Embryo cryopreservation gives couples the opportunity to use frozen embryos for a future pregnancy without requiring ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval or sperm collection, but only cycle monitoring and embryo transfer. These embryos can be used in case that the couple wishes to have one more child. Otherwise, if the first IVF has failed, the embryos can be thawed and transferred in a following cycle.

Internationally, success rates of pregnancies with cryopreserved embryos are slightly lower than those with fresh embryos. This is because usually the best embryos have already been selected and transferred, and also because all embryos may not survive after thawing. In the case of elective cryopreservation (in which only Class I or II embryos are cryopreserved), pregnancy rates are higher and tend to be closer to those of fresh embryos.