to transfer. Beta-hCG: 9–11 days after transfer.
When it helps
Why patients arrive with frozen embryos.
The freeze-all indications we see most, plus one HFEA-mandated situation where a transfer cannot go ahead.
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Freeze-all after OHSS risk
Ovaries responded strongly to stimulation — a fresh transfer was deferred and embryos vitrified to protect you from ovarian hyperstimulation.
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Elective single embryo transfer
A planned strategy: freeze the cohort, transfer one blastocyst at a time to reduce twin risk while preserving cumulative chances.
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PGT-A results pending
Embryos biopsied for pre-implantation genetic testing are always frozen while the lab reports which are euploid.
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Poor endometrium at fresh transfer
Thin lining, fluid in the cavity, a polyp or elevated progesterone at trigger — reasons to freeze all and try again in a controlled cycle.
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Endometriosis or adenomyosis
A separate FET cycle allows uterine conditions to be optimised and inflammatory markers to settle before implantation.
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Planned family spacing
Embryos from an earlier cycle used months or years later for a sibling — the biology is the same, the timing is yours.
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Deferred for health or treatment
A planned surgery, oncology treatment or medical event pushed the transfer back — embryos were vitrified in the meantime.
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Red flag: withdrawn consent
HFEA law requires ongoing consent from both gamete providers. If either withdraws, embryos must be allowed to perish after a cooling-off period.
Protocol options
One transfer, four ways to get there.
The endometrial preparation on offer — and which one fits which cycle.
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Natural cycle FET (NC-FET)
Tracks your own ovulation with ultrasound and LH surge testing. Luteal progesterone support only. Transfer 5–6 days after ovulation for a blastocyst.
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Modified natural cycle
A natural cycle backed up by an hCG trigger and luteal progesterone. Gives more control over transfer timing while keeping the natural lining.
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Medicated / HRT-FET
Oestradiol valerate 4–8mg/day from day 2, lining monitored to >7–8mm with a trilaminar pattern, then progesterone. Transfer 5–6 days into progesterone for a blastocyst.
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Ovulation induction FET
Letrozole or clomifene stimulates ovulation, a trigger is given, luteal progesterone follows. Useful for women with irregular cycles or PCOS.
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Progesterone route options
Vaginal pessaries or gel, intramuscular injections, or oral micronised progesterone — chosen for side-effect profile, blood levels and tolerance.
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Single vs double transfer
HFEA’s National Multiple Births Initiative supports elective single embryo transfer under 37 with a good-prognosis first cycle. DET is offered only after careful counselling.
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Blastocyst thaw and grading
Day 5 or day 6 blastocysts are warmed on the morning of transfer. Post-thaw survival is 95%+ with modern vitrification and re-graded before transfer.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of your cycle history, which protocol fits, and whether an add-on (endometrial receptivity, ERA, immune testing) is worth its price.
Our vetted UK network
A short list of HFEA-licensed clinics, we chose them.
Fertility consultants in London and across the UK. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case and where your embryos are stored.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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HFEA-licensed clinics with published success-rate data
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Named consultant leads the cycle from planning to transfer
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eSET default under 37 with a good-prognosis first cycle
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Written HFEA consent refreshed with both gamete providers each cycle
Safety, evidence and consent
What the evidence says — honestly.
FET is a safe, well-established procedure. The things worth planning are the protocol, the progesterone route, and the legal position on consent.
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FET vs fresh: comparable live-birth in most groups
For most patients, frozen and fresh transfers give similar live-birth rates per transfer. In some groups FET may edge ahead; in others fresh is preferred.
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Lower OHSS risk than fresh transfer
A freeze-all cycle removes the risk of pregnancy-triggered late ovarian hyperstimulation — one of the main reasons the transfer is deferred.
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Possible small rise in birthweight
FET babies are on average slightly heavier than fresh-cycle babies, with a small increase in macrosomia. The reasons are not fully understood.
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Possible lower preterm birth
Some studies suggest FET is associated with a lower rate of preterm delivery compared with fresh transfer — the picture is not uniform across all protocols.
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Age drives success more than protocol
Live birth per transfer is roughly 30–40% under 35, 15–25% at 38–40 and under 10% over 42. The embryo cohort matters more than the preparation method.
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Cumulative rates beat single-cycle numbers
Multiple frozen embryos from one collection allow several transfers — cumulative live-birth rates are considerably higher than any single attempt.
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Progesterone side effects are common
Bloating, sore breasts, a bleed-through spot, drowsiness or mood shifts are common. Vaginal, IM and oral routes each have their own trade-offs.
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HFEA consent is ongoing and revocable
Both gamete providers must remain consented at every step. If either withdraws before transfer, the embryos must be allowed to perish after a cooling-off period.
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Red flags
Heavy bleeding, one-sided severe pain, breathlessness or a positive test with severe cramping after transfer are reasons to be assessed urgently — not the next appointment.
Reading your cycle notes
Your cycle summary in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever protocol you had, the note the fertility consultant and embryologist send you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Fertility language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the cycle note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Protocol chosen and cycle day
Which protocol was used — natural, modified natural, HRT or ovulation induction — and the cycle day at which each step happened.
- 02 Technique
Endometrium, thaw and transfer
Endometrial thickness and pattern on the day progesterone started, post-thaw embryo grade, catheter used, and whether the transfer was easy or difficult.
- 03 Findings
Embryo details and remaining store
Day of freezing (day 5 or 6), original grade, post-thaw grade, whether PGT-A was done, and how many embryos remain in storage.
- 04 Impression
Luteal support, test date and next steps
Read this first: which progesterone to take and for how long, the date of your beta-hCG blood test, and what happens next depending on the result.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurer cover for fertility is limited — most FET cycles are self-funded. NHS eligibility varies by Integrated Care Board. We confirm both before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about FER/FET.
Quick answers on protocols, cost, success rates, consent and what happens on the day.
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What is a frozen embryo replacement (FER/FET) cycle?
It is the transfer cycle downstream of vitrification — preparing the endometrium, warming a previously frozen embryo, and transferring it into the uterus under ultrasound guidance. It is separate from egg-freezing and embryo-freezing, which are the storage steps that come before.
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Natural, modified natural or medicated HRT — which is better?
For women with regular ovulatory cycles, a natural or modified natural FET avoids the drugs and uses your own hormones. For irregular cycles, PCOS or when precise timing is needed, a medicated HRT cycle is more predictable. Live-birth rates across protocols are broadly similar when the right one is chosen for the patient.
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What are the success rates for a frozen embryo transfer in the UK?
Roughly 30–40% live birth per transfer under 35, 15–25% at 38–40 and under 10% over 42. Cumulative rates across multiple frozen embryos from the same collection are considerably higher. Age of the egg at the time of collection matters far more than age at transfer.
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How much does a private FET cost in London?
The FET cycle itself is roughly £1,500–£3,500 depending on protocol and clinic; medications add £300–£800; annual embryo storage is £300–£500. Some clinics include storage in the transfer price — we confirm the total before you commit.
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Will only one embryo be transferred?
For most women under 37 on a first, good-prognosis cycle, HFEA and clinic policy favour elective single embryo transfer to reduce twin risk. Double embryo transfer is discussed on a case-by-case basis with counselling, per FSCC guidance.
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What is the thaw survival rate for a modern vitrified embryo?
Modern vitrification gives blastocyst post-thaw survival of 95%+ in most HFEA-licensed UK labs. The embryo is warmed on the morning of transfer, re-graded, and only transferred if it has survived well.
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Is a FET better or worse than a fresh transfer?
Comparable live-birth in most patient groups. FET is associated with possibly lower OHSS, possibly lower preterm birth and a small rise in average birthweight. Fresh transfer avoids the delay. The right answer depends on your cycle rather than a rule of thumb.
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What happens to the embryos if my partner withdraws consent?
HFEA law requires ongoing consent from both gamete providers. If either withdraws consent before transfer, the embryos must be allowed to perish after a mandatory cooling-off period. This is a legal position, not a clinic policy.
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When do I do the pregnancy test after transfer?
A blood beta-hCG test 9–11 days after a blastocyst transfer gives the definitive answer. Home urine tests earlier than this are unreliable — trigger drugs and progesterone can produce false results.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Embryo freezing
The vitrification step upstream of a FET cycle.
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Egg collection & transfer
A full IVF cycle from stimulation to fresh transfer.
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Egg donation
Donor-egg IVF, matching and legal framework.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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