Costs

Your fertility journey can be both exhilarating and complex and you may be looking for guidance on navigating the process of transporting your frozen eggs or embryos to a storage facility. We get it, and we're here to help.

Here are some important things you need to know about safely shipping your frozen eggs and embryos and what to consider as you weigh your storage options.

First things first—what is an offsite storage facility or  “biorepository”?

A biorepository is a facility that catalogs, stores, and maintains biological specimens – in this case, your eggs and embryos. The purpose of a biorepository is to store and preserve these specimens at extremely low (cryogenic) temperatures. Following a retrieval, you may choose to transport their specimens to a long-term storage facility, particularly if you plan to have them in storage for several years. 

What is the process for shipping frozen eggs and embryos to a biorepository? 

The shipping of frozen eggs and embryos involves the following steps:

1. Decide and indicate storage facility: Choose a long-term storage facility and inform both the clinic and the storage provider of your decision.
2. Clinic coordination and preparation: Notify your clinic that you want to move your specimens and find out what is required by the clinic to make this happen. Typically this includes: paying any outstanding balances, signing medical releases and consents, formally deciding where to ship specimens, and providing a point of contact information. 
3. Choose a courier: There are several shipping providers that specialize in shipping frozen eggs/embryos. Your clinic and/or storage provider may have recommendations or preferred specialized couriers.  
4. Specimens ship: Specimens begin the journey to your indicated storage facility and remain frozen in transit. 
5. Specimen storage confirmation: Receive confirmation from your storage provider that your specimens are safely stored.
   

What should I consider when deciding where to ship and store my specimens? 

Traditional cryostorage systems rely heavily on manual and analog processes. Cofertility has partnered with TMRW Life Sciences to provide our members access to one of the highest standards of care in offsite storage for frozen eggs and embryos in the US. TMRW is modernizing the management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos with cutting-edge technology that helps reduce the risk of specimen mix-up and loss.

Here are a few questions you can ask storage providers when evaluating different storage options:

1. Do you use digital labels and RFID tags to track and identify my frozen eggs/embryos? (Hint: not just handwritten labels)
2. Do you keep specimen storage data in a digital database, with a recorded audit trail of transactions? (Hint: not notecards, binders or Excel datasheets)
3. Do you use proactive monitoring -- thousands of digital daily checks + remote and in-person human monitoring? (Hint: not relying solely on reactive alarms that go off after there is a problem)
4. Do you help facilitate shipping and coordination with my clinic? (Hint: not having patients complete complicated documents without any guidance)

Is it safe to transport my eggs/embryos? Will my eggs or embryos be thawed in the process?

The process of shipping frozen specimens is safe and commonplace in the fertility space. With proper quality controls in place, specimens remain frozen throughout the duration of the shipment process. They are shipped in specialized cryogenic containers designed to maintain optimal cryogenic temperatures during shipping. 

If you choose to store your specimens with TMRW, as added security, both TMRW and its trusted shipping partners require the use of active, continuous temperature and GPS telemetry to monitor specimens during transit. Once specimens arrive at the TMRW Biorepository, all specimen handling is carried out by experienced embryologists who adhere to the highest standards in the US with strict quality control policies.

What are the key components of safely shipping frozen eggs and embryos?

The safe shipping of frozen eggs and embryos involves the following best practices,  which you should look for in a shipping provider:

1. Accurate documentation and labeling: Proper specimen documentation and package labeling is crucial to correct handling and tracking. 
2. Specialized shipping containers: Cryopreserved specimens are transported in a special shipping container called a vapor shipper - ideally suited for the transportation of frozen specimens. Liquid Nitrogen is added and retained in an absorbent material and the cold nitrogen vapor is released to maintain the specimen temperature below -150°C during transport.
3. Secure shipping process: A specialized medical courier service is scheduled to transport the vapor shipper, including monitoring temperature and location in real time.
4. Safe intake and verification: The receiving facility checks the container's integrity and verifies temperature before confirming specimen inventory and transferring the eggs or embryos to their final storage destination inside a specialized storage tank.

If you choose to transport your specimens to TMRW, our care team guides you through every step of the shipping process, helping you coordinate with your fertility center and/or through a trusted third-party shipping provider. TMRW has local delivery options and partners with specialized medical couriers for shipping.

What does it cost to transport my frozen eggs or embryos? 

The cost to transport your specimens is typically based on mileage, weight, and the quantity of eggs or embryos within the shipping container. This cost can vary widely depending on the courier company of your choice, typically ranging from about $600-$1200.  For all Cofertility members who choose to store specimens with TMRW, shipping to TMRW is included in the storage fee. 

Does insurance cover specimen shipping and/or storage costs?

Typically, specimen shipping services and specimen storage fees are out-of-pocket expenses. However, some insurance providers are beginning to include specimen shipping and/or storage in their coverage. It's important to check with your insurance provider to see if these services are covered and/or eligible for reimbursement.

After my eggs and/or embryos are stored in long-term storage, what do I need to do to move them to the clinic of my choosing when I’m ready to use them for treatment?

When you decide to send your frozen eggs or embryos back to a fertility clinic for treatment, you will contact your long-term storage facility to initiate the transfer process. For Cofertility members storing specimens with TMRW, TMRW’s team will collaborate with the fertility clinic of your choice to coordinate the shipment, preparation, transfer, and tracking of the requested specimens.

For more information on TMRW Life Sciences, visit their website at https://tmrwlifesciences.com. For more information about the TMRW Biorepository, please visit their Frequently Asked Questions or complete an inquiry here.  

If you are a Cofertility member ready to transfer your frozen eggs or embryos to TMRW, you can begin the storage intake process here - don’t forget to use your preferred partnership discount code! 

Today, more than ever, women are choosing to delay parenthood for various reasons, including focusing on career advancement, establishing financial stability, and finding the right partner. To help with this, many are turning to egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation. Egg freezing has grown in popularity, with a 46% increase in egg freezing cycles from 2020 to 2021 alone! 

If you’re considering egg freezing, you may be wondering: Is egg freezing tax deductible? Let's delve into this topic to provide some much-needed clarity.

The basics of egg freezing

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a procedure where your eggs are extracted, frozen, and stored for later use. Because younger eggs are, on average, healthier, the egg freezing can increase your chances of conceiving a biological child in the future, even as your fertility naturally declines over time.

Despite the positive possibilities it offers, egg freezing is not an inexpensive procedure. The overall cost depends on the clinic you’re going to, where you are located, the medications you are prescribed (it differs based on your age and body), and where/how long you store the eggs. In the US in 2023, on average, the process can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 per cycle, not including annual storage fees. Thus, it's only natural for individuals to explore avenues for financial relief, such as tax deductions.

Understanding medical expense deductions

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States, certain medical expenses are eligible for tax deductions. The IRS's guidelines state that one can deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of one's adjusted gross income for the year. So, if you have a significant amount of qualifying medical expenses in a year, you could potentially benefit from this tax deduction.

Egg freezing and tax deductions

Is egg freezing considered a deductible medical expense? The answer is complex and largely depends on your individual circumstances. As a baseline, the IRS has traditionally considered fertility preservation treatments, like egg freezing, to be tax-deductible only when they are deemed medically necessary. This typically refers to situations where a medical condition or treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer) could cause infertility.

When it comes to egg freezing for elective, non-medically necessary reasons (such as delaying childbearing for personal reasons), the situation becomes more nuanced. And unfortunately, as of writing this article, the IRS has not issued definitive guidance on whether egg freezing for non-medical reasons qualifies as a tax-deductible medical expense.

Given this ambiguity, if you're considering egg freezing for elective reasons, it's highly recommended to consult with a tax professional. They can provide advice tailored to your specific situation and keep you informed of any changes or updates in tax law.

Employer benefits and HSAs

Another important aspect to consider is employer-provided benefits. Some progressive employers are starting to cover egg freezing as a part of their employee benefits package, in which case the question of tax deduction might be moot.

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you might be able to use these pre-tax dollars to pay for egg freezing. However, the rules surrounding these accounts are complex and constantly evolving, so you’ll want to check with your plan administrator or a tax professional to ensure that this is a viable option for you.

Freeze your eggs for less – or even for free – with Cofertility

Cofertility is a human-first, tech-enabled fertility ecosystem that provides people agency over if, how, and when they have babies — today or someday. We have two programs for egg freezers:

1. Our Split program offers women a chance to freeze their eggs for free when donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family who cannot otherwise conceive. If you qualify for the program and decide to donate half of your retrieved eggs, every expense associated with the egg freezing procedure —  medications, supplements, travel if necessary, insurance, and 10 years of storage — are completely free of charge. We don’t even need a payment or credit card up front, as the family you match with covers all the expenses.
2. Our self-pay Keep program allows women to freeze their eggs and keep them all for their future use. Through Keep, we offer our members partnerships and discounts to lighten the financial load of egg freezing, as well as access to our member community. An important note: even if you do have insurance or benefits coverage through work, you’re still able to participate in the Keep program. We’ll work with you to make sure all of your care is handled in a way that you remain eligible for the associated benefits. 

The benefits of working with Cofertility include:

• Power of choice: Freeze your eggs more affordably or, if you qualify, freeze for free when you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.
• Community: Our inclusive online spaces allow you to connect with others going through the process in our private online community.
• Compassion: We’ll always treat you with care, and our Split program gives you the opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality.
• Data-driven: We provide you with trustworthy guidance and evidence-based research so you can make informed decisions about your fertility.
• Free egg freezing: Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free if you qualify for our Split program.

Ready to learn about more affordable (even free!) egg freezing with Cofertility? Fill out this quick quiz to learn about our accessible egg freezing options and see if you qualify for our programs — it only takes one minute.

Summing it up

Egg freezing is an empowering choice for those who want to preserve their eggs for future use. However, its high cost can be a barrier. While certain tax deductions may apply for medically necessary procedures, the applicability of tax deductions for elective egg freezing is less clear. You’ll want to seek personalized advice from a tax professional to understand your options fully. 

In the quest to make egg freezing more accessible, every avenue of financial relief counts. As the conversation surrounding egg freezing continues to evolve, so too may the tax implications. It’s an ever-changing landscape that we’ll be keeping a close eye on moving forward. 

Freezing your eggs can be a major expense. With most clinics and egg freezing companies, the cost of freezing your eggs can run between $10,000 - 20,000, including upfront consultation costs and the retrieval process. Once the retrieval is complete, you can expect to pay an additional storage fee, which ranges depending on the clinic or facility. 

We believe the best time to freeze your eggs is when you can least afford it. While we provide more affordable — even free! — egg freezing options, if you do not qualify for our Split program, where you can freeze your eggs for free when you give half to another family who can’t conceive, we’ve still lightened the financial load of egg freezing with partnerships and discounts as part of our Keep program. That said, we always recommend taking a closer look at the fine print of your health insurance policy to see what you’re entitled to.

As of June 2022, there are 20 states in the US that have laws on the books requiring health insurance companies provide some type of coverage for infertility. However, for those looking to be proactive about their fertility and freeze their eggs without an infertility diagnosis, coverage is even more sparse.

In a 2020 study tracking the coverage of employer sponsored fertility benefits, Mercer discovered that just 42 percent of employers with 20,000 or more employees provide coverage for IVF. Unfortunately, those numbers drop significantly for those looking to help offset the cost of proactive egg freezing, with just 19 percent of employers in that same size employee pool providing coverage. 

If you don’t live in a state with mandated fertility coverage (or work for one of the 19 percent of large companies that include egg freezing as part of their benefit package) there are a few things you need to know about how your health insurance policy stacks up when it comes to freezing your eggs. 

Your health insurance may cover some costs

According to the journal Dovepress, the process of freezing your eggs is called vitrification. There are several steps involved in completing the vitrification process. While your insurer may cover parts of this process (like some basic blood work) other parts may require you pay out of pocket (like the cost to store your eggs after they’ve been frozen). 

• Consultations: You will likely have a sit down meeting with your doctor to discuss your fertility plans. If your insurance covers fertility procedures like having your eggs frozen, your insurer may cover these types of visits in full. If they're not covered you may need to foot the bill for a portion of the visit like a co-pay.       
• Blood tests and lab work: You’re going to have to have to undergo a few different types of tests throughout the process of freezing your eggs to monitor important things like the quantity and quality of your eggs (ovarian reserve testing), as well as an  ultrasound of your ovaries (to check their function), and screens that will confirm your overall health (which include a variety of tests including routine lab work like a Complete Blood Count). 
• Medications: Typically your doctor will prescribe synthetic hormones to help manage your ovulation. There are a few different different types of medication used, depending on what stage of the process you're in, including drugs that can help your ovaries produce multiple eggs ahead of the retrieval and ones that will prevent premature ovulation so that you and your medical team can get the timing of your retrieval just right.      
• Retrieval: Once it's time for your egg retrieval, you'll do this on-site as an outpatient procedure where you go home the same day. You'll be under anesthesia for this procedure, requiring the expertise of a few different medical professionals.   
• Storage fees: After your eggs have been successfully retrieved they will need to go into storage. Depending on the type of facility you used for your retrieval, this may be handled by them or taken care of by a third party.

Questions to ask your insurer

To get the best picture of what your insurance covers when you freeze your eggs you should call your benefit hotline to ask a few key coverage questions like: 

• Are all of my medical consultations covered, especially if I meet with a few different facilities before choosing one?
• Do I have to have a diagnosis or preexisting condition to have any portion of freezing my eggs covered?
• How does the coverage for freezing my eggs factor into my lifetime limit for fertility treatment? 
• Does my coverage change depending on whether the retrieval was successful? 
• Will you cover any of the ongoing costs of freezing my eggs (like storage) and is there a time limit on how long that coverage lasts?
• What are my coverage options if I decide to use my eggs later on?

Making freezing your eggs more affordable

Through our Split program, members are able to freeze their eggs for free when they give half to another family in need of donated eggs. This could include LGBTQ+ parents, couples with infertility, or those with other fertility-impacting medical conditions. 

If you’d rather keep all of the eggs from your retrieval, our Keep program still offers a more affordable way of freezing your eggs when your insurance won’t cover the total cost. Depending on where you live, some of the benefits of Keep may include lower medication costs, egg storage fees, and discounted consultations discounts. 

Summing it up

Through most avenues, egg freezing can be pretty cost prohibitive. We’re excited to change this, while supporting reproductive choice for all women and helping intended parents seeking egg donation to help complete their families.  

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is becoming a popular medical procedure for women, but the biggest barrier is the high cost. We surveyed over 750 women about egg freezing, and 67% of them said cost was their main barrier.

That’s why we started Cofertility, and our Split program where eligible women can freeze their eggs *for free* when donating half of them to a family that can’t otherwise conceive. But we know that egg donation isn’t for everyone, which is why we also support women who want to freeze and keep their eggs. For these women, there are ways to make egg freezing more affordable. In this guide, we'll discuss some of the most common ways to pay for egg freezing.

First off, how much does it cost to freeze your eggs?

This is always a difficult question to answer, because it depends! It depends on the clinic you’re going to, where you are located, the medications you are prescribed (it differs based on your age and body), and where/how long you store the eggs. Average egg freezing cycle costs range from $10,000 - $20,000, plus annual storage. 

How can I pay for egg freezing?

If you want to freeze your eggs and research all your options for paying for it, here are the main buckets of options.

Health insurance

Unfortunately, very few insurance plans today cover the cost of egg freezing, unless it is medically necessary. For example, if you have a medical condition that may impact your fertility, such as cancer, your insurance may cover the cost of egg freezing as part of your cancer treatment. Check with your insurance provider to see if they cover egg freezing and what the requirements are.

Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)

If your insurance doesn't cover egg freezing, you can use pre-tax dollars from your FSA or HSA to pay for the procedure and medications. These accounts allow you to set aside a certain amount of money each year to pay for eligible medical expenses, including egg freezing.

Donate half your eggs

At Cofertility, our Freeze by Co Split program allows you to freeze and store your eggs *entirely for free* for 10 years, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive.

Financing

There are a growing number of financing options, such as loans or payment plans, to help patients pay for egg freezing. These options allow you to spread the cost of the procedure over several months, making it more manageable. 

Top egg freezing financing companies

If you’ve decided you want to go the loan route, you have many options to choose from. There are general lending companies as well as companies that specialize in loans just for fertility treatments. 

Sunfish

Sunfish makes egg freezing (and fertility treatment in general) attainable for all types of families. If you're interested in egg freezing, Sunfish can help you explore low-interest loans and financial planning tools, including low-interest loans or lines of credit of up to $100,000, with terms ranging from two to 15 years.

Ally

Ally offers fertility financing solutions to cover the cost of egg freezing at select partner clinics. Fill out a form to see your lending options and choose from 24-84-month loan options with annual percentage rates (APRs) starting at 3.99%.

FutureFamily

FutureFamily offers egg freezing loans, and they handle paying all your bills so you have just one easy payment. Starts at $150/month* for 60 months based on your clinic, credit score, and approved egg freezing related expenses. While you can apply individually, the rates are better (0% APR) if you are freezing with one of their partner clinics.

Lending Club 

Lending Club offers egg freezing loans that cover genetic testing, medications, and the medical procedure at select partner clinics. They forward payment directly to the providers within three business days. Monthly payments are as low as $263/month to finance $15,000 with a 7.99% APR for 72 months.

What to know about taking out a loan

When taking out a loan, you’ll want to understand the terms and conditions of the loan, as well as the responsibilities that come with borrowing a large sum of money. A lot of the websites listed above will have online calculators to help you get a sense for the terms and fees you can expect. 

Loan amount: Consider how much you want to finance and whether they finance that amount. You could finance part, or all, of the egg freezing expenses. 

Loan terms: Loan terms are the length of time you have to repay the loan, and they can range from a few months to several years. Shorter loan terms generally result in higher monthly payments, while longer loan terms result in lower monthly payments but a higher total cost over the life of the loan.

Interest rates: Interest rates are the fees charged by the lender for borrowing money, and they can have a significant impact on the total cost of the loan. Find out the current interest rate being charged, and if that interest rate will stay the same or change over time. 

Loan fees: Of course, these lending groups need to make money, and they do this through loan fees. Loan fees are the additional charges associated with taking out a loan, including origination fees, application fees, late-payment fees, or prepayment penalties. You can use the annual percentage rate (APR) to compare average yearly fee and interest-rate expenses over the term of the loan. It's important to carefully review all loan fees and to make sure you understand the total cost of the loan.

Repayment options: Repayment options are the ways in which you can pay back the loan, including monthly payments, lump sum payments, or a combination of both.

Loan security: Loan security is the collateral that you provide to the lender to secure the loan, such as a home or a car. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender may take possession of the collateral. If you're taking out a secured loan, it's important to carefully consider the risks and responsibilities associated with putting up collateral.

Finally, if you’re quoted a monthly payment, remember to look beyond the monthly payment.  Think about how long you will pay, and what fees and costs have been added. 

Other ways to pay for egg freezing

Credit cards

Of course, if you have a high limit on your credit card, you could always put the cost of the procedure and medications on your credit card, as long as you feel comfortable paying this off. Think of all those points! However, keep in mind that credit cards typically have higher interest rates than personal loans.

Savings

Maybe you’re a high earner and had scholarships to cover college tuition. Or perhaps a family member left you money. If you have the cash in your savings, you can certainly put it towards egg freezing. 

Crowdfunding

Using crowdfunding to pay for medical expenses is an increasingly popular option (thanks US healthcare system!). Crowdfunding is when you ask your friends, family, followers, and even strangers to chip in to pay for your medical expenses – usually through an app like GoFundMe. 

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee of success with a crowdfunding campaign, and you may not be able to raise enough money to cover the cost of egg freezing. 

Employee benefits

Some employers offer coverage for egg freezing as a benefit to their employees. Check with your handbook or HR department to see if this is an option for you.

Summing it up

If you want to freeze your eggs, know that you have financing options. Research and compare your options to find the best one for your needs. By taking the time to understand your options, you can take the first step towards preserving your fertility and achieving your family-building goals.

To see if you're eligible for our Split program, take our quiz to tell us more about yourself.

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation or fertility preservation, is a process where they stimulate the follicles in the ovaries and retrieve unfertilized eggs to preserve them for future use. While egg freezing has taken off in recent years, the cost of the procedure can be a significant barrier for many. Why is egg freezing so expensive and what are your options? Let’s dive in.

So how much does egg freezing really cost?

The question of how much does it cost to freeze your eggs will come down to a few factors. These include the clinic, your geography, and how long you keep the eggs in storage. On average, egg freezing patients will spend $30,000 - $40,000 on treatment and storage. 

Let’s look at one case of a 23-year old egg freezer whose insurance did not cover the procedure. Here’s what she paid out of pocket at a New York City clinic:

Fertility workup and blood work - $1,500

Monitoring, blood work, and ultrasound - $2,500

Medications - $4,479

Oocyte retrieval, anesthesia, egg freezing - $15,650

One-year of egg storage-  $1,500

Total - $22,629

This specific patient retrieved 34 eggs, which gives her a good chance at a live birth if she uses those eggs down the line. But most people don’t have an extra $20,000 laying around.

But why is egg freezing so expensive?

One major reason for the high cost of egg freezing is the expense of the technology and equipment required for the procedure. The process of freezing eggs involves:

• Anesthesia and the cost of an anesthesiologist at your egg retrieval
• An operating room and equipment for the egg retrieval
• A freezing process called vitrification, which requires specialized equipment and materials
• A cleanroom IVF laboratory with good air quality
• Safe gamete storage with backup generator in case the power goes out

There’s also a high cost for the people who make egg freezing possible. Reproductive endocrinologists – also known as fertility doctors – make between $236,472 and $315,827 a year according to Salary.com. And anesthesiologists make between $359,300 and $470,200. There are also embryologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and patient coordinators. All these specialists go to school for years and have specific training to ensure the process is successful and safe. 

Another reason for the high cost of egg freezing is the cost of the medication used during the process. The medication used to stimulate the ovaries in preparation for egg retrieval can be quite expensive, and the cost of these medications varies depending on dosages you are given and your insurance coverage.

According to the GoodRx list price index, the list price for drugs used in egg freezing has increased 50% from 2014 to 2020. There are several medications used to stimulate your eggs during egg freezing: Gonal-F, Menopur, and Follistim AQ. And they are all brand drugs without a generic option… meaning the manufacturer gets to set whatever price they want.

Lastly, egg freezing is so expensive because most health plans don’t cover it. Health insurance companies have a lot of leverage; and if they’re good at one thing, it’s negotiating prices. 

How can I get more affordable egg freezing?

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you’re in the right place. Cofertility was founded to reshape the cost structure of egg-freezing, specifically through our Freeze by Co platform.

We have discounts with clinic partners, egg storage facilities, and pharmacies that we pass along to our members. Also, our members get access to our active online community, where you can connect openly with others freezing at the same time.

We stand for choice and offer two accessible programs:

• With our Split program, those who qualify can freeze their eggs for free when you give half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive, including couples with infertility, gay dads, and more. 
• Those in our Keep program can freeze their eggs and store them all for their own later use, while taking advantage of discounts throughout the process to lighten the financial load. 

Summing it up

If you want children someday, egg freezing may help keep that option on the table. But egg freezing can be an expensive process. That’s because of the cost of the technology, equipment, and people required, as well as the cost of medication. Cofertility can help make your egg freezing journey more affordable – or even free. Take this 1-minute quiz to see which programs you qualify for!

One of my biggest regrets in life is not freezing my eggs in my 20s – it’s what led me to help co-found Cofertility and make this process radically more accessible. 

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical procedure that allows women to preserve their fertility for future use. Whether you're focused on your career, dealing with medical issues, or simply not ready to start a family yet, egg freezing can give you the peace of mind of knowing that you have options in the future. But if you're considering egg freezing, where do you start?

First things first: get educated

The first step towards freezing your eggs is knowing what you’re getting into. We have a wealth of knowledge here that you are free to access. I recommend starting with these articles:

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Your Eggs
• How Much It Costs to Freeze Your Eggs
• The Egg Freezing Process: a First-Timer’s Overview
• A Breakdown of Egg Freezing Success Rates by Age

You can also talk to friends who have gone through the process, or join a Facebook group to hear from others in your shoes. 

What are the chances it even works?

We measure the “success” of egg freezing in a couple of ways. Since we don’t know if the eggs will turn into a healthy baby many years from now, the goal is to have a large, but safe, number of healthy eggs retrieved in a single cycle. 

Retrieving 10-20 eggs is ideal. That’s because for a woman under 35, she will need nine eggs to achieve a 70% chance of having at least one live birth. If you’re trying to conceive in your mid to late 30s, you may need double as many eggs to achieve that same 70% success rate. That’s because egg quality (along with quantity) declines as we age. 

Read more in How Many Eggs Should I Aim to Freeze?

It's important to note that egg freezing is not a guarantee of future pregnancy, and success rates vary depending on various factors such as your age at the time of freezing and the quality of the eggs. 

Next steps: find the right clinic

Once you get a better idea of the process and decide if egg freezing is right for you, the next steps are to schedule a consultation with a fertility clinic. During this consultation, the doctor will evaluate your overall health, discuss your reasons for considering egg freezing, and review the risks and benefits of the procedure. They will also likely conduct some initial tests (like AMH) to assess the quality of your eggs and your ovarian reserve, which will give you a better idea of your chances of success with egg freezing.

If you work with Cofertility, we will help you schedule an appointment with one of our local partner clinics. If you participate in our Keep program, we can help you get the best prices on clinic fees, medication, and storage.  

Know your AMH

Research has found that AMH is a good predictor of the number of eggs retrieved during egg freezing, independent of age. Because of this, a fertility doctor will use your AMH levels (amongst other biomarkers) to determine the drugs and dosages during the procedure. 

In general, you can interpret AMH level this way:

• Above 1.0 ng/ml (nanograms per deciliter): Normal
• Below 1.0 ng/ml: Showing weakness in the ovarian reserve
• Below 0.5 ng/ml: Showing severe weakness in the ovarian reserve

But know that a very high level of AMH could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which may require treatment and/or specific fertility medications or treatments. When AMH is over 5.0 nanograms per deciliter, for example, it’s worth addressing if there are other potential signs of PCOS. 

Figure out how you will pay for it

Egg freezing can be an expensive procedure, with costs typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 for one cycle plus the cost of storage. This varies widely based on the clinic and the medications your provider prescribes. But, there are ways to make egg freezing more affordable. Here are a few options to consider when paying for egg freezing:

• Insurance coverage: A minority of insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost of egg freezing and/or medications. It's always best to check with your insurance provider to see if they cover the procedure, and if so, what the specific coverage details are.
• Employer-provided benefits: Some employers offer coverage for egg freezing as a benefit to their employees. Check with your handbook or HR department to see if this is an option for you.
• Financing options: At Cofertility, we have financing partners which can make the procedure more affordable. 
• Donate half your eggs: Our Freeze by Co Split program allows you to freeze and store your eggs for free for 10 years, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive.

To see if you're eligible for our Split program, take our quiz to tell us more about yourself.

Benefits of working with Cofertility

Cofertility is a human-first, tech-enabled fertility ecosystem that provides people agency over if, how, and when they have babies — today or someday. We have two programs for egg freezers:

The Split program, which offers women a chance to both freeze their own eggs and donate half the eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise. If you qualify for the program and decide to donate half of your retrieved eggs, every expense associated with the egg freezing procedure —  medications, supplements, travel if necessary, insurance, and 10 years of storage — are completely free of charge. We don’t even need a payment or credit card up front, as the family you match with covers all the expenses. 

In our Keep program, you can freeze and store your eggs for your own future use, with lower prices on things like storage and medication – as well as our team’s support and access to our community.

The benefits for of working with Cofertility include:

• Power of choice: Freeze your eggs more affordably or, if you qualify, freeze for free when you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. 
• Community: Our inclusive online spaces allow you to connect with others going through the process in our private online community.
• Compassion: We’ll always treat you with care, and our Split program gives you the opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality. 
• Data-driven: We provide you with trustworthy guidance and evidence-based research so you can make informed decisions about your fertility. 
• Free egg freezing: Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free if you qualify for our Split program.

Ready to learn about more affordable (even free!) egg freezing with Cofertility? Fill out this quick quiz to learn about our accessible egg freezing options and see if you qualify for our programs — it only takes one minute.

Egg retrievals, which take about 30 minutes, are considered a minimally invasive procedure. Women undergoing egg freezing often ask me if they are “put to sleep” (under anesthesia) during that time… and the answer is, usually yes. Not only is it important for you to remain still during the procedure, but anesthesia can help you relax and block pain. In this guide, we’ll review some of the most common questions we get about anesthesia and egg retrievals:

• What happens during an egg retrieval? 
• What is anesthesia and is it safe?
• What type of anesthesia is used for an egg retrieval?
• Is propofol used for egg retrievals?
• How is sedation administered during an egg retrieval?
• How long are you under anesthesia for egg retrieval? 
• What happens during anesthesia in an egg retrieval?
• How do you prepare for anesthesia during egg freezing?
• Why do you need anesthesia during egg freezing?
• Can you do an egg retrieval without anesthesia or sedation?
• What can you do if you’re afraid of anesthesia?

First, let’s review what happens during an egg retrieval

The egg retrieval is the final culmination of the egg freezing process. During an egg retrieval, the eggs are removed from the ovaries and frozen for your future use. 

Here is a general overview of what happens during an egg retrieval procedure:

1. You are usually given medication to help relax and reduce anxiety.
2. You are usually given a local anesthetic to numb the area where the eggs will be retrieved.
3. A thin needle is inserted through the vagina and into the ovary, guided by ultrasound imaging.
4. Fluid is gently suctioned through the needle to remove the eggs from the follicles.
5. The retrieved eggs are examined under a microscope to determine their number and quality.
6. The eggs are then frozen and sent to long-term storage.

The entire egg retrieval procedure typically takes about 30 minutes, and you can go home the same day knowing how many eggs were retrieved.

What is anesthesia and is it safe?

Anesthesia is a medical treatment that blocks the sensation of pain and other sensations during surgery or other medical procedures. It is administered by anesthesiologists, doctors who are specially trained to manage pain and other aspects of care during and after surgery.

Anesthesia is generally safe, but like any medical procedure, it does carry some risks. The type and severity of the risks depend on the individual patient and the type of anesthesia being used. Some common risks associated with anesthesia include allergic reactions, breathing problems, and blood pressure changes. However, these risks are rare and the benefits of anesthesia typically outweigh the potential risks.

It's important to discuss any concerns you have with your anesthesiologist and other members of your healthcare team before your surgery or procedure. They can help you understand the potential risks and benefits of different types of anesthesia and help you make an informed decision about your care.

There are several types of anesthesia:

• General anesthesia is used to render a patient unconscious and provide full body muscle relaxation. 
• Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area of the body, typically involving a nerve block.
• Local anesthesia numbs a small area of the body, such as a single tooth.
• Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is a form of sedation used to keep a patient relaxed and comfortable during a procedure. 
• Sedation is used to help people relax and feel comfortable during a medical procedure. It can range from minimal sedation (also known as "conscious sedation") to deep sedation, in which the person is not conscious but can be aroused.
• Twilight sedation or twilight anesthesia is another term you may hear for sedation, when a patient is sedated but remains conscious in a “twilight state”.

The type of anesthesia that is best for you will depend on your medical history and your preferences. Your healthcare team will help you decide which type of anesthesia is best for you.

What type of anesthesia is used for an egg retrieval?

For egg retrieval procedures, a common type of anesthesia used is sedation, a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to block pain (an anesthetic). Conscious sedation lets you recover quickly and return to your everyday activities soon after your procedure.

According to board-certified anesthesiologists Dr. Steven Alfond of Extend Fertility, “There’s light sedation, like taking a dose of Valium; during light sedation, patients are awake, and they’ll probably remember what’s going on. Light sedation might be used for simpler procedures. The fertility procedures require something a little deeper; we call it deep sedation. Most patients require just one medication—propofol—and, depending on pain, a pain medication.”

Sedation for egg retrievals is generally a combination of propofol, fentanyl, and midazolam, and designed to keep you still (so the doctor can successfully perform the procedure) as well as relaxed and comfortable. In some cases, such as when a larger procedure is required, general anesthesia may be used. This type of anesthesia is designed to put the patient into a deeper sleep, allowing them to remain unaware of the procedure.

Propofol for egg retrievals

Propofol is a sedative-hypnotic medication that is used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and to relieve anxiety before and during the egg retrieval. It is often used for intravenous (IV) conscious sedation, which means that you remain awake but relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. Propofol is a popular choice for conscious sedation because it takes effect quickly and wears off rapidly, so you typically feel alert soon after the procedure. 

How is sedation administered during an egg retrieval?

Propofol is administered through an IV line, and the amount of medication can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of sedation. Because it is not general anesthesia, you can breathe on your own and don’t need breathing tubes (phew!).

How long are you under anesthesia for egg retrieval? 

Here’s the good news – the egg retrieval is a relatively quick procedure that typically takes 30 minutes. The length of time you are “under” or “asleep” depends on the type of anesthesia being used and your response to the medication.

If general anesthesia is used, you will be unconscious for the duration of the procedure and will not be aware of the time passing. If conscious sedation is used, you will be awake but relaxed and comfortable, and may not remember much of the procedure.

Regardless of the type of anesthesia used, the anesthesiologist will carefully monitor your vital signs and adjust the medication as needed to ensure your safety and comfort during the procedure. After the procedure, you will need to rest in a recovery area until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. (This is why it’s important to bring a buddy to drive you home!)

What happens during anesthesia in an egg retrieval?

If your doctor uses conscious sedation during the retrieval, the medication can take effect quickly (within seconds), so you’ll begin to feel relaxed and drowsy soon after receiving it. You’ll remain conscious and able to respond to commands during the procedure, but may not remember much about it afterwards.

If you choose deep sedation, you will go into a state of unconsciousness or near-unconsciousness rather quickly. You will not be fully aware of your surroundings and may not be able to respond to commands or communicate with the doctor. In other words, you’ll be in a deep sleep. 

If your doctor uses general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain or sensation. General anesthesia is typically administered through an intravenous (IV) line or with a gas that you inhale. It is used to relax and incapacitate the muscles in your body, so that you do not move during a surgical procedure.

In any of these situations, your vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure, are closely monitored by the anesthesiologist to ensure your safety. The anesthesiologist will adjust the dosage of the medication as needed to keep you in a deep state of unconsciousness. After the retrieval is completed, the anesthesiologist will slowly reduce the level of medication, and you will begin to wake up. It is common to feel groggy and disoriented when you first come out of a deep sleep, but you’ll be back to yourself in no time.

How do you prepare for anesthesia during egg freezing?

Here are some ways to prepare for your egg retrieval:

• Inform your doctor about all the medications you are currently taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbs.
• Follow any instructions given by your doctor or anesthesiologist regarding eating and drinking before your egg retrieval.
• Arrange for someone to drive you home after the egg retrieval.
• Remove all jewelry and leave it at home.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to the clinic.

Your doctor will give you instructions for preparing for the egg retrieval, and it is important to follow their instructions to reduce the risk of complications during and after the procedure. 

Why do they use anesthesia and sedation during egg freezing?

Sedation and anesthesia are often used for egg retrievals to keep you still (so the doctor can successfully perform the procedure) as well as relaxed and comfortable.

You can work with your doctor to determine which method to use, based on your preferences and medical history. It is important to discuss the options and any concerns you have before the procedure. Your doctor can help you understand the potential risks and benefits of different types of sedation and help you make an informed decision about your care.

Can I do an egg retrieval without anesthesia or sedation?

While sedation is standard of care for an egg retrieval procedure, it is usually not required. Some women have had medical reasons for not wanting sedation, while others are concerned with the drugs used during sedation and are looking for a more natural course of treatment. If you don’t want to use anesthesia for your egg retrieval, it’s important to talk to your doctor in advance of the procedure. 

Most women prefer egg retrievals under sedation/anesthesia. But doing an egg retrieval without anesthesia is cheaper and faster, and does not require the presence or assistance of an anesthesiologist. Research has shown that it results in good satisfaction among the patient and the physician. 

A study of 100 women undergoing egg retrievals found that women who chose to skip sedation were significantly more likely to express fear of anesthesia. Those women experienced more pain during egg retrieval, but all but one said they would do the same in future cycles. 

What to do if you’re afraid of anesthesia

If you are afraid of anesthesia, it is important to communicate your concerns with your healthcare team in advance of the procedure. They can help you understand the process of anesthesia, your options, and what to expect. It may also be helpful to speak with an anesthesiologist, who can explain the specific medications and techniques that will be used during your egg retrieval.

You may also choose to bring a trusted family member or friend with you to your appointments, so that you have someone to support you and ask questions (you should also have someone with you at the retrieval as well).

Lastly, you may benefit from practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, in the days leading up to your retrieval. I also found it helpful to listen to music through my headphones as the IV was put in and I went under sedation. Remember that your doctors are trained to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the procedure. You’ve got this!

Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co program allows you to freeze your eggs for free, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive

Intro 

If you're thinking about freezing your eggs and you've started to gather information about it, you're probably coming across a lot of information. This can definitely be overwhelming but there’s no need to panic! We're here to help you figure out if egg freezing is the right choice for you, no matter what age you are.

What is egg freezing?

Before we dive further into this topic, what is egg freezing? Egg freezing, known as oocyte cryopreservation in the medical world, is a technique used to preserve someone’s fertility.  Eggs are collected from the ovaries and frozen so they can be used in the future. If the person is unable to get pregnant naturally, the eggs are unfrozen and used in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure, like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Whether you know you want to have kids or you aren’t sure and want to give yourself more time to figure it out, think of egg freezing as a way to keep your options open for the future.

Should I freeze my eggs?

There are many, many reasons why someone might choose to freeze their eggs but the decision is a deeply personal one that requires some careful consideration. When making that decision though, it’s important to know that egg freezing is not an “insurance policy” for your fertility. While egg freezing can take some of the stress of having a baby right now off your shoulders, it is not a guarantee that you’ll have a baby in the future. 

Why not? Well, not all the eggs that get frozen will actually be viable. It’s expected that some eggs will not survive the warming process. In addition, the chances of the eggs that do survive being successfully fertilized depends partially on how old you were when you froze them (more on this later). Beyond that, fertility and pregnancy risks change with age. If you freeze your eggs at 30 and use them when you're 40, you'll have to deal with the realities of pregnancy at 40.

This is not to sway your decision one way or another. Ultimately, only you and your doctor can decide if egg freezing is the right decision for you. But it's important to go in knowing that it’s not meant to be a done deal.

Pros of egg freezing

Ok, now that we’ve gone through the basics, let’s discuss the pros and cons.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of freezing your eggs is the fact that it lowers the risk of having children with genetic abnormalities associated with ovarian aneuploidy. Ovarian aneuploidy refers to when an egg has an abnormal number of chromosomes which leads to an abnormal pregnancy. Most people are born with 46 total chromosomes (23 pairs). The most common aneuploidy risk seen by far is Down syndrome. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. The medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is “trisomy” so Down syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21. Freezing your eggs at a younger age decreases (but does not totally eliminate) the risk of an abnormal number of chromosomes.

Another benefit of egg freezing is that it puts the decision-making power entirely in your hands. Whether you’re freezing your eggs because you want to focus on your career or you’re getting a medical treatment that may affect your fertility later on or you’re waiting to find the right partner, freezing your eggs allows you to preserve some of your fertility independently. 

Egg freezing also gives you options in terms of having your own biological children. Of course, there is the obvious option of having the eggs fertilized and the embryos implanted into your uterus. But you also have the option of having those embryos implanted into a gestational carrier or into your partner if they have uterus. 

Finally, freezing your eggs does not affect your ability to get pregnant naturally. The egg freezing process and retrieval procedure simply rescue eggs that would have died with your next menstrual cycle. This means it does not affect your ovarian reserve (the number of eggs in your ovaries). Once you’ve completed the full process, your body will continue to ovulate and release an egg each month like normal.  

Cons of egg freezing

Now, let’s talk about the disadvantages of egg freezing. 

The most obvious downside is the cost. While some insurance plans may cover egg freezing, this isn’t the case most of the time. The out-of-pocket cost of egg freezing varies but it can be up to $20,000 depending on where you are and which clinic you use. This typically includes bloodwork, medications, ultrasounds, and the egg retrieval procedure. This does not include the annual storage fee (which can be up to $800 per year) and any follow-up procedures if you end up using those eggs. Learn how you can freeze for free with Freeze by Co. 

The next thing to consider is the hormone medications and egg retrieval process themselves. These medicines not only require injecting yourself (or having a partner or friend do it) but they can have some not-so-fun side effects. These can include fatigue, nausea, bloating, headaches, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, and irritability. A severe risk of hormone medications is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This condition can lead to blood clots, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, dehydration and vomiting. It may even require admission to the hospital to manage. Thankfully, OHSS is rare nowadays, affecting only up to 2% of patients.

The egg retrieval process is quick and the most common symptoms afterwards are pelvic or abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, and spotting. The main concern here is the time you need. One typical egg-freezing cycle can range from 10 to 14 days and during that time you'll be attending doctor appointments almost daily to make sure your eggs are maturing correctly.

If you’re taking any gender-affirming hormones like testosterone, you may need to take a break in order to freeze your eggs. One study showed that transgender men who used gender-affirming hormones and stopped a few months before fertility treatments ended up with the same number of eggs as cis women. But getting off hormones can be hard and could trigger gender dysphoria so the best option is to freeze eggs before transitioning if at all possible.

No one likes to be the bearer of bad news but this is an important one. Egg freezing may mean your eggs stay the same age forever but unfortunately, your body does not. As you age, the risks of pregnancy increase for both you and your potential child. These risks include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, c-section delivery, preterm delivery of a baby with low birth weight and other risks related to the pregnancy being IVF. However, these risks vary widely depending on many other factors. 

One final caveat to remember is that egg freezing does not guarantee a live birth. It’s likely that not all eggs will survive the thawing process. Some will not fertilize. Others fertilize abnormally, and still others don’t implant successfully in the uterus. A large study at NYU in July 2022 showed a 39% live birth rate for people who used their frozen eggs. The two factors that affected the success rates the most were age at the time of egg freezing and the number of eggs thawed. Specifically, the live birth rate was over 50% for people who thawed at least 20 eggs or who were under 38 when they froze their eggs. Which brings us to our next question: what age is best for egg freezing? 

When should I freeze my eggs? 

Let me start by saying that there is no perfect age at which to freeze your eggs. However, the TL;DR is that the younger you can do it, the better. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), an optimal time to freeze your eggs is in your 20s and early 30s, while you have a higher ovarian reserve and eggs are healthier. So whether you’re 25 or 35, you can absolutely freeze your eggs!

A large 2020 study at a fertility clinic that specializes in this area looked at egg freezing cycles for over 1,200 people. It compared the average number of eggs people of different ages were able to freeze versus the “optimal” or goal number of eggs they should freeze. This goal number was based on how many eggs would give them a 70% live birth rate after doing 1 or 2 egg freezing cycles (this rate is calculated using some other numbers and it typically goes up as we age to make up for the lower number of healthy eggs). 

The study found that younger people, unsurprisingly, have an easier time freezing the goal number of eggs in one cycle. As people aged, they needed multiple egg freezing cycles to reach that goal number.

These findings bring up a common question–is it worth freezing eggs after age 35? Well, it depends. The ASRM does not recommend egg freezing for people older than 38, but this isn’t a strict cutoff. Everyone’s fertility goes down at a different rate. Having your fertility hormones checked can sometimes help you and your doctor get a general idea of what your ovarian reserve is. This can better help you decide if egg freezing is right for you.

Egg freezing can be a tricky process to navigate and you are not alone when it comes to questions and concerns around it. Freeze by Co is here to help you every step of the way. With our Split program, people between 21 to 34 years old have the chance to freeze their eggs for free! In a “Split” cycle, you would donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family that’s trying to conceive and freeze the remaining half for yourself. If you’re over 34, you can still participate in the Keep program up to age 40. You would be able to freeze your eggs and keep them all for yourself, on your timeline while having access to an additional valuable resource in our support community, The Nest. This community allows you to engage with other people freezing their eggs at the exact same time! 

Regardless of which path you choose, our team will be there to guide you through the process as we work to keep your family-building options on the table.

It may not come as a surprise to learn that the prime time for freezing your eggs is actually a lot earlier than you think. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), freezing your eggs while you’re still in your 20s can help boost your chances of a successful pregnancy—and a 2010 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that those eggs have a higher chance at resulting in a live birth no matter your age when you decide to start your family. 

For many women, that means the best time to freeze their eggs is likely the moment they start wondering when they should start. Read on to see what you need to know about why freezing your eggs before you’re even sure what you want to do with them is the best way to ensure you’ll be able to make the decision for yourself when the time is right. 

Your body produces a different number of eggs at different times

Your late 20s and early to mid-30s are considered the peak time to retrieve eggs—with a 2015 study from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine saying you’ll see the best results prior to the age of 34 — because your body has reached complete development and your eggs are at their most healthy and plentiful point.

That doesn’t mean that the quality of your eggs takes a major dip when you celebrate your 38th birthday. Instead, it means that as you add more and more candles to your birthday cake each year your body begins to produce fewer eggs. This becomes important when you realize how many eggs you’ll need to retrieve when you begin the process of freezing your eggs.  

Take the 2020 study from Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) that showed women under the age of 35 were retrieving an average of 21 eggs during their first round of egg freezing while women between the ages of 35-37 were retrieving an average of 17. Four eggs may not seem like that big of a difference at first, but once you take into account how many eggs experts say you should have on hand when it comes time to start fertilization you’ll begin to realize just how quickly those numbers add up. 

Producing fewer eggs may increase costs

The saying less is more doesn’t apply too much in the world of fertility, where your chances of going on to have a live birth increase based on the number of eggs you have on hand when it comes time to fertilize and implant them. 

That 2020 ART study that showed the average number of eggs retrieved each cycle also showed that if you're under the age of 35 you will need 9 eggs for a 70% chance at having a baby. However, if you’re looking to hit that same 70% mark in your later years (think 38-40), you’ll need closer to 18 eggs to have the same chances at a live birth. With women in that age range only averaging 17 eggs per retrieval, that may mean multiple cycles, and with a $10,000-20,000 price tag that can quickly add up.

The best time to freeze your eggs is, unfortunately, usually before you can afford it

Not many people have that much money readily available in their 20s, which is why egg freezing is often financially out of reach for those who would benefit most from it. With programs like Freeze by Co you can take advantage of those peak fertility years even if you can’t exactly swing the costs. 

One program offered by Freeze by Co is Split. Split Members benefit by offsetting the cost of freezing their eggs by donating half of them to a family that cannot otherwise conceive. Split Members match with intended parents, and undergo an egg freezing cycle where half of their eggs are donated to the perfect intended parents (after testing and meeting qualifications, of course). The other half are then stored (for free) for the split member for up to 10 years. 

If you’d rather hold onto all your eggs until you’ve decided what your fertility future holds, you can use Freeze by Co’s Keep Member plan. These members can still benefit from lower costs, thanks to things like reduced medication fees, consultation discounts, and more. 

This is the most cost-effective age to freeze your eggs

With all these numbers flying around you may be wondering where the health benefits and the financial benefits meet. According to a 2015 study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, the two numbers seem to cross paths at the age of 35.

Women who freeze their eggs at 35 for use by the age of 40 spend an estimated $15,000 less than those who are trying to have a baby at 40. And that’s not the only good news, that math seems to hold up all the way until the age of 38. 

Freezing your eggs should be a positive experience

With the accessibility Cofertility gives women to take control of their fertility process, you can feel empowered to make decisions based on what’s in the best interest for you and your body without having to worry about your bank account. 

Getting an earlier start at freezing your eggs through Freeze by Co (even if you don’t have a partner or aren’t even sure that your dream future includes children yet) will: 

• Give you a higher chance at eventually achieving a live birth even if you wait until your late 30s or early 40s.
• Allow you to wait on making major decisions about your education, career, and future until you’re ready.
• Offer you the freedom to make medical decisions based on what’s right for you instead of what type of coverage your employer offers at the time. 
• Provide peace of mind because no matter what your future family may look like you’ve already taken the first step to making your dreams a reality. 

Even if you’ve missed that peak window into your fertility there are still plenty of benefits to freezing your eggs. With all of the new plans offered by Freeze by Co you’re likely to find one that will fit your current needs while giving you a chance to plan for your future.

While in theory, the idea of egg freezing would have many raising their hands to give this a try, practically speaking it may be more complicated. There are real-world factors to consider: Do I need to freeze my eggs? Will I actually need them down the line? Am I a good candidate? And if so, would it actually fit into my budget, and are the logistics really feasible?

No need to wonder. Here’s what you need to know to make egg freezing possible in reality and the sort of programs where you can bring this to fruition.

Affordable egg freezing programs

We at Cofertility are dedicated to the idea that egg freezing should be more accessible. To make it possible for more of those who are interested, we have designed two different programs that prioritize different aspects of egg freezing. Take our quiz to see if you qualify for these programs.

Paying for keeps

With our “Keep” program, it’s about maximizing the number of eggs that you freeze, geared to enabling many people to be able to answer the question, “Can I freeze my eggs?” with a big, “Yes.”

As a member in this program, you get access to discounted prices we’ve negotiated with clinics and pharmacies, as well as a community of women also freezing their eggs at the same time. With this Keep program we give more leeway on exactly who can participate. While we are aware that research shows that fertility starts to decrease considerably after age 35, you can still take part in the program as long as you are under age 40.

This is egg freezing with real world families in mind, with steps taken to make fees more affordable. The idea is to lighten the load and to make budgeting for egg freezing that much easier, while bringing a little more joy and positivity to the process

The Split cycle

With our Split program, it’s all about taking budgeting out of the equation altogether, while helping another family. 

As a Split program member, if you qualify, you don’t have to set money aside for these burdensome costs at all – they are free as part of the program, including up to ten-years of storage. In return, you give half of your retrieved eggs from a cycle to someone who would be otherwise unable to conceive. The family receiving the donated eggs pays for all the costs to freeze and store your eggs, for their use to build a family now, and your use in the future. 

But, because we are splitting the number of eggs here, every single one counts that much more. So, we need to be more stringent in determining who can become a Split member. 

Important X factors

One of the factors that we weigh heavily for the Split program is age. In order to participate, you cannot be over age 34. That’s because data shows that, on average, those over 35 may not respond to fertility medication as well and therefore may not produce as many eggs. Also, research shows that, unfortunately, egg quality declines with age. 

Given the amount of time it may take to do initial testing and to match you with an intended parent, we have aligned our policy with ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) guidance on this and limit membership here to those who have not yet turned 34. This way if there’s a hiccup along the way, you won’t have to miss out — there should still be sufficient time to participate in the program.

Another factor to consider is what’s known as your anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels. These levels signal how responsive your ovaries are likely to be to medication given to stimulate them to produce multiple eggs. If this number is pretty high, it usually means that your ovaries will respond well to stimulation. 

If at the time of initial screening, your ovarian reserve appears low based on your ultrasound and bloodwork, you, unfortunately, will not be eligible for the Split program, although you can still become a Keep member and achieve your goals that way. The ASRM guidance underscores the importance of considering biomarkers that indicate a donor’s potential ovarian reserve as part of the selection process. Scientists have found the AMH serum range of 2.20 to 6.8 ng/ml to be the one that research predicts will show if someone has enough ovarian reserve. This indicates how you will likely respond during an egg freezing cycle. 

No matter your ovarian reserve, you can still freeze your eggs. You just may not qualify for our Split program. That’s because we want to ensure that enough eggs are produced in the cycle to make it worthwhile for everyone after the eggs are divided, without your feeling that you’ve come up short and won’t be happy unless you do another cycle.

If you’re among those who qualify though, as many in their fertility prime may be able, this can be a golden opportunity. Feel free to read more about qualifications for joining our Split program.

Logistics

There is, of course, also the question of where you’ll need to go to make all this happen. 

If you’re a Split member, your initial physical screening takes place after you are matched with an intended parent. This includes some blood work and a vaginal ultrasound, which helps determine if this program will work for you, and will likely take place somewhere between where you and the intended parent’s locale. If any travel is needed though, our team will help you to make this happen, doing the necessary organizing. But monitoring for the cycle itself can be done at a local clinic right in your own area.

Meanwhile, Keep members have the flexibility to do the testing as well as the cycle locally, where it’s most convenient. 

Can you freeze your eggs? 

So, is this something that could practically work for you? Both of our programs are designed to make this feasible for a wide-variety of women. We try to keep costs down for Keep members while offering added flexibility to pursue their egg freezing goals. Meanwhile, for Split members the financial barriers are removed altogether.

Hopefully, this helps you to see how, practically speaking, you too can raise your hand up high and answer the question, “Can you freeze your eggs?” with a giant, yes, to make egg freezing in reality.

Perhaps the idea of egg freezing is something that you’ve thought about before. For many of us, though, cost can be a big barrier. You might be hoping to find an affordable egg freezing program that can allow you to freeze your eggs now and store them without breaking the bank, as you pursue your own agenda.

Is this just a pipe dream? With Freeze by Co, it’s actually…not. Read about how our new option can enable you to give the idea of egg freezing another look, with—wait for it—free egg freezing. And you get to help a family along the way.

An affordable innovation

With some egg freezing programs, fees can run into the thousands initially and grow every year. But at Freeze by Co, it is our goal to make the process as affordable as possible. This led us to develop what we call our Split program.

With the Split program, if you are eligible, the premise is simple: for each cycle you undergo, you keep half of the eggs for yourself at absolutely no charge, plus up to ten years of storage, when you give the other half of the retrieved eggs to another family who can’t otherwise conceive. All of your medical expenses and travel related to egg freezing is covered as well.

What you get as a Split member

In addition to giving a life-changing gift to another family, as a Split member, you are entitled to the following for free with your egg freezing cycle:

• Testing
• Medication
• Egg retrieval
• Egg freezing and storage
• Procedure insurance
• Travel
  

In addition to lightening your own financial load, the good you’ll be doing will be immeasurable.

Is it a fit?

To participate in Split, you must meet certain industry- and government-based criteria, including: 

• Being between 21 and 33 years old. Age is a factor that contributes to waning fertility, which, while not true for everyone, tends to decline at age 35. Since the process leading up to egg donation can take time, we cap the program at age 33, as consistent with guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). 
• Having two ovaries
• Enjoying good physical and emotional health, without any reproductive issues or genetic abnormalities
• Having a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 29 to enable optimal medication administration and egg retrieval outcomes
• Having avoided smoking and recreational drug use or Depo Provera injection as a mode of birth control

To learn more about all disqualifications for our Split program, click here.

To find out if our Split program is a way that we can help you reach your egg freezing goals, here’s how the process works:

Getting started

First, take our brief quiz to learn more about our Split program and see if you’re a potential fit. It just takes a few minutes. 

Applying for membership

Then, if you’ve pre-qualified, you move on to the application process. This is your chance to tell us more about your background and create a profile for intended parents to see and hopefully connect with. It will also help finalize your acceptance into the program.

The interview process

Next, we chat. You get to ask us any questions about the process and get to know us, as we get to know you as well. We’ll walk you through all program logistics and frequently asked questions so you feel completely comfortable with it all. 

Find a match

Once you’ve been fully accepted into the program, the matching process begins. When your profile has been selected by intended parents, you’ll have the opportunity to accept the match. If you agree it’s a good fit, then the screening and freezing process can begin.

Screening

During the screening phase, we’ll get a sense of your ovarian reserve and overall physical health to get a sense of whether you’ll have enough eggs available to fairly split for yourself and the intended parents. If your ovarian reserve appears strong enough that splitting the retrieved egg yield has the chance to result in a live birth for both parties involved, and you continue to qualify based on the other physical and psychological screening factors, you’ll be given the final green light.  

The cycle

Now it’s all about your cycle. This means you’ll start taking injectable medications needed to enable your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. We have loads of materials that can help you successfully manage this.

After close monitoring, when the time is right, you’ll be scheduled for the egg retrieval. During this 30-minute process, the doctor will remove the eggs with the aid of vaginal ultrasound while you’re under light anesthesia.

Free storage

Then, right away, your half of the eggs will be frozen. As a Split member, this whole process will be entirely free, including up to ten years of storage. In the case of an odd number of eggs, the extra one will be slated for use by the intended parents. However, any non-mature eggs retrieved will be frozen for you, since we don’t know what kind of medical advancements might take place over the next ten years. 

As a Split member, if you feel that it would be beneficial for you down the line, you can always consider doing another cycle. This will allow you to add to what you already have in storage and reap the benefits of additional free egg freezing, making the most of the program.

Adding it up

Our Split program puts egg freezing in reach for all members. It removes what’s often the biggest obstacle to taking charge of your fertility timeline — cost — while allowing an opportunity to help another family. 

Once you’ve completed the Split program, you can walk away knowing that not only have you figured out a way to make your goal of storing eggs a reality without the need for scrimping in other areas, but you’ve also succeeded in giving another family a golden opportunity they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

You’ve likely heard about the process called egg freezing (sometimes called “fertility preservation”), where they stimulate the follicles in the ovaries and retrieve unfertilized eggs to preserve them for future use. 

But what exactly does that process look like? And why would someone want to go through it? Read on—we’ll explain everything you need to know about egg freezing. 

The process for freezing eggs

While it may sound like a very intense process—and for some women, the side effects of the  medications used to stimulate the eggs can certainly feel that way—freezing your eggs is actually a safe and minimally invasive procedure. 

1. Take our quiz to find affordable egg freezing options near you, including our Split program (where you can freeze your eggs for free if you give half to another family who can’t conceive) and our Keep program (where you can freeze your eggs more affordably and keep them all for your own future use). If you’d like to participate in Split, you can move forward with that application right away. If you’d like to join our Keep program, we’ll email you your options once you take the quiz.  
2. With Keep, the egg freezing process begins with a consult with your fertility doctor. They will do some initial testing to determine the current health of the eggs your ovaries are producing, both in number and in quality. You’ll undergo bloodwork and  an ultrasound to get a sense of this.
3. Next, you’ll likely undergo some general health screenings to make sure you’re not carrying any viruses that could complicate the process (like HIV or certain forms of hepatitis).
4. Once your health check is through, you’ll likely begin a series of medications, including ones that will stimulate your ovaries and/or prevent early ovulation. You’ll give yourself shots daily. If you freeze with Cofertility, we’ll provide you with step by step videos to ease the transition.
5. Around this time, you can also join the Cofertility Member Portal, where you can connect with (and lean on) other women freezing their eggs at the exact same time! 
6. Your doctor will monitor you during this time to confirm that the medications are working and that your estrogen levels are increasing while keeping your progesterone levels low. You may also undergo a vaginal ultrasound to monitor the condition of the follicles where your eggs will eventually mature.
7. After 10 to 14 days you’ll start a medication to help speed up egg maturity ahead of your egg retrieval. 
8. The retrieval process happens under light sedation and involves using a vaginal ultrasound and a needle with a suction device to retrieve the eggs—this sounds more intense  than it is.his procedure is normally done right in the clinic and takes about 10 minutes.
9. Once the eggs are retrieved, they’re flash frozen and stored in subzero temperatures, normally with a substance like liquid nitrogen to prevent the development of ice crystals. 
10. You can go home after the procedure and rest up!

How your body responds to the process

Everyone’s body will react differently to each step of the egg freezing process. While some women will experience bloating or hormonal responses from the medications that stimulate egg maturation, others may feel much less. You might experience some mild cramping or bloating following the retrieval process as your ovaries continue to remain enlarged from the medications used. 

Additionally, you’ll have an increased risk of pregnancy in the week following your retrieval. Because of this, many doctors suggest avoiding unprotected sex during this time period.

The goals for women who freeze their eggs can differ

Not everyone has the same intentions when they start the process of freezing their eggs. Some women may hope to prolong their reproductive years until they’re ready to have children, while others may be hoping to use their frozen eggs as donor eggs to help someone else who is trying to start a family. 

One thing all of these women have in common is that they’re hoping to improve their chances of those eggs eventually resulting in a healthy baby. To some extent, the more eggs there are, the better the chances of those resulting in a life birth. But we also know that egg quality is important. The number one factor impacting egg quantity and quality? Age. 

A study in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics confirmed that the probability of at least one live birth varies with the number of mature eggs available and the age of the woman trying to conceive. For example, a woman under 35 who is trying to conceive will need 9 mature eggs to achieve a 70% chance of having at least one live birth. If you’re trying to conceive in your mid to late 30s, you may need double as many eggs to achieve that same 70% success rate. 

Because women in their 30s tend to produce less eggs, women who are freezing their eggs at this age may end up having to either settle for fewer eggs or undergo multiple rounds to collect enough eggs to have on hand for later implantation. As you can imagine, those costs can creep higher and higher the more rounds you endure, driving up the price tag and the risk of failure. 

Some things to consider about freezing your eggs

There are obviously many factors that go into the freezing process;  but, there are a few points to consider outside of the physical. You’ll also need to account for the cost—you not only need to pay for all of the testing and procedure plus monthly storage fees until you’re ready to fertilize your eggs. To this end, you will likely need to budget an extra $550-$1,000 a year to pay a company to store and monitor your eggs after they’ve been retrieved and frozen.

These procedures can quickly add up to a few thousand dollars—likely anywhere between $8,000 to $20,000. That price can be too high for some, which is why we’ve developed our Split program. With Split, you can freeze your eggs for free, if you qualify and donate half of your retrieved eggs to an intended parent who matches with your profile.

Getting a jump start on your fertility is a wise choice

Deciding to freeze your eggs is a proactive choice and a good idea if you’re not sure exactly when you’ll be ready to start a family (if you even want to). It’s also perfect for anyone who wants to retrieve healthy eggs before undergoing chemotherapy or a surgical procedure that could alter your fertility chances. 

The average age women have become parents has increased over time—with many spending their earlier adult years focused on getting an advanced degree, furthering their careers, or even finding the right partner—however, our biological clocks have remained the same.  

Take a look at your options

At Cofertility, we offer a variety of options for freezing your eggs, including our Split program where we’ll help you through the process of stimulating and retrieving your eggs at no cost as long as you donate half the eggs retrieved from each cycle (if you qualify). If donation is not for you, we also have a Keep Program in which you freeze and keep 100% of the eggs for yourself. Contact us today to learn more - no commitment required, but we’d love to talk through can help you take charge of your future reproductive health.

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), a woman’s peak fertility years are from their late teens to their late 20s. While these may be the easiest biological years for starting a family, between travel, work, school, life…at that point in your life, family planning might not be your top priority. 

Fortunately, thanks to modern medicine, you have some options. Egg freezing allows you to preserve your healthy eggs at any point in time, without committing to starting a family. Let's talk about what you need to know about freezing your eggs. 

Here’s what you need to know about the process

While there are some big hurdles to clear—like the expenses of going through the process and how (and where) you’ll store your eggs—freezing your eggs is a way to take more control of your future fertility health. 

That being said, it’s important that you think of freezing your eggs not as a guarantee, but rather, a proactive step you can take towards fulfilling potential long-term family planning goals. It is not an insurance policy, but it can help give you more options in the future. 

Research has found that freezing nine eggs while under age 35 leads to a 70% chance of a live birth (studies found that the average number of eggs retrieved for the same women is 18-21). And the more eggs you freeze, the better those odds get. There are always chances that your retrieval could fail, or that implantation down the line may not take. Still, egg freezing in your 20s does offer higher chances of success than having them retrieved at a later age.

Getting ready for retrieval 

Before you can freeze your eggs, you’ll want to ensure your body is producing as many eggs as possible. This means taking hormones that can help stimulate the follicles on your ovaries to produce a larger than normal quantity of eggs.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this may include taking multiple medications or injectables like: 

• Ollitropin alfa or beta (Follistim AQ, Gonal-f) 
• Menotropins (Menopur)
• Leuprolide acetate (Lupron Depot) 
• Cetrorelix (Cetrotide)
• hCG

Your doctor will monitor your progress with blood tests across the 10-14 day period. He or she will tweak any ovarian-stimulating medications you’re given to make sure your estrogen and progesterone levels are where they need to be for a successful retrieval. 

During these visits, you’ll likely also have vaginal ultrasounds. The doctor will use this to check on the development of the follicles where your eggs mature. It might sound overwhelming, but vaginal ultrasounds are usually painless. 

Then, when the time is right—typically 10 to 14 days after you’ve started your medications—you’ll check back in with your doctor and receive a final  injection of something called a human chorionic gonadotropin. This is the final kick to help your eggs mature and prepare them for retrieval. 

Retrieving your eggs

Retrieval is typically done while you’re under a light sedation at a fertility clinic. Your doctor will retrieve your eggs via vaginal ultrasound with suction to remove eggs from follicles. You’ll likely wake up feeling well rested while your medical team has done all of the heavy lifting for you!

While you won’t feel any pain during the procedure, a little soreness afterwards isn’t uncommon.  

Freezing and monitoring

After your procedure your eggs undergo a process called vitrification (AKA: freezing). This process relies on subzero temperatures to cool the eggs for storage. They’re normally stored along with a substance (like liquid nitrogen) that  keeps ice crystals from forming within the frozen eggs. They’re then placed in cold storage for 24/7 temperature monitoring.  

Storage timelines

You may be surprised to learn that your frozen eggs have no expiration date. In fact, in 2021 a child was born from an embryo frozen 25 years prior! Once your eggs have been successfully frozen they cease all biological activity, including aging and deterioration. 

While some countries may have limits on the length of time your eggs can remain frozen, this has not taken hold in the United States. This comes as good news for women who are hoping to freeze their eggs earlier in life and may need more years of frozen storage. 

Our Split program includes 10 years of free storage at a reputable long-term facility, where you'll have access to them whenever you choose to use them. Our Keep program also allows you to store your eggs for 10+ years, though note that the payment will be out of pocket each year. 

How much does it cost?

A lot of women worry about the price tag for freezing their eggs. One piece of good news is that as technology (and availability) of these solutions advances, costs are starting to come down.

Still, you can be looking at a bill for a few thousand dollars for the procedure alone—anywhere between $6,000 to $11,000—plus an annual bill between $300-$1,200 for storage, and up to $5,000 for medications. 

With Cofertility, however, we’ve worked with clinic partners to get you discounts on freezing (think: 75% off initial consults at certain clinics), storage (up to 80% off compared to reputable clinic freezing), and medications (about a 20% savings). 

For those who qualify, our Split program also offers the opportunity to freeze your eggs for free if you donate half of them to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. Yep, zero dollars. 

Split allows you to take control of your reproductive future (while offsetting the costs), and enables you to give someone else the greatest gift of all: a shot at parenthood. But at the end of the day, our mission is to empower women with reproductive choice. If you decide that freezing isn’t for you, we respect that. And most of all, we applaud you for taking this step towards exploring your options and learning more about your own fertility. 

The egg freezing process can feel like a black box. How do you find a clinic to freeze your eggs? How long will the whole process take? And what is this all going to cost? 

With thousands of women freezing their eggs every year, there are plenty of options out there for you. Here’s a look at how to make sense of the egg freezing process and how to make sure this is the right path for you.  

Breaking down the egg freezing process

Choosing a clinic

The first step in the egg freezing process is choosing a clinic. If you decide to move forward with egg freezing, you will need to visit the clinic for monitoring every few days, so it’s best to choose a facility that’s within driving distance. With Cofertility’s Keep program — where you can freeze your eggs more affordably and keep them all for future use — we’ll help you find a clinic based on your location, their pricing structure, and their success rates. 

Our Split program, on the other hand, allows you to freeze your eggs for free if you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive and you qualify.

Consultation 

Once you’ve settled on a clinic, it’s time to meet with a reproductive endocrinologist (REI, or fertility specialist) to talk about the egg freezing process. You’ll get a chance to find out more about how egg freezing works at your chosen facility, discuss any risks of the procedure, and talk through any family-building goals. If kids are still a TBD, no problem!

Note that some clinics will only work with women under 40 when it comes to egg freezing. Research indicates egg quality begins to decrease in a woman’s early 30s and declines more rapidly past age 35. Because of this, you must be under 40 to participate in our Keep program.

Age is only one factor, however. During your egg freezing consultation, the REI will ask questions about your menstruation history, any past pregnancies, and your overall health. 

Evaluation and bloodwork

After (or during) your consultation with an REI, the next part of the egg freezing process is bloodwork and other testing to determine if you are a good candidate for egg freezing. 

This testing may include:

• Ovarian reserve testing: Your doctor will order bloodwork to evaluate your egg supply. These blood tests may screen for anti-mullerian hormones (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and estradiol. Importantly, these labs can predict how your body will respond to the injectable fertility medications used in an egg freezing cycle. You’ll also do a (painless) transvaginal ultrasound, which will show how many egg-containing follicles your ovaries contain as a baseline.
• Disease testing: Bloodwork will help your doctor assess whether you have any infectious diseases such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Connecting with your community

If you’re freezing your eggs through Cofertility’s programs, you’ll be able to utilize our Member portal to connect with other women freezing their eggs at the exact same time. Support one another, ask each other questions, and gain confidence as you begin your fertility journey. 

Medications

Most women’s bodies release just one egg a month during the menstrual cycle. In order to freeze more than one egg, injectable medications will be taken over a period of a couple weeks. These meds will stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs in a single cycle.

Most women can give themselves the injections, which are needed 1-2 times per day for about two weeks. The medications do carry some side effects, including bloating, headaches and moodiness. About 0.5 - 5% of women develop a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), in which fluid accumulates around the ovaries and causes discomfort and bloating. While the condition can occasionally be severe, it is  typically temporary with symptoms subsiding about a week after your egg retrieval. 

Medications commonly prescribed in the egg freezing process include:

• Follitropin alfa or beta (Follistim, Gonal-f)— Used to stimulate the ovaries
• Menotropins (Menopur) — Used to stimulate the ovaries
• Ganirelix or Cetrorelix (Cetrotide) — Used to prevent premature ovulation
• Leuprolide acetate (Lupron) — Used to prevent premature ovulation or as a trigger shot to help eggs mature
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (Pregnyl, Ovidrel) — Used as a trigger shot to help the eggs mature

If you choose to freeze your eggs through Cofertility’s Keep program, you’ll be able to take advantage of partnerships and discounts on medication costs to help lighten the load. 

More blood tests and monitoring

Once you’ve started hormone injections, your REI will keep a close eye on you to make sure things are moving along smoothly. You’ll visit the clinic every few days to undergo bloodwork and ultrasound so the doctors can determine how your ovaries are responding to the medication and if it’s time to retrieve your eggs. 

This process usually lasts around two weeks until the fertility specialist determines egg development has reached a point where it’s time for all your eggs to be retrieved. 

During this time, it’s recommended that you abstain from sex or use barrier methods of contraception as the medications can make your body more fertile, increasing your chances of getting pregnant. You’ll also want to decrease exercise during the stimulation phase to prevent ovarian torsion, or twisting. 

Egg retrieval 

Also called aspiration, the egg retrieval process is done right at your fertility clinic where your REI will use a mild sedative or anesthesia. With the help of a guiding ultrasound, your doctor will use a special needle that’s inserted into the ovarian follicles to remove multiple eggs.  

Although you may feel some cramping and general discomfort after the procedure, the egg retrieval is not usually painful. You should plan to have someone with you that day to drive you home from the doctor’s office, but many women are able to return to work within a day or two after the procedure.

Because your ovaries are enlarged, you may continue to feel cramping and a feeling of fullness for a couple weeks. You will also be advised to avoid unprotected sex in the weeks directly after the egg freezing process as your chances of getting pregnant may be higher during this time. 

Cryopreservation

Once the eggs are removed from the ovary, you’ve reached the final step of the egg freezing process. The eggs undergo a process called vitrification.  

Eggs are then frozen to subzero temperatures and can be stored for years to come, ready to be thawed if you decide you want to use them for in vitro fertilization (IVF). With Cofertility’s Keep program, we offer our Members discounts and promotions on various parts of the egg freezing process to help make it more affordable.

A second egg freezing process

Depending on how many eggs were able to be retrieved, your doctor may recommend a second round of medication and another retrieval. 

The number of eggs you should freeze will depend largely on your age — researchers at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts have created a calculator that estimates the likelihood of live birth for elective egg freezing in women. Although it’s not exact, it does supply some probabilities to help you make a decision on whether you should do a second cycle of egg freezing. 

For example, they estimate if a 30-year-old woman has frozen 15 eggs, she has an 83% chance of giving birth to one child from those eggs. She has a 50% chance of giving birth twice and a 22% chance of having a third child with the use of her frozen eggs. 

Costs of the egg freezing process

Another factor to consider when deciding if you want to proceed with the egg freezing process — or undergo a second cycle — is cost. Around the country, the process of freezing your eggs can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 or even more, and there are yearly costs for storage of eggs after the retrieval process. 

At Cofertility, we’ve made it our mission to make egg freezing more accessible. With discounts, partnerships and promotions, we’re hoping to remove lack of affordability as a barrier to fertility preservation. To get a sense of pricing (and savings!) for our Keep program with clinics in your area, take our quiz to tell us more about yourself. 

Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not pay for many egg freezing costs unless it has been deemed medically necessary for a woman. Cofertility’s offerings, similarly, are self-pay. 

Bottom Line

There’s a lot going on during the egg freezing process and a whole lot to consider. The homework you’re doing now will make all the difference as you move along through the process and can ask all the right questions!

If you think you probably want kids someday—just maybe not, like, today—you might be considering freezing your eggs. Women who choose to do it can find it really empowering, but it can also be a huge personal and financial investment. We’ve gathered the basic info you’ll need to decide whether egg freezing is right for you. 

What’s the process like?

The whole point of egg freezing is to trick your ovaries into sending a whole crop of eggs out into the world in one go. This starts with nearly two weeks of intense, at-home prep work on your part. Here’s how it all plays out:‍

Shots/Sonograms/More Shots

Starting on day 2-3 of your period, you’ll give yourself daily injections of follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH). In a natural cycle, your brain makes smaller doses of these hormones on its own to signal to the ovaries that it’s time to make a single egg ready for ovulation. With this treatment, the brain’s natural process is overridden by the injections in order to encourage the ovaries to release as many eggs as possible.

But not so fast, ovaries! You’ll also be given a third drug in combination with these that will keep your eggs from releasing before the doctor is ready to catch them. Depending on which one you’re prescribed, you’ll start taking this at the same time as the stimulants, or about halfway through the stimulant cycle. Don’t worry, you’ll receive specific instructions on all of these and before you know it, you’ll be an expert at giving yourself a shot. Look at you go!

You’ll take these daily injections for 10-12 days, during which time you’ll also be carefully monitored by the clinic with trans-vaginal ultrasounds that examine your follicles (the ovarian sacs that release the eggs), and blood tests to track your hormone levels. Your medications will be adjusted based on the info from these tests.

When follicles are nice and plump, you do a trigger shot and then go into the center for your egg retrieval. This actually triggers ovulation and it’s what’s needed for the DNA to become mature, but your eggs will be retrieved right before they’re released from the follicles.

Retrieval

An egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure. Most centers use twilight anesthesia, so you’ll be under sedation through an IV, but breathing on your own. The doctor performing the egg retrieval will insert a trans-vaginal sonogram. Now, here’s the kinda weird part: on the tip of that sonogram wand is a small needle, which pierces the vaginal wall, and then enters the ovary on the other side (the doctor is watching all of this happen on the sonogram screen). The needle drains the fluid (containing the microscopic egg) from each of the mature follicles. The entire thing takes about 20 minutes, and you can go home soon after. 

In the lab, each egg is isolated from the fluid by an embryologist, then stripped of its surrounding cells, and checked under a microscope for maturity. Mature eggs are frozen, post-mature eggs are discarded, and immature eggs may be observed overnight, to see if they are ready to be frozen the next day. 

Recovery

Depending on how many eggs are retrieved, getting over the procedure might be no big deal, or you could have post-retrieval symptoms. Some women experience bloating, cramping, nausea, and potentially some weight gain for a few days after the procedure. Time to stock up on coconut water and get cozy with some Netflix. 

How many eggs will I get?

“People always ask, ‘why can’t you just give every woman enough drugs so that everyone makes 20 eggs?’ But that’s not how it works. Our ovaries have a set number of follicles every menstrual cycle,” explains Dr. Talebian. And of course, each woman is different, so the expectation for egg retrieval has to be set on an individual basis. 

“You can have a 30-year-old who has 30 follicles and produces 30 eggs; and you can have a 30-year-old with 4 follicles and produces 4 eggs.” Once you begin the process, your doctor will monitor your follicle count as well as a blood test of your anti-Müllarian hormone (AMH), which are both good predictors of how many eggs you can expect. It’s super personal and varies case-by-case.

Once your eggs are frozen, the next important number to seek when interviewing a clinic is their thaw rate. This number indicates the percentage of frozen eggs actually survive the warming process in order to be used for IVF. Beyond that, there isn’t really enough data to provide success rates for pregnancy using a woman’s own frozen eggs (versus frozen embryos, for example.

“Anyone who says they can give success rates based on egg freezing is probably not giving an accurate answer,” says Dr. Talebian. “We can give you success rates for healthy donor eggs, but most women who come in to freeze eggs at ages 30-35 have not come back to use those eggs. So there isn’t enough data to give a success rate.”

At what age should I freeze my eggs? 

As we’ve said before, everyone is different, but Dr. Talebian provided some basic guidelines.

• If you have no fertility risk factors: between ages 30-34
• If you have some fertility red flags: consider testing at an earlier age, if, for example, if you have a history of endometriosis, family history of early menopause, or any history of radiation or chemotherapy exposure

“Unfortunately, there’s no magic blood test or ultrasound or MRI that says ‘oh you could wait until you’re 38, or you need to do it at 28,’” says Dr. Talebian. What the centers do have are the stats for the average women at each age and then your personal history and the follicle counts they can take when you come in for your first appointment. Based on all this information, you can have a straightforward convo with the doctor about your likelihood of success, so you can make the best call for your future. 

Read more: A Breakdown of Egg Freezing Success Rates by Age

How much will it cost?

It can totally vary, depending on where you live and from center to center. We can help with this. In our Freeze by Co program, we get special pricing from clinics and on medications. Plus, you get access to an amazing community of women freezing at the same time.

We also offer free egg freezing through our Split program, where you freeze your eggs for free when you donate half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive.

Want to learn more? Take our quiz to see if you’re eligible.