In the world of IVF, one of the most debated topics is whether to opt for a fresh or a frozen embryo transfer (FET). Both approaches have helped thousands of couples conceive, yet the choice depends on multiple clinical and personal factors.
At Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh, our fertility specialists carefully evaluate your case to choose the best method — ensuring the safest and most successful outcome possible.
What’s the Difference Between Fresh and Frozen Embryo Transfer?
Fresh Embryo Transfer
After egg retrieval and fertilization, the embryo is transferred into the uterus within 3 to 5 days — during the same menstrual cycle.
Pros:
Shorter treatment timeline
No need for embryo freezing and thawing
Cons:
Hormonal stimulation during egg retrieval can affect endometrial receptivity
May not be ideal if ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS) occurs
Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
In FET, embryos are frozen (vitrified) and stored for future use. The transfer takes place in a later cycle when the uterus is hormonally balanced and prepared naturally or through medication.
Pros:
Allows the body to recover after stimulation
Higher implantation rates due to better uterine receptivity
Reduces risk of OHSS
Enables genetic testing (PGT) before transfer
Cons:
Slightly longer process due to freezing and thawing
Minimal risk of embryo loss during thawing (though rare with advanced technology)
What Studies Say
Several international studies have shown that frozen embryo transfers often lead to higher success rates compared to fresh transfers — especially in women with PCOS or hormonal imbalance.
At Reviva IVF, our lab uses next-generation vitrification technology, ensuring over 99% embryo survival during thawing.
When Your Doctor Might Recommend a Frozen Transfer
If your hormone levels are elevated after stimulation
If you have symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
If genetic testing (PGT-A/PGT-M) is required
If you’re planning a second pregnancy using stored embryos
If uterine lining needs time to recover
The Reviva IVF Advantage
At Reviva IVF Chandigarh, every decision is backed by data, technology, and experience:
Individualized treatment planning for fresh or frozen cycles
Ultra-modern lab with advanced vitrification techniques
Endometrial receptivity assessments (ERA) for optimal timing
Comprehensive counselling to help patients understand every step
Our focus is not just on conception — but on creating the best environment for healthy embryo implantation and full-term pregnancy.
Expert Insight
“Choosing between fresh and frozen embryos isn’t about better or worse — it’s about what’s right for your body and your fertility journey.” — Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi, Director & Chief Fertility Specialist, Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh
Conclusion
Both fresh and frozen embryo transfers have proven successful in IVF, but the decision depends on your medical profile, hormone levels, and emotional readiness. At Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh, our experts guide you toward the most suitable option — ensuring science, timing, and care align perfectly for your success.
The two-week wait (2WW) — the time between embryo transfer and your pregnancy test — is often the most emotionally intense phase of the IVF journey. During this period, hope and anxiety go hand in hand. Patients often wonder: “What should I do? What should I avoid? Are my symptoms a good sign?”
At Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh, we understand that this phase is more than medical — it’s deeply emotional. Our goal is to help you navigate it with calm, confidence, and care.
What Happens During the Two-Week Wait?
After your embryo transfer, the fertilized embryo begins its journey to attach itself to the uterine lining — a process called implantation.
Day 1–3: Embryo continues cell division.
Day 4–6: It reaches the blastocyst stage and starts implanting.
Day 7–10: Implantation is typically complete, and early pregnancy hormones (hCG) begin to rise.
This is a delicate phase — your body is doing crucial work behind the scenes.
Physical & Emotional Changes You May Experience
Many patients experience symptoms like:
Mild cramps or spotting (implantation bleeding)
Breast tenderness or fatigue
Mood swings or anxiety due to hormonal changes
Slight bloating or nausea
These are normal signs and do not necessarily confirm or rule out pregnancy. Every body responds differently.
How to Manage Stress and Emotions During 2WW
Stay Busy (But Gentle)
Light activities — reading, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones — help reduce overthinking. Avoid physically strenuous exercise, but stay moderately active to promote blood flow.
Practice Mindful Relaxation
Deep breathing, meditation, or short evening walks help calm your mind and body. At Reviva IVF, patients are encouraged to practice guided relaxation and positive visualization.
Eat Balanced & Stay Hydrated
Nourish your body with:
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Protein-rich foods like paneer, eggs, lentils
Plenty of water and herbal teas
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods.
Don’t Test Too Early
It’s tempting to take a home pregnancy test, but testing before 14 days can lead to false negatives or false hope. Trust your fertility doctor to schedule the right time for a beta-hCG blood test.
Lean on Emotional Support
Talk openly with your partner or counsellor. At Reviva IVF, emotional counselling and support groups help couples navigate this waiting period with empathy and understanding.
Expert Insight
“The two-week wait is a test of patience and hope. Trust your body, your treatment, and your doctor — because miracles take time.” — Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi, Director & Chief Fertility Specialist, Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh
The two-week wait can feel long, uncertain, and emotionally charged — but it’s also a time of quiet miracles. At Reviva IVF Clinic, Chandigarh, we stand beside you through every heartbeat of hope, offering guidance, emotional support, and compassionate care. Remember — sometimes, patience is the strongest part of the treatment.
When couples choose IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization), one of the most eagerly awaited milestones is embryo transfer. But the journey doesn’t end there—the real challenge begins with embryo implantation. This critical process determines whether a pregnancy will take hold.
At Reviva IVF, under the expert guidance of Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi, we focus on making sure every stage—right from embryo transfer to implantation—is optimized for success.
What is Embryo Implantation?
Embryo implantation is the process where a fertilized embryo attaches itself to the uterine lining (endometrium) and begins to embed. This marks the start of pregnancy, as the embryo connects with the mother’s blood supply and signals the body by producing hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)—the hormone detected in pregnancy tests.
Without proper implantation, even the healthiest embryos cannot result in pregnancy.
Timeline: From Transfer to Implantation
Here’s what typically happens after an embryo transfer in an IVF cycle:
Day
Stage
What Happens?
Day 0
Embryo Transfer
A carefully selected embryo (day 3 cleavage stage or day 5 blastocyst) is placed in the uterus.
Day 1–2
Pre-Implantation
The embryo continues to grow and may start the process of “hatching” from its shell (zona pellucida).
Day 3–4
Early Attachment
The embryo makes its first contact with the endometrial lining.
Day 5–7
Full Implantation
The embryo embeds deeper into the uterine lining, establishing maternal blood supply and releasing hCG.
This process is delicate and influenced by both embryo quality and uterine receptivity.
Factors That Influence Successful Implantation
Why Implantation Sometimes Fails
Even in the best IVF labs, implantation doesn’t always occur. Common causes include:
Thin or scarred uterine lining
Hormonal imbalances
Genetic abnormalities in embryos
Uterine abnormalities like fibroids or polyps
Unexplained immunological factors
In such cases, Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF) may be diagnosed, requiring specialized investigation and treatment.
Reviva IVF’s Approach to Implantation Success
Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi and her team at Reviva IVF employ advanced protocols to maximize implantation chances:
Personalized endometrial preparation with hormone monitoring
Advanced embryo selection and grading to choose the healthiest embryos
Assisted hatching in cases where embryos may struggle to implant
Minimally invasive embryo transfer techniques to avoid uterine trauma
Close monitoring post-transfer to provide supportive therapy
Her empathetic counseling ensures that patients are fully informed and emotionally supported through this sensitive stage.
Final Thoughts
The journey from embryo transfer to implantation is both a science and a miracle. While IVF technology provides precision, nature still plays its role in deciding the outcome.
At Reviva IVF, our commitment is to combine cutting-edge science with compassionate care, ensuring that patients receive the best possible support for their parenthood dreams.
Embryo implantation is one of the most critical and delicate phases in the IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) journey. Even when fertilization succeeds and a healthy embryo is formed, the process fails if the embryo cannot properly attach to the lining of the uterus (endometrium).
At Reviva IVF, under the expert care of Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi, we focus not just on creating viable embryos but also on optimizing every condition for embryo implantation success. With her track record in challenging infertility cases, Dr. Sohi ensures that patients receive meticulous, individualized support through this pivotal step.
In this post, we will explain:
What embryo implantation is
The stages and timeline
Factors influencing successful implantation
Challenges & recurrent implantation failure (RIF)
How Reviva IVF approaches this step to maximize success
What is Embryo Implantation?
Embryo implantation refers to the process by which a fertilized embryo (usually at the blastocyst stage) attaches itself into the uterine lining (endometrium) and becomes embedded, establishing the beginnings of maternal-fetal connection. The success of implantation determines whether pregnancy can proceed.
Typically, implantation occurs about 6 to 10 days after egg retrieval/fertilization.
Stages & Timeline of Implantation
Here’s a more granular view of the steps involved in embryo implantation:
Timeframe / Day
Key Events & Description
Day 0 to Day 1
After fertilization, the embryo goes through pronuclear stage (presence of male and female pronuclei).
Day 2–3 (Cleavage Stage)
The embryo divides (2 → 4 → 6–8 cells) without significant increase in total size.
Day 4 (Morula / Compaction)
Cells compact and form a morula—tightly packed group of cells.
Day 5 (Blastocyst Formation)
Fluid-filled cavity forms, inner cell mass and trophectoderm differentiate. This is often the stage at which embryo transfer is done.
Hatching / Zona Escape
The embryo “hatches” (breaks out) from its protective shell (zona pellucida) to allow contact with endometrial tissue.
Attachment to Endometrium
Trophectoderm cells adhere to the uterine lining, then invade into the endometrial tissue.
Invasion & Embedding
The embryo secretes enzymes to degrade adjacent endometrial tissue, permits deeper penetration, and begins establishing blood vessel connections.
Secretion of hCG & Early Pregnancy Signals
As embedding progresses, the embryo begins to produce hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which signals pregnancy and supports endometrial function.
In many IVF cycles, the embryo is transferred on day 3 or day 5 (often as a blastocyst).
Implantation is a “high-stakes handshake” between the embryo and the uterine environment. Multiple conditions must align:
Endometrial Receptivity The uterine lining must be thick, well-vascularized, and hormonally primed (via estrogen & progesterone) to support embryo adhesion and invasion.
Synchronization The developmental stage of the embryo and the ‘window of implantation’ of the endometrium must match precisely.
Embryo Quality & Viability Embryos with the correct chromosomal makeup and good morphology are more likely to implant successfully.
Trophectoderm Function The cells destined to form the placenta (trophectoderm) must effectively interact with endometrial cells, secrete necessary enzymes, and modulate immune tolerance.
Immune & Molecular Signaling The maternal immune system must be tolerant (not rejecting the embryo as “foreign”), and molecular signals (cytokines, growth factors, adhesion molecules) must be favorable.
Uterine Health & Vascularization Adequate blood flow, absence of scar tissue, fibroids, or anatomical defects matter.
Minimal Mechanical Disturbance Physical factors like uterine contractions, poor catheter technique, or trauma can hamper implantation.
Challenges: Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF)
When multiple IVF cycles result in failure to implant despite apparently good embryos and embryos being transferred, it’s termed Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF). Wikipedia
Definition is debated, but a commonly accepted threshold is failure after three good-quality embryo transfers in a woman under 40. Wikipedia
In such cases, deeper investigation and customized protocols are required.
How Reviva IVF Optimizes Embryo Implantation
Under Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi’s leadership, Reviva IVF employs a multi-pronged strategy to support implantation:
Personalized Endometrial Preparation Adjusting hormonal regimens to optimize endometrial thickness, vascularity, and receptivity.
Accurate Embryo Selection & Grading Using advanced lab techniques and possibly time-lapse or AI-supported assessment to pick embryos with highest implantation potential.
Assisted Hatching (if needed) For embryos with “hard” zona or for patients with previous failed cycles, partial thinning or opening of the zona can help implantation. Mayo Clinic
Monitoring Uterine Integrity Pre-transfer evaluation of uterine cavity via imaging (ultrasound, hysteroscopy) to rule out lesions or adhesions.
Immune & Molecular Support For patients with suspected immunologic factors, targeted therapies or adjuncts may be considered (after thorough evaluation).
Minimally Traumatic Transfer Technique Use of soft catheters, ultrasound guidance, and gentle handling to minimize uterine irritation or contractions.
Supportive Luteal Phase Therapy Ensuring adequate progesterone support so the endometrium remains optimal during early implantation.
Rigorous Follow-up & Monitoring Early detection of issues, patient counseling, and adjustments where needed.
Final Thoughts
Embryo implantation is where the success of an IVF cycle truly hinges. Even with excellent embryos, if the uterine environment is not receptive, implantation fails.
At Reviva IVF, our commitment is to tend to both sides of this alliance — the embryo and the uterus — under the careful guidance of Dr. Sandeep Cheema Sohi. Her track record in overcoming complex infertility scenarios is built not just on lab skills, but on her holistic, empathetic patient care.
If you’d like a side-by-side infographic of the implantation timeline, or a version tailored for patients (less scientific) vs. for professionals (detailed), I’d be happy to draft that too. Would you like me to also prepare a shorter “patient-friendly” version that you can publish to your blog or hand out in clinic?
WhatsApp us
WhatsApp us
Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance
