Embryo transfer
The procedure in which an embryo is placed into the uterus using a fine catheter, usually without sedation.
In plain English
It's the quick, usually painless step where the embryo is placed into your womb through a thin tube, often described as feeling like a smear test.
Why it matters
It can be done fresh, a few days after egg collection, or as a frozen transfer in a later cycle, and it's the step that leads into the two week wait.
Related terms
Guides that cover this
Sources
- IVF: what is IVF and how does it work?, HFEA (UK fertility regulator). Link checked 17 September 2026.
Written by patients, not clinicians. This page has not yet been reviewed by a named fertility professional, so it explains published guidance and points you to the original source instead of giving medical advice. It is not medical advice. Decisions about your treatment belong with your own clinic. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy.