Egg Freezing Guide
Everything you need to know about preserving your fertility.
Egg Freezing Quick Facts
- Best age: Under 35 for highest success; under 38 still good
- Process: 10-14 days of injections, then egg retrieval procedure
- Cost: $10,000-15,000 per cycle + $500-1,000/year storage
- Success: Each frozen egg has ~5-12% chance of becoming a baby
What Is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is a fertility preservation technique that allows you to retrieve and freeze your eggs at their current age, storing them for potential use later.
The process involves stimulating your ovaries to produce multiple eggs (instead of the usual one per cycle), retrieving those eggs in a minor procedure, and freezing them using a technique called vitrification—flash-freezing that prevents ice crystal formation.
When you're ready to use them, eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm via IVF (ICSI), and resulting embryos are transferred to your uterus.
🧊 Vitrification Changed Everything
Older "slow-freeze" methods resulted in poor egg survival rates. Modern vitrification achieves 90-95% survival rates, making egg freezing a viable option since ~2012 when it was no longer considered "experimental."
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
Common Reasons for Egg Freezing
- Not ready for kids yet: You want children but haven't found the right partner or aren't ready for other reasons
- Career priorities: You want to focus on career or education first
- Medical reasons: Cancer treatment, surgery, or conditions that may affect fertility
- Family history: Early menopause runs in your family
- Low AMH: Testing shows diminished ovarian reserve
- Peace of mind: Reducing anxiety about the "biological clock"
When It May Not Be the Best Choice
- You're already ready and trying to conceive
- You're over 40 (success rates drop significantly)
- You have very low ovarian reserve (may not retrieve enough eggs)
- Financial constraints that would cause significant hardship
The Ideal Age to Freeze Eggs
Age is the single most important factor in egg freezing success. Eggs frozen at younger ages have better quality and higher live birth rates.
| Age | Egg Quality | Eggs Per Cycle | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | Excellent | 15-20+ | Best outcomes, but may not need them |
| 30-34 | Very good | 12-18 | Sweet spot for elective freezing |
| 35-37 | Good | 8-15 | Still worthwhile; don't delay further |
| 38-40 | Declining | 5-12 | May need multiple cycles |
| Over 40 | Significantly reduced | 3-8 | Lower success rates; consider carefully |
💡 The Goldilocks Zone
Most experts suggest ages 32-35 as the ideal window: young enough for good egg quality, old enough to have clearer life plans. That said, if you're older and considering it, don't let perfect be the enemy of good—freezing at 37 is better than not freezing at all if you want to preserve options.
The Process Step by Step
1 Initial Consultation & Testing
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
You'll meet with a reproductive endocrinologist, discuss your goals, and undergo baseline testing:
- Blood tests: AMH, FSH, estradiol
- Antral follicle count (AFC) via ultrasound
- Overall health screening
This helps predict how many eggs you might retrieve.
2 Ovarian Stimulation
Timeline: 10-14 days
Starting on day 1-3 of your period, you'll inject hormones (FSH and LH) to stimulate multiple follicles to grow instead of just one.
- Daily self-injections (taught by your clinic)
- Monitoring appointments every 2-3 days (blood tests + ultrasound)
- Medication adjustments based on response
Common medications: Gonal-F, Follistim, Menopur, plus a GnRH antagonist (Cetrotide or Ganirelix) to prevent early ovulation.
3 Trigger Shot
Timeline: 36 hours before retrieval
Once follicles are mature (usually 18-20mm), you'll take a "trigger shot" (hCG or Lupron) to finalize egg maturation and schedule retrieval.
4 Egg Retrieval
Timeline: ~20-30 minutes
A minor outpatient procedure under light sedation. A needle guided by ultrasound retrieves eggs from follicles through the vaginal wall.
- You'll be asleep/sedated during the procedure
- Recovery takes 1-2 hours at the clinic
- Take the rest of the day off; most return to normal activities next day
- Cramping and bloating are common for a few days
5 Freezing & Storage
Timeline: Same day; storage ongoing
Mature eggs are identified and vitrified (flash-frozen) for storage. You'll receive a call with your final egg count. Storage continues until you're ready to use them.
How Many Eggs Should You Freeze?
Not every frozen egg will become a baby. Here's the realistic math:
- Egg survival after thaw: ~90-95%
- Fertilization rate: ~75-80%
- Embryo development to blastocyst: ~50-60%
- Implantation rate (age-dependent): ~40-60%
Recommended Number of Eggs by Age
| Age at Freezing | Eggs for ~1 Child | Eggs for ~2 Children |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 10-15 eggs | 20-25 eggs |
| 35-37 | 15-20 eggs | 25-30 eggs |
| 38-40 | 20-30 eggs | 35+ eggs |
| Over 40 | 30+ eggs | May need donor eggs |
Note: These are general guidelines. Individual results vary significantly based on egg quality and other factors.
⚠️ No Guarantees
Egg freezing provides options, not guarantees. Even with the recommended number of eggs, success isn't certain. It's an insurance policy—and like any insurance, you hope you won't need it.
Costs & Coverage
Typical Costs (2025-2026)
- Egg freezing cycle: $10,000-$15,000
- Clinic fees: $5,000-$8,000
- Medications: $3,000-$6,000
- Anesthesia: $500-$1,000
- Annual storage: $500-$1,000/year
- Future use (thaw, fertilize, transfer): $5,000-$8,000 additional
Insurance Coverage
Coverage varies widely:
- Medical egg freezing (cancer, etc.): More commonly covered
- Elective egg freezing: Less commonly covered, but growing
- Employer benefits: Many tech and large companies now offer coverage
Ways to Reduce Costs
- Check employer fertility benefits
- Ask about clinic payment plans
- Compare costs across clinics (they vary significantly)
- Look for clinical trials
- Consider financing options
Success Rates
Success depends heavily on age at freezing and number of eggs:
Per-Egg Live Birth Rate
- Under 35: 8-12% per egg
- 35-37: 6-9% per egg
- 38-40: 4-6% per egg
- Over 40: 2-4% per egg
What These Numbers Mean
If you freeze 15 eggs at age 33, you might expect ~1-2 live births. But these are averages—some women have success with fewer eggs, others need more.
📊 Important Context
Many women who freeze eggs never use them—they conceive naturally. One study found only ~10-15% of women returned to use their frozen eggs within 5 years. This isn't a failure; it's the insurance working as intended.
Side Effects & Risks
Common Side Effects
- Bloating and abdominal discomfort
- Mood swings
- Injection site reactions
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Rare but Serious Risks
- OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome): Ovaries over-respond to medication (~1-2% moderate/severe cases)
- Infection: Very rare with proper technique
- Bleeding: Minor bleeding is common; significant bleeding is rare
The Bottom Line
Egg freezing is a powerful option for fertility preservation, especially if you're in your early-to-mid 30s and want to extend your reproductive timeline. It's not a guarantee, but it can provide real options and peace of mind.
If you're considering it, don't wait too long—age matters significantly. Consult with a reproductive endocrinologist to understand your specific situation and make an informed decision. 💚