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Many folks who have made the big (and exciting) decision to freeze their eggs want to improve their egg quality before freezing. But is egg quality really something you can control? What kinds of lifestyle changes should you make before freezing your eggs? Read on for a look at what the research says about egg quality — and what you can do to improve it before the egg freezing process begins. 

What is egg quality?

As you’ve been exploring the egg freezing process, you may have heard your fertility doctor mention that freezing during your 20s can be beneficial because your egg quality will likely be higher. 

It’s annoying, but true: as women age, our egg quality typically goes down further and further. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) estimates a woman’s chances of getting pregnant begin to decrease at age 32 and continue to gradually go down until about age 37 when the decrease becomes more rapid. ACOG links this decrease in what they call fecundity — another word for fertility — to egg quality. 

This is one of the many reasons Freeze by Co partners with local fertility clinics to create opportunities for women in their 20s to freeze eggs more affordably. We want you to have more control over your reproductive choices, even if you’re not looking to get pregnant during this peak egg quality period.

But what does “egg quality” (also called oocyte competence) actually mean? Are doctors being a tad judgmental about a woman’s age? Not at all. 

When fertility specialists use this term, they’re referring to whether your eggs are considered genetically normal or abnormal, and it’s tied pretty closely to the chances that an egg could ever result in pregnancy.  

Euploid vs. aneuploid embryos 

While sperm health is undeniably important, it all starts with the egg. The quality of embryos made from your eggs comes down to two different types:

• Euploid embryos 

• These embryos are genetically “normal.” 
• They contain the right number of chromosomes at 46. 

• Aneuploid embryos

• These embryos are genetically “abnormal.” 
• They contain either fewer or more chromosomes than normal. 
• Embryos created with a low quality egg may inherit either too many or too few chromosomes. 
• Most aneuploid embryos will either fail to implant or result in miscarriage as they are usually not compatible with life. 

There’s also a significantly higher risk that an aneuploid embryo will not implant in the uterus after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) transfer — one study found as much as 96 percent of abnormal embryos transferred into the uterus did not implant. On the other hand, that same study found when euploid embryos were transferred, the pregnancy rate was 82 percent. 

Do I need to improve my egg quality before freezing? 

So if euploid embryos start with healthy eggs, you’re probably wondering: do I need to improve my egg quality before freezing? 

Some factors that affect egg quality such as your personal genetics and the passing of time can’t be controlled. But there are ample steps you can take to influence the health and quality of your eggs. 

Here are some simple changes that research shows may improve egg quality. We recommend you consider making these changes at least three months prior to egg freezing: 

1. Quit smoking 

If you’re using cigarettes, now is a good time to stop. Studies have found that smoking can have a detrimental effect on fertility. Puffing on cigarettes can increase the risk of infertility by as much as 60 percent with negative effects on the menstrual cycle, uterus, and ovaries. It’s the effect on the ovaries that is particularly troubling when it comes to egg quality with smoking damaging the DNA of the eggs themselves. 

2. Avoid marijuana

Although there aren’t a lot of studies on the effect of marijuana on fertility, those that exist indicate THC — the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — can result in an impaired ability to produce viable embryos. According to a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society in 2020, the exposure of oocytes to THC was linked to a “significant decrease in the expression of genes called connexins.” These connexins are an important marker of egg quality. For our Split members, we require them to stop using marijuana products at least one month prior to retrieval.

3. Improve your diet

There is never a bad time to eat a healthy diet, and if you’re planning to freeze your eggs in the near future there are extra reasons to make smart choices at meal time. Eating a diet rich in leafy greens, whole grains, and lean proteins can all help those egg cells. 

Here are some rock star foods you might want to consider adding to your diet when you’ve got an eye on improving egg quality (plus the benefits they bring):

• Fish such as salmon, mackerel, and trout — Omega 3 fatty acids
• Egg yolks — Vitamin D
• Beans, oats, oranges, and cantaloupe — Inositol
• Fruits and veggies of any kind — Antioxidants
• Oysters, beef, chickpeas, lentils, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts — Zinc

Before embarking on any major diet changes, check with a registered dietician. They can help you craft a plan that’s just right for your body. 

4. Talk to your doctor about supplements

If you’re not already taking vitamins, you may want to chat with your reproductive endocrinologist about whether you should add Vitamin A, Vitamin B, folate and zinc — or maybe one of the four — to your daily routine. Studies have linked all three of these micronutrients to egg quality over the years, affecting the synthesis of DNA and other factors in oocyte development. 

Your doctor may want to check your vitamin D level with some bloodwork or go over your current vitamin regimen before deciding if adding on additional supplements is necessary. Make sure to bring any dietary changes you’re making into the conversation too — there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to some vitamins!

5. Talk to your doctor about your weight 

Being told you need to hop on the scale when you’re at the reproductive endocrinologist’s office can be frustrating, especially if you’ve struggled to lose or gain weight in the past, or if you have a condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that affects your weight. 

Still, the weight conversation is one worth having with your fertility specialist if you’re worried about your egg quality. Both being over and underweight has been linked to egg quality by researchers time and again. 

Obesity in particular has been found to affect the hormones that guide an egg as it matures. On the other hand, being underweight can stop the body from ovulating entirely. 

The “right” weight for your body is one you and your doctor can discuss. If changes are in order, they can help craft a plan for healthy changes — or recommend a dietician who can. For our Split program, there are BMI requirements, which you can read more about here.

The bottom line

The quality of your eggs may not be completely in your control, but you do have solid options when it comes to improving your egg quality before freezing. What you put into your body makes a difference, and making changes now can make a real difference down the line. 

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.

You may have heard that freezing your eggs in your 20s can help increase your chances of pregnancy down the line, but is there actually any truth to the claim? According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), there really is, given a woman’s peak fertility years span from the end of her teens to the end of her 20s. 

Read on to learn what you need to know about egg freezing success rates by age.

The best time to think about egg freezing is probably…now 

During these prime fertility years, we’re often focused on other things. In our 20s, we’re finishing school, launching our careers, traveling, having fun…starting a family may not even be a blip on your radar. Unfortunately, that also means that by the time you’re ready to get proactive about your fertility (or starting a family), your prime reproductive years may have already passed. 

This is why we believe that proactively thinking about your fertility is always a good idea for anyone looking to stay in control of their reproductive options. And one major barrier, until now, has been the accessibility and affordability of egg freezing. At Cofertility, we aim to change that, by partnering with local fertility clinics to create opportunities to freeze your eggs more affordably. 

Take our quiz to see what egg freezing options you may qualify for, including our Split program, where you can even freeze your eggs for free(!) if you give half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive and you qualify.

What are the egg freezing success rates by age?

We measure the “success” of an egg retrieval and later vitrification (the process of freezing and storing your eggs) in a couple of ways. Some of the major important milestones in a successful retrieval are: 

• The ability to collect high quality and healthy eggs 
• The ability to collect a large, but safe, number of eggs during a single cycle (between 10-20 is ideal)
• Whether collection takes place at an age where the eggs have a very good chance of surviving both the freezing and the warming process down the line 

Success rates for women in their 20s

Your 20s are by and large the best time to freeze your eggs, with 25 to 27 being the optimal age, according to a 2010 report from the CDC. The report found that eggs frozen during a woman’s 20s will have a 50 percent chance of resulting in a live birth per cycle, regardless of the age of the person carrying the pregnancy once the eggs are used. Women in this age range have fully finished developing (as opposed to someone in their late teens or early 20s who may still be growing and maturing) and are likely to have the healthiest and most robust eggs. 

Not only does it make it easier for eggs collected at this age to go on to become successful pregnancies, but it also makes it the most cost effective period, because you’re likely to get more eggs with fewer rounds of freezing than if your eggs were collected at a later age. 

Success rates for women in their 30s

Success rates in your 30s will depend on if you’re closer to 30 or 40, as well as your AMH levels. One study of 1,241 women found that the average number of eggs retrieved on the first egg freezing round was:

• 21 eggs for women under 35
• 17 eggs for women 35-37
• 14 eggs for women 38-40

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Because women in their 30s tend to produce less eggs, at this age you may end up having to either settle for fewer eggs for freezing 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. 

Now, you might be thinking: isn’t 14 eggs a lot?  It’s true that eggs retrieved from women under the age of 36 will have a 95 percent survival rate after being thawed.  

But more importantly, not all thawed eggs will become viable embryos and lead to a live birth. As this chart underscores, the probability of a live birth varies with the age of the woman trying to conceive and the number of mature eggs available. In short, the older the woman, the more eggs required to achieve a high probability of a live birth. 

A study in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics further supports this point. For example, a woman under 35 will need 9 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. 

Success rates for women in their 40s

Because success rates drop significantly as you near the end of your 30s, it’s actually not recommended that women have their eggs frozen past the age of 38, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). 

But don’t let that news worry you. If you haven’t had your own eggs retrieved by this point, and are struggling to conceive, you still have some other options (including the use of donated eggs). 

Ask us anything

If you’d like help figuring out when to freeze your eggs, you can contact Cofertility for more information. While every woman’s fertility path differs, we can connect you with reputable clinics who can offer basic guidance about when the time is right for you to freeze your eggs during a consultation or dig into specifics by going through a preliminary exam in a provider’s office.

We understand that the timing may not be right for you to start a family right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about what choices will be available to you when that time comes. As you can see, a lot goes into preparing to freeze your eggs.  The earlier you consider your fertility, the more options you’ll have. 

Whether you decide to freeze or not, we’re here for you to answer any questions or talk through any concerns. 

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!

Your uterus creates extra tissue each month to create a cushy home for your potential baby. But if you have endometriosis, your uterine tissue grows wild, and can end up in places you don’t want it to be—including places where it could cause some serious fertility issues. In fact, a recent Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics study estimated endometriosis is to blame for between 25% to 50% of all infertility cases. 

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis develops when your body grows uterine lining (a tissue called endometrium) in places where it doesn’t belong. Most often, it shows up in areas near your uterus—your fallopian tubes and ovaries, on the outside of the uterus, in the vagina or cervix. In a few rare cases, it can even end up in other places, like your bladder. 

It may feel like you’re the only person in the world dealing with these symptoms, but the truth is, it’s just that people don’t talk about their symptoms. Endometriosis is extremely common. According to the Office on Women’s Health, more than 11% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have developed it. Of those women, 30% to 50% experience some form of endometriosis infertility challenges. This is most common in women who: 

• Are in their 30s and 40s, especially those with family members who have had it 
• Started their period at a younger age
• Have never had children
• Have extremely long or short menstrual cycles

Signs of endometriosis

The most common red flag that you might have endo is severe cramping and pain, especially during your period. Here are some of the other telltale signs that you’re growing uterine tissue in odd places:

• Pelvic pain: Women with endometriosis often develop chronic severe back and pelvic pain. They may also experience severe menstrual cramps, pain when they pee, and even painful sex (which will definitely be a fertility hurdle). 
• Digestive upset: Stomach cramping, diarrhea, constipation and bloating occasionally accompany endometriosis, especially if you have your period. 
• Heavy periods—and spotting in between them: Women with endometriosis may bleed outside their typical menstrual cycle, or develop heavy bleeding when they have their period. Fun times! 
• Infertility: Scarring and excess tissue can literally cause a roadblock that can keep eggs and sperm from meeting, or even prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

How endometriosis can affect fertility

In case its other symptoms didn’t suck enough, endometriosis can also cause infertility, thanks to the scarring and excess tissue buildup. Ironically, all that uterine tissue that your body is producing for a baby could actually block the pathways to conception. 

“Endometriosis is thought to cause infertility because of the scarring and adhesions that result when endometrium grows on pelvic organs,” says Dr. Nataki Douglas, M.D., Ph.D, director of translational research for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The more extensive the disease and scarring, the greater the negative impact on fertility. “For instance, the adhesions can make it more difficult for an egg to be swept up by a fallopian tube and become fertilized.”

Can and should I freeze my eggs if I have endometriosis?

Absolutely. Some doctors will recommend egg freezing for women with endometriosis, while they're young and the condition is still in the early stages. Because some surgeries for endometriosis can actually worsen fertility by inadvertently removing healthy ovarian tissue or compromising vascular supply to the ovary, egg freezing should be done before any such surgeries.

If you are interested in freezing your eggs, we can connect you with a fertility specialist for a consultation to discuss your specific situation. Our Freeze by Co is making egg freezing more empowering, positive, and accessible — even free — when you give half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. 

What your doctor might recommend

The good news is, endometriosis can often be treatable. Depending on your situation, treatment might include:

• Hormone therapy: Often in the form of birth control pills, this prevents additional tissue growth and damage. 
• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage the pain that comes with endometriosis at certain points in your cycle.
• A diagnostic workup: Thankfully, some women with endometriosis are still able to conceive, but talk to a reproductive endocrinologist if you don’t get a positive pregnancy test on your own within 6 to 12 months. A full diagnostic workup might be a good idea. Dr. Marra Francis, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN in The Woodlands, TX, notes that this workup would likely include both diagnostic procedures for endometriosis and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), which will show if your tubes are blocked. This may prevent pregnancy or increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, so you’ll want to work with your doctor on figuring out the best course of action.  
• Surgery: This is one of the most effective methods for treating endometriosis and preserving fertility, according to Dr. Douglas, but also the most invasive. These surgeries can remove adhesions and ovarian cysts, clearing tissue out of the fallopian tubes and making pregnancy a real possibility. 

Still, you might need a little boost to make that baby happen. While there are tons of treatments out there, depending on a host of factors—age, number of years trying, status of fallopian tubes, status of sperm—women can proceed with standard fertility treatments, like oral medication and IUI. However, while it is the most invasive, “IVF has the best results in the majority of women with endometriosis,” says Daniel Kort, associate medical director and practice director at Neway Fertility in New York City. 

Bottom line

Endometriosis can be a real pain—literally and figuratively—and infertility is one of the most common complications associated with it. Fortunately, with a little help from a reproductive endocrinologist, it’s still possible to conceive if you’ve developed endometriosis infertility.

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. 

As women, we are often tasked with making complex decisions about our bodies, our health, and our future. Among the myriad of choices, one of the most significant is the decision of whether or not to freeze our eggs. But once you've made the decision and plan to go through the process, you now may be wondering, "What exactly happens to my eggs after I freeze them? Where do they go? How long can they remain frozen?"

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, offers a chance to focus on other stuff now while planning for your future family. But how does it work, and what happens to your precious eggs once they are safely frozen? Let's delve into this fascinating, sometimes bewildering world of fertility preservation.

The egg freezing process: a quick recap

Before we venture further, let's refresh our understanding of the egg freezing process. It starts with hormone injections that stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. These eggs are then retrieved through a minor surgical procedure, and once retrieved, they are immediately frozen in a state-of-the-art laboratory. Following the retrieval and freezing process, your eggs are stored in a secure and carefully monitored cryo-storage facility. 

Egg freezing and preservation

Vitrification is a newer and more effective method of freezing eggs that has largely replaced older methods such as slow freezing. With vitrification, eggs are quickly frozen using a high concentration of cryoprotectants and then plunged into liquid nitrogen for storage. This process creates a glass-like state that preserves the eggs in a nearly perfect condition. In fact, vitrification ensures a very high rate of survival of the eggs, typically 95% or above.

Compared to slow freezing, which can damage the eggs and reduce their viability, vitrification has a higher success rate of producing healthy embryos for later use. It has become the preferred method of egg freezing for most fertility clinics and has allowed more patients to successfully preserve their fertility.

If you have any doubts about your clinic, you can ask them what type of method they use for egg freezing. It's important to do your research and choose a reputable fertility clinic with experience in vitrification if you're considering egg freezing.

Long-term storage and monitoring

Once the eggs are frozen, they are stored in liquid nitrogen. Some clinics keep those frozen eggs stored at an onsite lab, but in most cases they are shipped to an offsite facility. As soon as you’re ready to use them, they can be safely shipped back. 

In either case, the frozen eggs' care doesn't end at storage. They are monitored regularly to ensure the liquid nitrogen levels remain constant, and the facility's temperature control and security systems are working correctly. A well-maintained facility prioritizes meticulous record-keeping, tracking the storage duration and any other pertinent details about each egg. 

Cofertility members can take advantage of our partnership with TMRW Life Sciences, a fertility technology company that has developed the world's first automated solution for storing and managing frozen eggs and embryos. 

TMRW's technology platform digitally identifies, tracks, monitors and stores patients' frozen eggs and embryos with safety, accuracy, efficiency and transparency. TMRW's platform sets a new standard of care by reducing potential points of failure by 94% compared with manual systems.

So what is TMRW doing differently? 

• Digital labeling - instead of handwritten labels, TMRW uses digital labeling and RFID tracking. With this tracking system, clinics always know exactly where your eggs and embryos are and can easily find them when you’re ready to use them.
• Automated management - instead of relying on manual processes, TMRW has a new fully-automated digital system that helps eliminate 94% of potential failure points
• Real-time inventory - TMRW has gone the extra mile by creating a 24/7 cloud-based monitoring system with real-time inventory updates to provide new levels of safety, transparency, and peace of mind. 
• Active monitoring - TMRW provides 24/7 digital monitoring (thousands of daily checks!) and expert human oversight to identify potential issues before they become a problem.

Will my eggs survive the thaw?

Several factors can impact the success of egg thawing, including your age when the eggs are frozen, the number and quality of the eggs, the technique used to freeze the eggs, and the quality of the clinic’s laboratory. 

The quality of the eggs is also a crucial factor in egg thawing. Good quality eggs have a higher chance of survival and fertilization. However, even with good quality eggs, there is no guarantee of success, and the process may need to be repeated to achieve pregnancy.

If and when you decide to use them

When you decide the time is right to use your frozen eggs, they are thawed in the lab using a warming solution. 

But keep in mind that thawing is just the first part. The eggs will then need to be fertilized with sperm and grown into embryos. The surviving eggs are then fertilized using a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg.

After fertilization, the resulting embryos are monitored for a few days as they begin to develop. The most viable embryos are then transferred to your uterus in a procedure similar to a pap smear. If successful, the embryo implants in your uterus and grows, leading to pregnancy.

Generally, the younger you are when freezing your eggs, the better the chances of success. Eggs frozen in your late 20s or early 30s have a higher chance of survival and successful fertilization compared to those frozen in your late 30s or 40s.

If you decide NOT to use them

What if, down the line, you decide not to use your eggs, or you have more than you need? 

One study of egg freezing patients at UCSF found that 89% believed they would be glad they froze their eggs, even if they never used them to conceive a child. So if you don't end up needing your frozen eggs down the line, there are a few options for what to do with them.

• Keep them in storage. Most storage facilities offer long-term storage options (our partnership with TMRW includes plans up to 10-years long), allowing you to keep your eggs frozen for as many years as  necessary. This may be a good option if you're not yet ready to use the eggs but want to keep them as a backup plan.
• Donate the eggs to someone else who may need them. Egg donation is a process of donating eggs to another person or couple who needs them, such as LGBTQ+ families or those suffering from infertility. This can be a wonderful gift for those who may not be able to have a child otherwise. If you go through our Split program, you will have already been cleared as a donor and can easily donate these additional eggs. If you’re not part of the Split program but think you may be interested in this down the line, talk to your doctor as they may be able to do some additional donor-related screening during your egg freezing process. 
• Dispose of them.  If you decide that you no longer need your frozen eggs and don't want to continue storing them or donate them, simply request that they are disposed of by the clinic or storage facility.
• Donate to science. Many research studies rely on donated eggs to investigate new techniques and treatments for infertility. Ask your clinic if this is an option.

Emotional considerations

Aside from the practical aspects, it's important to acknowledge the emotional journey involved in egg freezing. It's normal to feel a mix of emotions – relief, hope, anxiety, or even sadness. Know that these feelings are common and valid. Don't hesitate to seek support, be it from a trusted friend, family member, a professional counselor, or the Cofertility community.

Summing it up

The journey of your eggs from freezing to potential future use is complex and exciting, underscored by sophisticated science and meticulous care. Deciding to freeze your eggs can be an empowering choice, giving you autonomy over your fertility and future family planning. Knowing what happens to your eggs after freezing them can provide comfort and clarity as you navigate your fertility journey.

In the end, egg freezing is an investment in your future, offering an opportunity to expand your family when the time is right for you. It's a testament to the advancements in reproductive science and a tool for you to take control of your fertility. Trust in the process, seek support when needed, and above all, know that your choices are valid, and your feelings are heard. After all, the journey to parenthood, in whatever form it takes, is a voyage of hope, love, and extraordinary potential.

If you’re ready to freeze your eggs, we’re here to help. Reach out or learn more about our Freeze program.

Read more:

• Egg Freezing: How Long Can My Eggs Be Stored?
• Egg Freezing Thaw Rates
• When Should I Freeze My Eggs?

One of the most commonly asked questions we hear from people considering freezing their eggs is if they’ll gain weight during the process. Hey, we get it — it’s a fair question, and while there have been tons of advancements in the egg freezing process, there’s still lots of misinformation out there about it all. Through a comprehensive exploration of the egg freezing process, hormonal shifts, medications, and lifestyle aspects, we’re here to set the record straight about weight gain and egg freezing. 

A closer look at the egg freezing process

Before we jump into potential weight implications of the egg freezing process, it’s essential to understand what that process actually entails. Egg freezing revolves around controlled ovarian stimulation, which basically means taking daily hormonal medications for about 10-12 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than usual in a single cycle. Right before you ovulate, when those eggs are at peak maturity, a reproductive endocrinologist will retrieve those eggs while you’re under anesthesia. 

In egg freezing, mature eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for your own potential future use, whereas in egg donation, the retrieved eggs are contributed to assist those who need help from an egg donor to grow their family — including gay dads, those with infertility, cancer survivors, and more. Whether you’re freezing your eggs, donating them, or both via our Split program (where you freeze for free when donating half), the stimulation process may cause concerns about potential weight changes due to hormonal shifts and medications. If this is you, you’re in the right place, and we’ll explain it all.

Dispelling weight-related myths: the what and the why

While scientific studies about this subject are limited, most fertility doctors say that, while some weight gain can be a side effect during the egg freezing process, it is unlikely for noticeable weight gain to persist beyond the retrieval cycle. It’s possible to experience slight weight fluctuations during the retrieval cycle, but these changes are typically attributed to factors like temporary fluid retention and abdominal bloating rather than significant fat accumulation. 

Not everyone experiences weight change during the egg freezing process (you could actually lose weight if you’re stressed about the experience for one reason or another and don’t have an appetite), but for those who do, it is not usually substantial or enduring.

Egg freezing medications

Some of the medications involved in your egg freezing protocol can also play a role in minor weight changes. The controlled ovarian stimulation process involves the administration of hormonal medications, primarily follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These medications are crucial for encouraging your ovaries to develop more mature eggs during that cycle. But because these medications can influence appetite and metabolism regulation, this could lead to small weight fluctuations. 

Once you stop taking these medications, any fluctuations resulting from temporary fluid retention will likely dissipate, and these effects are generally transient. 

Lifestyle factors and their impact

Beyond medications, lifestyle factors also play a role in potential weight fluctuations during an egg freezing cycle. But regardless of your weight, we want you to feel your best throughout your egg freezing cycle. 

Nourishing your wellbeing

Egg freezing or not, a well-balanced diet rich in nutrients supports your body's overall functioning. Incorporating whole foods, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables fosters a sense of wellbeing and provides energy throughout the egg freezing process. But in addition to helping you feel good, eating a balanced diet may have a positive impact upon your egg freezing cycle itself. And certain foods rich in specific nutrients may actually impact your egg quality. 

For more on what to eat if you’re freezing your eggs, click here.

Rest and stress management

Ensuring adequate rest is vital during the egg freezing journey. Your egg freezing medications may influence your energy levels, underscoring the importance of listening to your body's cues. Stress can also influence weight fluctuations (in either direction), making stress management an essential aspect of wellbeing during the egg freezing process. 

Prioritizing rest allows your body to recover, and if you’re trying to maintain a stable weight, it can help support that. Our recommendation? Block off some time, load up on shows to watch, plan some cozy nights, and take egg freezing as an excuse to just chill (if you can). Your egg freezing cycle might also be the perfect time to finally download that meditation app you’ve been planning to try.

Egg freezing and BMI

While we’re on the subject of weight gain and egg freezing, you may be wondering if your weight itself plays a role in predicting your cycle outcomes. There’s a lot of conflicting research out there about this, but when it comes to egg donation in particular, fertility clinics often do have BMI limitations in place. For egg freezing, you may be subject to similar BMI requirements as set out by clinic partners, but it is typically more flexible than if you are donating eggs to another family. 

The more you know

To sum it up — yes, sometimes people gain a little weight during the egg freezing process (and other times they lose a little weight). But it’s usually not a noticeable change given how the egg freezing cycle lasts under two weeks. If you have specific concerns related to weight gain during egg freezing, we encourage you to consult with your fertility doctor who can provide personalized guidance based on your weight and health history.

As you think through your options, we encourage you to explore our quiz to see which of our accessible egg freezing programs you may qualify for. 

With our Split program, members who qualify based on clinic criteria can freeze their eggs entirely for free when they donate half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive.

Through our Keep program, members self-fund their egg freezing journey and keep the entire egg yield for themselves, with discounts and support from our team every step of the way.

With both programs, members also get exclusive access to our members-only community, where they can connect with others going through the egg freezing and donation processes at the same time and lean on each other for support and encouragement.

To see which programs you qualify for and start your journey today, click the link below to take our free, two-minute quiz.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is so common that “nearly all sexually active men and women get the virus at some point in their lives.” With at least 150 types of HPVs that we know of, it’s no wonder that 79 million Americans have at least one type. But fear not! 

While it’s true that some STIs can lead to infertility, there’s no need to freak out in the case of HPV. HPV on its own shouldn’t affect your ability to conceive. However, because HPV is often asymptomatic (meaning there aren’t any obvious signs or symptoms), it’s also one of the least treated STIs. Most of the time, that isn’t a big deal. But depending on the type of HPV someone has, there can be an increased risk of developing cancer or precancerous cells on the cervix, which do require treatment. The treatments to remove these abnormal cervical cells can, in turn, affect fertility—this is when discussing fertility if you have HPV becomes really important so let’s talk about it.  

What is HPV and what causes it?

We’re gonna back up for a second here and explain the basics of HPV. HPV is actually an umbrella term for a group of over 200 related viral infections that affect the outer skin layers of the genitals, mouth, hands and feet. So, while transmission can happen without sexual intercourse, the vast majority of HPV infections are the result of unprotected sex.

In these cases, you can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus but it’s most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms.

Because of this, if you’re sexually active at all, you can get HPV—even if you’ve had sex with only one person. You can also develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection. This is why doctors usually can’t tell you when you might have gotten it.

Types of HPV and treatments

Of the many types of HPV, only some are of actual concern and could therefore affect fertility, either due to the virus itself or the treatments used to manage it. Low-risk HPVs mostly cause no disease and typically go away on their own within 2-3 years. However, a few low-risk HPV types can cause warts on or around the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat. High-risk HPVs can cause several types of cancer. There are about 14 high-risk HPV types including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68. Two of these, HPV16 and HPV18, are responsible for most HPV-related cancers.

As mentioned earlier, most HPV infections don’t cause cancer. Your immune system is usually able to control HPV infections so they don’t progress to cancer. However, high-risk HPV infections are more likely to persist and can eventually cause cervical cancer. In these cases, the immune system is not able to control the HPV infection and as the high-risk HPV infection lingers for many years, it can lead to abnormal cell changes that, if untreated, may worsen over time and become cancer.

If your doctor decides that they need to remove abnormal cells, they’ll use one of the following treatments:

• cryotherapy, or freezing and eliminating the abnormal tissue
• a cone biopsy (conization) to remove part of the cervix
• a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which involves removing cells with a wire loop that has an electrical charge

We’ll talk more about how these procedures can affect your fertility later on.

How does HPV impact fertility?

While most HPV infections clear up on their own (and rarely make themselves known through noticeable symptoms), the infections that persist can have a negative impact on fertility for all genders—either due to the infection itself or the treatments used.

Fertility risks associated with HPV include:

• Damage to the cervix via HPV itself or the treatment used to remove affected tissue from the cervix
• Decreased ovarian reserve
• Damage to sperm or parts of the male reproductive system

HPV and cervical function

First and foremost, HPV can damage the cervix directly over time if left untreated. This is why it’s so important to get those annual exams and routine pap smears with HPV testing! Most of the time, testing is the only way to know for certain whether a person has HPV or not. Once HPV has persisted for a long time or is getting more severe, it’s time to remove abnormal cells with one of the procedures mentioned earlier–cryotherapy, cone biopsy, or a LEEP. These procedures can most notably affect your ability to reach full term in a future pregnancy but this depends on several factors including how large and deep the area to be treated is.

In all cases, cell removal can change your body’s cervical mucus production. The procedures may also cause stenosis, or a narrowing of the opening of the cervix. This can slow down sperm and make it harder for an egg to get fertilized. Cones and LEEPs can also cause the cervix to weaken. While this won’t cause infertility or difficulty getting pregnant, it can lead to cervical insufficiency, which can cause your cervix to painlessly open and thin before your pregnancy has made it to term, and lead to a preterm delivery.

HPV and ovarian reserve

There have been several interesting studies about HPV and ovarian function but overall the literature is a bit of a mixed bag. Overall, research has suggested that HPV infection may be associated with a higher rate of spontaneous loss or underdevelopment when undergoing IVF. One study that compared HPV positive and HPV negative people found that a decreased ovarian reserve was more common in the HPV positive over the HPV negative group. Another study looked at HPV positive and HPV negative people undergoing IVF and their response to stimulation. No significant difference was seen in the responsiveness to controlled ovarian stimulation in terms of the number and maturity of retrieved eggs or in terms of fertilization rates. Finally, a recent study published this year showed no effect on live birth rates when comparing people with and without HPV.

HPV and its effects on male partners

Several studies have shown a link between HPV and decreased fertility for male partners. In particular, sperm containing HPV has been shown to negatively contribute to both male and couple infertility. One study done in 2011 found that men who had HPV were more likely to have an impairment of certain sperm parameters, like motility. This was confirmed in another study done in 2015. On top of that, if sperm containing HPV fertilizes an egg, there may be an increased risk of early miscarriage.

Can I freeze my eggs if I have HPV?

The good news with all of this is that an HPV diagnosis alone should not affect your ability to get pregnant or to freeze your eggs. Most fertility specialists will require an up to date pap smear and HPV test as part of their evaluation and you’ll usually be allowed to continue with the freezing process as long as the HPV is low-risk, since those cases are expected to clear on their own.

If you do have a high-risk HPV, you’ll need to discuss those results with both your OB/GYN and your fertility doctor to figure out what next step is right for you. Depending on the specific HPV strain, if there are any lesions and how advanced they are, your doctor will recommend continuing with egg freezing or delaying until after treatment. 

If there are precancerous cells in the cervix, minor treatment through cryosurgery or LEEP will be necessary and this is almost always recommended before trying to get pregnant or undergoing any other fertility treatments, including egg freezing or IVF. For the most part, these procedures don’t affect reproductive potential though and most people go on to have healthy pregnancies once they’ve recovered.

Risks and benefits of egg freezing with HPV

The main risk of freezing with HPV is the concern for a lower yield and the quality of eggs retrieved. As mentioned before, some studies have shown that HPV does have an effect on ovarian reserve but others have shown little to no differences in IVF outcomes. There are also so many additional factors that affect a person’s fertility. Your provider is going to be the best person to tell you whether your case warrants clearing the HPV before moving ahead with egg freezing. The benefit of egg freezing with HPV is that you’re taking a proactive step to preserve your future fertility. Whether your HPV is low- or high-risk, whether you require treatment or not,  you’ll know you’ve safeguarded your options.

Can I donate eggs if I have HPV?

The donor egg screening process will vary somewhat from clinic to clinic but here at Cofertility, our goal is to be as clear as possible about what this involves. All potential donors will be assessed in terms of their age, AMH levels, medical and family history, psychological and physical health. Making sure your pap smear and HPV testing are up to date is included in this process. 

HPV won’t automatically disqualify you from becoming an egg donor since it’s not transmittable through your eggs. However, as mentioned before, this will depend on which HPV type, whether it’s low or high-risk, and whether there are any precancerous or cancerous lesions found during the screening process. For a full list of disqualifications for egg donation through Cofertility, click here. 

Conclusion

The takeaway from all of this at the end of the day is that preventive care is king! Protecting yourself from HPV by getting vaccinated and making sure to get your pap smears on time can not only decrease your cervical cancer risk (which is a pretty good reason all on its own) but it can also lower your risk for preventable pregnancy or fertility concerns down the road. 

While there’s still more research to be done on the effects of HPV on fertility in all genders, it can safely be said that discussing HPV and fertility with your healthcare providers should be at the top of your list. This is especially true if you have HPV and end up requiring more invasive management—your providers can help you make a plan about your fertility future before any treatments begin.

Egg freezing and HPV can be confusing individually so you’re not alone when it comes to questions and concerns around both topics and how they affect each other. Freeze by Co is here to help you every step of the way. With our Split program, people between 21 to 33 years old have the chance to freeze their eggs for free! After 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 or not interested in donating half the eggs retrieved, 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. Our private, online community allows you to engage with other people freezing their eggs at the exact same time! 

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

The gift registry has been a cultural institution for pivotal life moments — from the gilded spoons and Ninja blenders of wedding registries to the cute little onesies of baby shower lists. These wish lists give friends and family an easy way to provide support that you actually want. 

But what if we took this concept and applied it to another life milestone that is also super exciting? This brings us to the idea of an egg freezing registry. Yes, you heard that right. An egg freezing registry.

On Sex and the City, after celebrating countless weddings and babies, Carrie Bradshaw famously took matters into her own hands and created her own registry in honor of her marriage to herself. Her registry had just one item — a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Our take? If Carrie can celebrate herself, you can, too. Especially when you’re doing something so incredible for your future as freezing your eggs. 

Why you deserve an egg freezing registry

You may be wondering, particularly in a society that still wrestles with norms surrounding reproductive choices, as to whether you “deserve” to have a registry for something as personal and medical as egg freezing. The answer is a resounding YES, and here’s why.

Normalizing reproductive autonomy

Creating a registry for egg freezing can help normalize the conversation around reproductive autonomy and shatter persisting taboos. Women have long been subject to societal pressures about when and how they should have children. The ability to crowdfund one’s egg freezing process (or at least get some goodies covered) is a bold statement of agency, positioning the egg freezer not as a subject of societal expectations but as an architect of her own life.

Creating a registry for egg freezing can help normalize the conversation around reproductive autonomy and shatter persisting taboos.

Solidifying social support

The explicit act of creating a registry — and having loved ones contribute to it — serves as a profound endorsement of your choices. The communal act of contributing to a registry can offer emotional sustenance and make sure you know that your community is invested in your well-being, present and future.

Lessening the financial load

Financial obstacles should not dictate reproductive choices. Just as registries for weddings or baby showers are widely accepted tools for “getting someone started” with the essentials, an egg freezing registry is a legitimate way to help offset some of the costs.

A reimagined social contract

Finally, having an egg freezing registry reinforces a modernized social contract. At its core, a registry is an agreement among a community that signifies its collective investment in a significant life event. Weddings are not just about the couple, and baby showers are not just about the parents; they are about a larger circle of family and friends who will interact with that couple or child and want to support and celebrate them. Similarly, an egg freezing registry proclaims that a woman's reproductive choices are worth communal support, thus redefining the very ethos of what our social contracts can include.

So, do you deserve to have an egg freezing registry? Absolutely. In doing so, you're not only giving yourself the gift of choice but also expanding the societal dialogue around what choice can and should look like.

What should I add to my egg freezing registry?

One of the most exciting possibilities of an egg freezing registry is the potential to ask for specific add-ons that could aid in your egg freezing journey. Here are some ideas:

• Nutritional supplements: Omega-3s, prenatal vitamins, and other supplements to prepare your body for your cycle.
• Heating pad: Useful for post-procedure comfort and relief from cramps.
• Fuzzy socks: These make the often-cold clinic rooms and stirrup-bound procedures markedly more comfortable.
• Chocolates/other treats: Emotional well-being is part and parcel of the egg freezing journey; indulgent treats can serve as small but potent morale boosters.
• Wellness packages: Sessions for acupuncture or fertility yoga, aimed at enhancing both emotional and physical well-being.
• Books and journals: Literature on reproductive health, fertility journeys, or self-reflective journals.
• Travel vouchers: For those who choose clinics far from home, these can cover transportation or even lodging costs.
• Food delivery/meal prep: Gift cards to services like Doordash, Uber Eats, HelloFresh, Goldbelly, can help keep you well fed during the egg freezing period. 
• Bath bombs: For pre- or post-procedure relaxation, because a soothing bath can be a sanctuary in stressful times.
• Other relaxation aids: Consider adding aromatherapy oils, scented candles, or a premium-quality eye mask for deep relaxation.

You’ll want to diversify the options on your registry to make it easier for contributors to select gifts that align with their budget and your needs. These practical and comfort-focused gifts not only provide material relief but also serve as tokens of emotional support from your community.

Tips for hosting and sharing your egg freezing registry

So where could you host such a registry? Existing platforms could easily be adapted for this purpose. A few possibilities include:

• Amazon: Given its almost universal reach and diverse product range.
• Target: A favorite for baby shower registries, the leap to egg freezing isn't a big one.
• GoFundMe: Already a popular choice for medical crowdfunding, this platform could provide a natural fit if you just need cash.
• Meal Train: Makes it easy for friends and family to help feed you!

Spreading the word about your egg freezing registry

Creating the registry is the first half of the equation; sharing it with your network is the other, equally nuanced, half. The act of disseminating your egg freezing registry becomes not just an invitation for contributions but also an opening for dialogue, education, and emotional connection. 

Much like sharing any significant life news, timing is pivotal. You may want to inform the closest people in your life individually before broadcasting it more broadly. 

When you share your registry, include a personalized message explaining why you've chosen to freeze your eggs and how their support can be instrumental. This humanizes what might otherwise seem like a straightforward transaction, adding layers of meaning and context.

We recommend emphasizing that you appreciate any support or celebration and that there is zero pressure to contribute. There are multiple ways to show support, be it emotional or material. This may be especially helpful to include, as some recipients may be financially constrained or morally conflicted.

As your journey progresses, keeping your contributors updated adds an extra layer of engagement and acknowledgment. It’s an opportunity to show the impact of their support, which goes beyond monetary contributions and enters the realm of emotional sustenance.

Creating an egg freezing registry is more than a logistical step; it’s an emotional and sociocultural undertaking that can serve various roles: a litmus test for societal progress, a platform for dialogue, and an arena for collective emotional investment. Navigate it with the same sensitivity and thoughtfulness you applied when deciding to freeze your eggs in the first place, and you can open up spaces not just for communal contributions but for meaningful human connections as well.

Freeze your eggs with Cofertility

We’d love the opportunity to support you on your egg freezing journey.

Through our Split program, qualified freezers can freeze their eggs for free when donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.

Through our Keep program — where you keep 100% of eggs retrieved for your own future use — we offer exclusive discounts on expenses, such as frozen egg storage. Keep members also still gain free access to our Freeze by Co Community, a safe space for those engaging in the egg freezing process (or gearing up for it) to connect and lean on each other.

By making egg freezing easier and more accessible, our programs further strengthen the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)’s Committee opinion that egg freezing can help promote social justice and strengthen gender equality.

Thanks to advancement in reproductive technology, egg freezing can offer women the opportunity to preserve their fertility while they focus on other aspects of their lives. But what if they have pursued their education, advanced in their careers, and are happily settled with their forever person, when life takes a left turn? Significant life changes such as divorce may also prompt women to consider egg freezing as a way to preserve their fertility for future family-building purposes. This option may allow them the time needed to heal without feeling pressured to rush into finding a new partner and give them the space to make informed decisions about their future.

The emotional impact of divorce

Divorce or a breakup can be an incredibly challenging and emotionally taxing life event. The end of a relationship can bring about feelings of loss, grief, loneliness, and uncertainty. Divorce can impact various aspects of one's life, including future plans— plans that may have included children. A divorce or breakup can raise concerns about future fertility issues, especially for women over the age of 35. 

How egg freezing works, and how much it costs

The process of egg freezing typically begins with ovarian stimulation where the woman undergoes hormonal treatments to stimulate the ovaries. The goal is to produce multiple eggs in one cycle as typically only one egg is produced in a cycle. Once the eggs have reached maturity, they are retrieved via an out-patient procedure where a thin needle is inserted into each follicle, and the eggs are retrieved. Once retrieved, the eggs are cryopreserved using vitrification, a rapid cooling technique. The frozen eggs are then stored in cryogenic tanks until they are ready to be used.

There are a few factors that determine success rates. By success rates we are referring to a live birth outcome using the frozen eggs. Generally, women under 35 have better outcomes and the more eggs retrieved, the higher the likelihood of success. A recent study found that irrespective of age at freezing, a significantly high live birth rate was achieved when the number of eggs frozen per patient was 15 or more. 

The process of freezing eggs can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 and above. Costs include things like the initial consultation and testing, ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, the egg freezing procedure, medication, and storage fees. Once the eggs are ready to be used, there are costs involved for thawing and then fertilizing to create embryos. After that there are fees for embryo testing and the transfer. If a sperm donor is used, there are various costs involved with that as well.

Learn more about our Split program, where qualified women can freeze their eggs for free when donating half to a family that couldn’t otherwise conceive. 

Navigating the decision-making process

Egg freezing allows women to take control of their fertility and help them make informed decisions about their reproductive future, with or without a partner.  However, there is still some concern about whether those who choose this option will regret their decision, especially given the costs involved. This article looks at several studies that explore this idea of regret. Overall, it was surmised that the only regret most had was they wished they had done it sooner.

Deciding to freeze eggs after a breakup or divorce can be a complex and personal decision. So it is important to feel and process emotions, seek support when needed, and make decisions that feel right for you and your future goals. It is understandable that following a breakup or divorce, there may be uncertainty about future relationships. So the decision to freeze eggs may involve deciding how to move forward with one's fertility independent of a partner. 

It’s also normal to have mixed feelings about the decision to freeze eggs, including relief at having a plan in place for the future but also sadness about the circumstances that led to the decision, and anxiety about the unknowns ahead. So it is very important to find healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety during this time. Which includes self-care, self-compassion, and leaning on support systems.

As important as it is to plan for the future, it is also important to keep in mind that plans always evolve over time. So I encourage you to remain flexible. Be prepared to adjust plans as  circumstances change. For example, at what point will you consider a sperm donor? If you find a new partner will you use frozen eggs or will you try to get pregnant on your own? If you do  get pregnant without using the frozen eggs,  what happens to the frozen eggs? Do they remain stored for a certain period of time? Are they donated? Or are they disposed?

Summing it up

Divorce or a break up brings about significant life changes, including changes in family planning. Freezing eggs provides a way to preserve fertility options for the future, allowing individuals to take time to decide on family planning when they're ready, whether it's with a future partner or as a single parent. It also allows individuals to focus on their emotional healing without feeling rushed into making decisions. By offering a way to preserve fertility and extend the window for family planning, egg freezing has become a valuable option for women navigating life changes.

Read more

• Amanda Goetz on Egg Freezing After Divorce
• We Asked Four Women: Did You Freeze Eggs or Embryos?
• A Breakdown of Egg Freezing Success Rates by Age

Freeze your eggs 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.

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.

Egg freezing can provide amazing reproductive optionality in the event that you may need to use your frozen eggs to have children down the line — but what happens to unused frozen eggs if you don’t end up needing them? In this article, we’ll discuss what happens after you freeze your eggs and some options for what to do with any unused frozen eggs. 

Because it can be beneficial for anyone with ovaries to freeze their eggs — we offer a program to freeze your eggs for free through our Split program, when you donate half of the eggs retrieved to another family who can’t otherwise conceive. Our hope is that whenever you’re ready to start trying for a baby, you’ll be able to get pregnant unassisted. That being said, with 1 in 6 individuals experiencing fertility challenges, egg freezing allows you to be a little bit more prepared, just in case. 

Once you freeze your eggs, there are various paths you can decide on in the future, whether or not you choose to use them. Let’s dive in. 

What are the chances I’ll need to use my frozen eggs? 

As we mentioned, fertility challenges are — unfortunately — not entirely uncommon. Again, our hope is that your experience trying to conceive, whenever you’re ready, is easy-breezy. But that just may not be the case, which is why we’re on a mission to make egg freezing more accessible, empowering, and positive for all. 

It's an especially valuable option for those who know they want to build a family, but know they might need to use IVF down the line. This includes single moms by choice and members of the LGBTQ+ community, who often rely on assisted reproductive technologies to achieve their family-building dreams.

If you do end up wanting to use those eggs in the future, that involves: 

• Shipping them from storage
• Thawing them
• Fertilizing them into embryos in a lab (otherwise known as IVF, or in vitro fertilization)
• Letting those embryos develop for several days, with the option to have them genetically tested
• Transferring an embryo into your uterus or that of a gestational carrier to hopefully develop into a live birth 

The data on frozen egg thawing

It’s a relatively straightforward process, but given that egg freezing was only recently popularized, there’s not a ton of long term data around how many people end up needing to use those eggs in the future. We do have some data around thaw rates, as the success of thawing frozen eggs is not guaranteed. One study from 2009 found that the overall survival rate of eggs from vitrification (the most commonly used method of egg freezing today) was 95%. 

A 2023 UK-based study followed a cohort of 167 women that underwent 184 social egg freezing cycles between January 2006 and March 2022, and showed that 16% of the women have returned to use their frozen eggs so far. That statistic, however, should be examined with a grain of salt — the biggest reason being that if someone froze her eggs as late as 2022, the odds of her moving forward with IVF only one year later may be unlikely. 

Another 2022 study led by experts at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the NYU Langone Fertility Center looked at 15 years of frozen egg thaw outcomes. Of 543 women, 61% moved forward with at least one embryo transfer. While this doesn’t tell us exactly how many women thawed their eggs, it was likely greater than 61%, assuming that some of these eggs unfortunately either didn’t survive the thaw or didn’t fertilize into embryos. 

Read more in Egg Freezing Thaw Rates

What happens if I *don’t* use my frozen eggs? 

Before you move forward with egg freezing, you’ll sign a contract with your clinic (or long-term storage facility), where you state your preferences about what to do with your eggs if, at any point, you decide not to move forward with fertilization and transfer. Don’t worry — you can always change your mind later on. 

If you don’t end up needing your frozen eggs, or decide down the line that you don’t want to keep them in storage for any reason, here are your options.

Unused frozen eggs option #1: discard them 

If you know you don’t want to keep storing your frozen eggs, and would rather not pursue other options (listed below), you can always request that the clinic or storage facility dispose of them. 

Unused frozen eggs option #2: donate them to science 

The biggest reason why egg freezing technology has made so much progress over the years is because of individuals volunteering to provide reproductive material for research. The ability to study frozen eggs and embryos, along with the medications, techniques, or devices used among various cycles can help improve success rates for others pursuing fertility treatment in the future. 

If you don’t see this listed in your initial contract but want to pursue this as an option, ask your clinic if this is possible.

Unused frozen eggs option #3: keep paying for storage

Frozen egg storage fees will vary depending on the location of the storage facility, the time you’re willing to commit to storage (some facilities offer discounts for bulk pricing — say, paying for 5 years upfront), transportation fees, and more. Typically, this ranges between $500 - $1,500 per year. 

As part of the free egg freezing provided through Cofertility’s Split program outlined above, you’ll receive 10 years of frozen egg storage. And of course, you can always remove, thaw, or ship them somewhere else before those 10 years are up if you’d like. After all, they’re your eggs! And if you’re working with a good clinic in the US using vitrification methods (and don’t mind paying storage fees), you can even store your frozen eggs indefinitely. 

Unused frozen eggs option #4: donate them to another family

Many individuals or couples — including LGBTQ+ families, those with infertility, or cancer survivors — may rely on egg donation in order to grow their families. If you’re interested in pursuing egg donation, talk to your clinic. You’ll need to undergo some screening to see if you qualify, but this could be an incredible option. 

Conclusion 

If you’re not 100% certain you won’t be using your frozen eggs and you are comfortable with the storage expense, our recommendation is to continue storing your eggs until you’re sure you no longer need or want them. You never know. 

If you have not yet begun the egg freezing process and you are interested in more affordable (even free) egg freezing, take our quiz to see if you qualify for Cofertility’s Split program. It only takes a minute! 

Read More:

• Egg Freezing: How Long Can My Eggs Be Stored?
• Does Donating Eggs Affect Your Fertility?
• What to Look For in an Egg Freezing Clinic

The demands of medical school can make it seem like there's never a good time to focus on personal goals like proactive family planning. But if egg freezing is on your mind, understanding the best timing can make the process much smoother. Medical school actually offers some unique advantages. You are better positioned to understand everything involved in the medical procedure.

When it comes to egg freezing, your age is the most important factor influencing future success rates with frozen eggs, so acting while you're younger (under 35) gives you the best possible options. Additionally, certain phases of med school might have slightly more flexibility than the intensity of residency.

So, when should you consider freezing your eggs during medical school? Optimal windows include summer breaks (most time available), fall/spring breaks (if you're a meticulous planner), or potentially elective periods (depending on your choices). Let’s dive in to learn more.

A quick overview of egg freezing

The egg freezing process itself typically takes a few weeks. It begins with ovarian reserve and fertility testing along with a consultation with a fertility doctor where you map out the plan. Once you’re ready to go, you'll take hormonal medications for about 10-12 days to encourage the development of multiple mature eggs. During this time, you'll have regular monitoring appointments to track your progress.  Once the eggs are ready, they'll be retrieved in a short, outpatient procedure under sedation.  After retrieval, your eggs are frozen and stored for future use.

A guide to the ideal timing during medical school

Here's the essential timeline to keep in mind:

2-3 months before your egg freezing cycle:

• Initial consult: Discuss your goals, the process, and costs with a fertility doctor.
• Baseline testing: Bloodwork and ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve.
• Stop birth control: Depending on the type of birth control you are taking, you may need to stop taking it ahead of the egg freezing cycle. 

The egg freezing cycle:

• Medications and monitoring: Begin ovarian stimulation with daily hormone injections for 10-12 days. This phase requires several monitoring appointments (ultrasounds and blood tests) at your fertility clinic or a local remote monitoring clinic. If you work with Cofertility in our Split program, we can work with you and your program to find the most convenient place for these appointments, including at your hospital.   
• Egg retrieval: Short, outpatient procedure under sedation where eggs are retrieved and frozen.
• Recovery: Expect a few days of cramping and/or bloating. Most people can return to light activities soon after.

Expect about 3 to 6 monitoring appointments (which last no more than an hour) and one day for the retrieval.  Ideally, you'll want to align the cycle with a break in your medical school schedule– such as spring break, summer break, or otherwise– to ensure you have the flexibility you need for appointments.

The key is being proactive! Don't wait to start the conversation with a fertility clinic. The earlier you plan, the less stressful it will be. Since medical schools publish their calendar in advance, use one of the week-long breaks as a target for the egg retrieval. You can then work backwards from that date to start the cycle. 

Be your own advocate with your school's administration about needing some flexibility for medical appointments. If you work with Cofertility, we can help you map out the egg freezing schedule and find a cycle start date that works with your schedule. 

If you join our Split program, you will be assigned a Member Advocate who will take the extra steps to understand your busy schedule and help schedule appointments in the most convenient way possible. In some cases this means reaching out to the hospital(s) connected to your medical school program for availability to perform labs and ultrasounds.

Freeze your eggs 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.

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.