When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, families across the city lost nearly everything. Among the chaos, thousands of frozen embryos stored in fertility clinics were also at risk. Thanks to a coordinated rescue effort, those embryos were saved—including the one that would later become Noah Markham.

Two years later, Noah was born from one of those preserved embryos. Today, he’s 18 years old, serving in the U.S. Army, and often refers to his older brother—born from the same set of embryos—as his “twin.” Noah’s remarkable story shows the power of embryo freezing: not only to preserve fertility, but to safeguard possibilities for the future, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.

What Is Embryo Freezing?

Embryo freezing, also known as embryo cryopreservation, has been an integral part of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for over 35 years. The first live birth from a frozen embryo was reported in 1983, and since then, technology has advanced dramatically.

During a standard IVF cycle, a woman takes injectable medications to stimulate egg development over 10–14 days. The eggs are retrieved in a short procedure, fertilized with sperm in the lab, and grown into embryos. The best embryos are transferred to the uterus, and any additional high-quality embryos may be frozen for future use.

Why Are Embryos Frozen?

Embryo freezing is performed for several reasons:

• Surplus embryos after IVF: When more than one good-quality embryo develops, the extras can be preserved for future attempts.
• Medical reasons: Embryos may be frozen if ovarian hyperstimulation occurs or if the uterine lining isn’t ready for transfer.
• Fertility preservation before cancer treatment: For patients facing chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery that could harm fertility, freezing embryos offers the chance to build a family in the future.

Not every IVF cycle produces embryos that can be frozen, and that’s normal. Only embryos that reach the right stage in the lab are selected for cryopreservation, since they have the best chance of surviving the freezing and thawing process.

How Successful Is Embryo Freezing?

In the past, frozen embryo transfers (FETs) were thought to be slightly less successful than fresh transfers—about 5% lower, according to older national statistics. But this was likely because the very best embryos were used first in fresh cycles, while the “next best” were frozen.

Today, thanks to advanced freezing technology, frozen embryo transfer success rates are now nearly identical to fresh embryo transfers. For patients freezing embryos for fertility preservation, outcomes are highly reassuring.

What to Expect During a Frozen Embryo Transfer

When it’s time to use frozen embryos, patients undergo a frozen embryo transfer (FET). Medications, often oral or vaginal, prepare the uterine lining for implantation. Unlike fresh IVF cycles, there’s no need for stimulation injections, and monitoring is less frequent.

This process is simpler, less demanding, and offers patients flexibility in timing while maintaining excellent success rates.

The Bigger Picture

From the first frozen embryo birth in 1983 to stories like Noah Markham’s survival after Hurricane Katrina, embryo freezing has proven to be a powerful tool in modern fertility care. It offers flexibility, preserves hope for the future, and provides families with options during both expected and unexpected life circumstances.

At Genesis Fertility in NYC, we are proud to offer advanced embryo freezing and frozen embryo transfer services, giving our patients every opportunity to grow their families when the time is right.