Frozen embryo transfer (FET) cost abroad: UK guide to IVF savings in Europe 2026

Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is the stage of IVF where a previously frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the uterus. It is performed as part of a wider IVF cycle — either using embryos created and frozen from a previous fresh cycle, or (increasingly) as a deliberate freeze-all strategy where all embryos are frozen after egg collection and transferred in a subsequent cycle. For UK patients with frozen embryos already stored at an overseas clinic, or those planning a full IVF treatment abroad, understanding FET costs and processes is essential. This guide covers everything UK patients need to know.

What does frozen embryo transfer cost?

FET is typically priced separately from egg collection and fertilisation. UK private fertility clinic pricing:

• FET cycle (UK private): £2,000–£3,500, including monitoring scans, medications, the transfer procedure and first pregnancy test
• Embryo storage (UK private): £300–£500 per year

Abroad, the same FET cycle costs significantly less:

• Spain: £800–£1,800 for a FET cycle at established clinics (IVI-RMA, Institut Marquès, Clinica Eugin)
• Czech Republic: £700–£1,500 (Reprofit, Gennet, Sanatorium Helios)
• Hungary: £700–£1,400 (Forgács Institute, Mária Valéria IVF Centre)
• Poland: £600–£1,200 (Gyncentrum, Invicta Fertility)

These are cycle costs for the FET itself. Medications — typically oestrogen for endometrial preparation and progesterone supplements after transfer — add £150–£400 depending on the protocol and whether you purchase in the UK or at the clinic. Most overseas clinics allow patients to take their medications from a UK prescription, which can be more cost-effective.

FET as part of a full IVF cycle abroad

Many UK patients have their entire IVF process abroad — egg collection, fertilisation, embryo culture, and then a FET in a subsequent cycle. The freeze-all approach (freezing all viable embryos from the egg collection, then transferring in a planned FET cycle) has become standard practice at many European clinics because it allows the body to recover from stimulation before transfer, is associated with reduced risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and in some patient groups produces higher live birth rates than fresh transfer.

A full overseas IVF cycle including egg collection plus one FET costs approximately:

• Spain: £3,600–£5,500 (own eggs + FET)
• Czech Republic: £2,800–£4,500
• Hungary: £2,500–£4,000
• Poland: £2,200–£3,500

Compare to UK private clinic prices: £5,500–£9,000 for a full IVF cycle including one fresh or frozen transfer, depending on clinic and location. The saving is substantial — particularly for patients who need multiple cycles, where the cumulative cost advantage of overseas treatment grows significantly.

What does a FET cycle involve for UK patients travelling abroad?

A standard FET cycle for a UK patient using a European clinic looks like this:

1. Baseline investigation and protocol agreement (remote): Blood tests (AMH, LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone, thyroid function) and a baseline ultrasound scan. Many overseas clinics accept UK results from a private UK blood test provider and arrange a remote video consultation with the consultant. Blood tests at a UK private clinic cost £100–£300.
2. Endometrial preparation (remote, UK): Oral oestrogen (typically oestradiol valerate — Progynova) is taken for 10–14 days to thicken the endometrial lining. Your UK GP may be able to prescribe this on a private prescription (£30–£80); alternatively the overseas clinic can send medication or you can purchase it at a UK pharmacy. Scan on approximately day 8–10 to confirm lining thickness — your UK clinic or a private scan clinic can perform this. The overseas clinic reviews the scan remotely.
3. Travel and transfer: You travel to the clinic for 2–3 days around the transfer. The embryo is thawed on the day of transfer. The transfer itself takes approximately 15 minutes. Most clinics recommend a short rest period in the clinic before returning to accommodation. You can fly home the same day or next day.
4. Post-transfer medications (UK): Progesterone supplements (vaginal pessaries, injections, or gel) for the first 8–10 weeks if pregnancy is confirmed. A pregnancy test (blood beta-hCG) at 10–14 days post-transfer, arranged at a UK private clinic or GP.

The key advantage of a FET cycle for overseas treatment is that most of the cycle management happens remotely — you only need to travel for 2–3 days for the transfer itself. This is much less disruptive to UK work and life than a fresh cycle requiring 5–10 days abroad for monitoring and egg collection.

Legal considerations: embryo storage abroad

If you have embryos frozen at an overseas clinic, they are subject to the laws of that country — not UK law. Key differences:

• Consent and storage limits: In Spain, embryo storage is typically permitted for up to 5 years (renewable). In the UK, embryos can be stored for up to 55 years under HFEA regulations. Understand the storage term and consent requirements at your clinic — failure to renew consent in time can result in embryos being discarded.
• Embryo transport: It is possible to transport frozen embryos from an overseas clinic to a UK licensed fertility clinic for transfer in the UK. This requires a licensed transport cryogenics specialist, import consent from both clinics, and adherence to HFEA import requirements. The UK clinic receiving the embryos must agree to import them — not all do. Cost is approximately £500–£1,500 for transport depending on origin country.
• Donor embryo regulations: If your embryos involve donor eggs or sperm, the donor's legal status and anonymity rules are governed by the country where donation occurred. Spain and the Czech Republic permit anonymous donation; the UK does not. Children born in the UK from anonymous donation at an overseas clinic may have limited ability to access donor information under UK law. This is a complex area — discuss with a UK fertility lawyer before proceeding if anonymity is a concern.

Choosing a clinic for FET abroad

• Ask for the clinic's published FET live birth rate per transfer (not per cycle started). The ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) publishes national IVF data annually — use this as a benchmark for the country you are considering.
• Confirm the vitrification (rapid freezing) method used — all reputable clinics should use vitrification rather than slow freezing; vitrification has significantly better embryo survival rates post-thaw.
• Ask the clinic's embryo survival rate post-thaw (the percentage of embryos that survive the freeze-thaw process in usable condition). A good rate is above 90%.
• Confirm the clinic's protocol for cancelled FET cycles — what happens if your lining does not reach the minimum thickness required for transfer?
• Verify that any donor cycles involve donors meeting the EU Tissue Directive screening standards (serology, genetic, and psychological screening).

Costs summary for UK patients

Realistic all-in cost for a FET cycle abroad for a UK patient:

• FET cycle cost (overseas clinic): £800–£1,800
• UK baseline bloods and remote consultation: £100–£250
• Medications (oestrogen + progesterone): £150–£350
• Return flights (Spain/Czech Republic/Hungary): £80–£160
• Accommodation (2–3 nights): £100–£200
• UK pregnancy test blood test: £30–£60
• Realistic total: £1,260–£2,820

Compare to a UK FET cycle: £2,000–£3,500 for the cycle alone, before UK medications, monitoring scans, and pregnancy testing. The saving per FET cycle is approximately £700–£1,500 — and for patients needing multiple transfers, the cumulative saving is significant.