Embryo transfer in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Embryo transfer is the last step of an IVF or ICSI cycle: one or two embryos grown in the laboratory are placed in the womb through a thin, soft catheter, in the hope that one will implant in the lining and develop into a pregnancy. It takes only a few minutes, needs no anaesthetic and is usually done under abdominal ultrasound so the doctor can see the catheter tip. The transfer itself is simple; what decides the outcome is everything before it, namely the quality of the embryo, the readiness of the lining and the age of the woman who produced the egg.
This guide covers how transfer is done, fresh versus frozen transfer, what affects success, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, the two-week wait and how to check a hospital. Transfer follows egg collection and fertilisation, described in our overview of IVF treatments in Turkey.
How is an embryo transfer done, step by step?
You are asked to arrive with a comfortably full bladder, which straightens the womb and gives a clear ultrasound view. The embryologist confirms your name and the embryo details, loads the embryo with a drop of culture medium into the catheter and hands it to the doctor. A speculum is placed, as for a smear test, and the doctor guides the catheter through the cervix to a spot in the upper-middle womb, where the embryo is released. The catheter is checked under the microscope to confirm that the embryo has left it. The whole visit takes 15 to 30 minutes; most people describe mild pressure or a smear-test sensation. You may rest for a few minutes, then leave.
Fresh or frozen embryo transfer: which is advised?
In a fresh transfer the embryo is placed days after egg collection, in the same cycle as stimulation. In a frozen embryo transfer the embryo was vitrified earlier and is warmed and placed in a later cycle, after the womb lining has been prepared with oestrogen and progesterone or by following your natural cycle. Fresh transfer is quicker. Frozen transfer allows the lining and hormones to recover from stimulation and is the norm after genetic testing, in freeze-all cycles and for women at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Large studies show similar live birth rates for the two approaches in many groups, so the choice is individual; see our guide to embryo cryopreservation.
Day 3 or day 5 embryo transfer: what is the difference?
A day 3 embryo is a cleavage-stage embryo of about six to eight cells; a day 5 embryo is a blastocyst, which has divided into a fluid-filled structure with distinct cell types. Waiting until day 5 lets the laboratory see which embryos keep developing, so the one transferred is more selected, and fewer embryos reach this stage. When only a few embryos exist, day 3 may be chosen so none is lost in culture. Blastocyst transfer tends to give higher implantation per embryo, but not necessarily more pregnancies per cycle started, because some patients have no blastocyst. Your embryologist should explain the plan with your own numbers.
Does embryo transfer work? What affects the chance of pregnancy
The chance of pregnancy per transfer depends mainly on the woman's age at egg collection, the grade and genetic normality of the embryo, the thickness and receptivity of the lining, and the cause of infertility. HFEA data for UK clinics show a clear fall in the birth rate per embryo transferred as age rises, and ESHRE reports the same pattern across Europe. Transferring a single embryo lowers the chance of twins, and in many cases the cumulative result over several frozen transfers is similar to that of transferring two together. Be wary of any hospital that quotes a single high success rate without saying which age group, which stage and what counts as success: a positive test, a heartbeat or a live birth.
Embryo transfer cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate prices for the transfer step or a frozen transfer cycle, not for a full IVF cycle, and not hospital quotes. A hospital quote should state what is included.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €500 – €1,800 |
| United Kingdom | €1,200 – €3,200 |
| United States | €3,000 – €6,500 |
| Germany | €900 – €2,500 |
What changes the price: whether it is a fresh or frozen transfer, the thawing fee, hormone medication for lining preparation, scans and blood tests, assisted hatching or embryo glue if you choose them, and the number of cycle attempts in a package. Ask whether the fee includes the first pregnancy test and an early scan. For the stimulation that comes before a fresh transfer, see ovarian stimulation for IVF.
Fresh, frozen and blastocyst transfer compared
| Type of transfer | Suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh, day 3 or 5 | Good response to stimulation, few concerns about OHSS, shorter treatment | Lining and hormones are still affected by stimulation drugs |
| Frozen embryo transfer | Freeze-all cycles, genetic testing, spare embryos from an earlier cycle | Needs freezing and thawing; a second visit or a later cycle |
| Single blastocyst transfer | Younger women with several embryos, or anyone wanting to avoid twins | Fewer embryos reach day 5; some cycles end without a transfer |
Who can have an embryo transfer in Turkey?
Turkish regulations for assisted reproduction generally restrict treatment to legally married couples using their own eggs and sperm, and they set limits on the number of embryos transferred according to age and attempt number. Donor eggs, donor sperm and embryo donation are not permitted for these patients, so couples who need them should ask the hospital early what is possible. A woman needs a healthy womb cavity; polyps, fibroids that distort the cavity, adhesions or a hydrosalpinx (a fluid-filled blocked tube) may need treatment first, for example with hysteroscopy. Rules change, so ask for the current position in writing.
Your trip to Turkey and the two-week wait
For a fresh cycle, plan about 10 to 14 days from the start of stimulation monitoring to transfer. For a frozen transfer many hospitals ask for a lining check and the transfer itself, about five to seven days in total, with part of the preparation done at home. After transfer you can walk and travel normally; bed rest is not needed and has not been shown to help. Progesterone support continues for several weeks. A blood pregnancy test is done about 9 to 14 days after transfer, which many couples do at home with the hospital's guidance, and a confirming scan follows at about six to seven weeks. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for a few days, and do not rely on early home tests that may mislead after hormone injections.
Risks and side effects of embryo transfer
The procedure is generally safe. Common effects are mild cramping, light spotting and bloating. Less common are infection, a vaginal discharge that needs checking and discomfort from progesterone. The main outcome risks are a multiple pregnancy when two embryos are transferred, which raises the risk of premature birth, and an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside the womb and needs urgent care. OHSS is linked to stimulation rather than transfer, and is the reason for many freeze-all plans. Information is published by the NHS, the HFEA and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Seek urgent help for severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fever, shortness of breath or rapid weight gain.
How to choose a fertility hospital, and questions to ask
Check that the hospital is licensed for assisted reproduction by the Ministry of Health, that your embryologist is named, that you receive a written plan with all fees, and that the laboratory reports results by age group and live birth rate. Red flags include promises of guaranteed pregnancy, pressure to transfer more embryos than advised and vague prices. Read how our process works and send your history through our free quote page. Questions to ask:
- How many embryos will you transfer, and how is this decided?
- Do you recommend a fresh or frozen transfer in my case, and why?
- What is your live birth rate per transfer for my age group?
- Which medicines will I take, and for how long?
- Who looks after me if the test is positive, negative or ectopic back home?
Hospitals with IVF & Fertility in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Embryo transfer is the step in IVF where one or two embryos are placed in the womb through a thin catheter, usually under ultrasound. It takes a few minutes and does not need anaesthesia.
Most women feel mild pressure or a sensation like a smear test, and some cramping afterwards. The speculum and catheter are not usually painful, and no anaesthetic is needed.
Approximate ranges are €500 to €1,800 in Turkey, against about €1,200 to €3,200 in the UK. The price depends on fresh or frozen transfer, medicines and scans; the hospital confirms it in a written quote.
A fresh transfer happens in the same cycle as egg collection; a frozen one uses a previously vitrified embryo in a later, prepared cycle. Live birth rates are similar in many groups, and the choice is individual.
Day 5 blastocyst transfer selects embryos that keep developing and often gives higher implantation per embryo, but fewer embryos reach that stage. Your embryologist advises based on how many embryos you have.
You can walk and travel normally; bed rest has not been shown to improve results. Progesterone continues, and a blood pregnancy test is done about 9 to 14 days later.
They depend mostly on the woman's age at egg collection and the quality of the embryo. Ask the hospital for live birth rates per transfer for your age group rather than a single headline figure.
Turkish regulations generally limit treatment to married couples using their own eggs and sperm, and they do not allow donor gametes or embryo donation. Rules change, so ask for the current position in writing.
Risks include cramping, spotting, a multiple pregnancy if two embryos are transferred, and ectopic pregnancy. OHSS relates to stimulation. Seek urgent help for severe pain, heavy bleeding or fever.
About 10 to 14 days for a fresh cycle, and roughly five to seven days for a frozen transfer with some preparation at home. The hospital will give a schedule after reviewing your history.