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The Egg Freezing Process: a First-Timer’s Overview

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!

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Egg Freezing

A Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Your Eggs

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.

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.

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Egg Freezing

What Should I Know Before I Decide About Egg Freezing?

Here's all the info you'll need to decide whether egg freezing is right for you.

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.

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.

Egg Freezing

Your Complete Guide to Egg Freezing in Texas (2025)

This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in the Lone Star State, from costs and clinic selection to practical considerations.

Texas is the second most populated state in the United States, so it’s no surprise it has over 40 fertility clinics. While the state offers excellent care options, the costs and logistics can be tough to navigate. This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in the Lone Star State, from costs and clinic selection to practical considerations.

Cost of egg freezing in Texas

In the state of Texas, the total cost of egg freezing typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 and up per cycle, not including medications which can add another $3,000 to $6,000. This base cost usually covers:

Initial consultation and fertility testing
Monitoring appointments (bloodwork and ultrasounds)
Egg retrieval procedure
Anesthesia
Vitrification

Additional expenses to consider:

Annual storage fees ($1,000+)
Pre-testing bloodwork ($200-400)
Future egg thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer ($2,500+)

Some clinics offer financing options, including payment plans and loans through third-party providers. Some also provide package deals for multiple cycles, which can reduce the per-cycle cost for patients who may need or want to freeze eggs more than once.

Learn more about egg sharing, which makes egg freezing entirely free when you donate a portion of the eggs to a family that could not otherwise conceive.

Is egg freezing covered in Texas?

Unfortunately, Texas law does not require health insurance plans to cover elective egg freezing.

However, for individuals undergoing cancer treatment, certain health plans may cover the procedure if it is deemed medically necessary. House Bill 1649 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 13, 2023. Effective for state-regulated large, small, and individual group health insurance plans issued after January 1, 2024, the law mandates coverage for sperm, egg, and ovarian tissue preservation for patients receiving medically necessary cancer treatment.

Best egg freezing clinics in Texas

There are dozens of great fertility clinics in Texas and the surrounding areas. We recommend narrowing it down to a few clinics near you and then deciding based on the factors that matter the most. We all have different priorities and preferences – some people want a smaller, more boutique-style clinic, others insist on a female doctor, and others just want the shortest commute.

Here are the Texas clinics we often work with:

Austin

Aspire Fertility (North University)
911 W 38th St Bldg 2 Suite 402
Austin, TX 78705

Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine (West Lake)
300 Beardsley Ln., Bldg B, Ste 200
Austin, Texas 78746

Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine (South Location)
4303 James Casey St., Suites A, B & C
Austin, Texas 78745

Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine (Round Rock)
7700 Cat Hollow Dr., Suites 105 & 106
Round Rock, Texas 78681

Kindbody (Downtown)
100 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701

Texas Fertility Center (Cedar Park)
13625 Ronald W. Reagan Blvd, Bldg. 7, Suite 200
Cedar Park, TX 78613

Texas Fertility Center (Round Rock)
16040 Park Valley Drive, Building 1, Ste 201
Round Rock, Texas 78681

Texas Fertility Center (South Austin)
5000 Davis Lane, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78749

Corpus Christi

Texas Fertility Center
6702 South Staples
Suite B, Bldg. B
Corpus Christi, TX 78413

Dallas / Fort Worth

Dallas Fort Forth Fertility Associates (Plano)
6300 W Parker Road, Medical Office 2 - Ste.G26
Plano, Texas 75093

Dallas Fort Forth Fertility Associates (Southlake)
910 E. Southlake Blvd, Suite 175
Southlake, TX 76092

Dallas Fort Forth Fertility Associates (Glen Lakes)
5477 Glen Lakes Drive, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75231

Dallas Fort Forth Fertility Associates (North Dallas)
7777 Forest Lane, Suite D-1100
Dallas, TX 75230

Dallas IVF (Frisco)
2840 Legacy Drive, Suite 100 & 110
Frisco, TX 75034

Dallas IVF (East Dallas)
3600 Gaston Avenue, Barnett Tower, Suite 1001
Dallas, TX 75246

Dallas IVF (McKinney)
5301 West University Drive
McKinney, TX 75071

Dallas IVF (Tyler)
641 South Broadway Avenue, Suite 1
Tyler, TX 75701

Fertility Specialists of Texas (Plano)
5736 State Hwy 121
Plano, TX 75024

Fertility Specialists of Texas (Walnut Hill)
8160 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 211
Dallas, TX 75231

Fertility Specialists of Texas (Lubbock)
9826 Slide Road, Suite 200
Lubbock, TX 79424

Fertility Specialists of Texas (Southlake)
540 East Southlake Blvd., Suite 100
Southlake, TX 76092

Fertility Specialists of Texas (East Dallas)
3801 Gaston Avenue, Suite 250
Dallas, TX 75246

Texas Center for Reproductive Health (East Dallas)
3600 Gaston Avenue, Barnett Tower, Suite 504
Dallas, Texas 75246

Houston

Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive (Sharpstown)
7500 Beechnut Street #308
Houston, TX 77074

Family Fertility Center at Texas Children’s (Medical Center)
6651 S Main St #F320
Houston, TX 77030

Kindbody (Walnut Hill)
8041 Walnut Hill Ln unit 870
Dallas, TX 75231

RMA Houston (Montrose)
888 Westheimer Rd Suite 200
Houston, TX 77006

San Antonio

Aspire Fertility (Stone Oak)
150 E Sonterra Blvd #220
San Antonio, TX 78258

Pozitivf (North San Antonio)
4515 N Loop 1604 W Suite 301
San Antonio, TX 78249

Texas Fertility Center (New Braunfels)
705 Generations Drive, Suite 102
New Braunfels, TX 78130

Texas Fertility Center (Stone Oak)
18707 Hardy Oak Blvd
Suite 505
San Antonio, TX 78258

If you work with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help you find the right clinic.

Where to get egg freezing medications in Texas

During your egg freezing cycle, you'll need several specialty medications for ovarian stimulation. These are not medications you can get at your typical CVS or Walgreens drugstore but instead come from a specialty or mail-order pharmacy.

Depending on where you’re located, there are a few options for obtaining these prescriptions in-person, including:

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy (Houston)
‍(713) 838-7704

People’s Pharmacy (Austin)
‍(512) 459-7777

Symphony Pharmacy (Austin)
‍(512) 598-1640

Choice Specialty Pharmacy (Sugar Land)
(832) 944-6112

SandsRx (Dallas)
(972) 535-2020

Some patients prefer national mail-order pharmacies that deliver directly to your home or office. Popular options include Schrafts, Freedom Fertility, SMP Pharmacy, and Alto Pharmacy. These companies typically require 24-48 hours for delivery to your home or office.

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:

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.
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.

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Egg Donation

What To Expect At Your Match Meeting: A Guide For Split Members

In this guide, we'll walk you through what typically happens during a Match Meeting and share tips for making the conversation flow naturally. We'll also cover frequently asked questions about these meetings and provide guidance on how to prepare.

Meeting intended parents for the first time can feel a bit like a blind date - there's excitement, some nerves, and that initial moment of "What do I say first?" As a Split member who's donating half your eggs while keeping half for yourself, this meeting is an opportunity to connect with the family you'll be helping create.

While every Match Meeting is unique, most follow a similar pattern: initial introductions lead to discovering shared interests or experiences, which then opens up deeper conversations about hopes, expectations, and how this new relationship might evolve in the future. Let's explore how to navigate this important step in your Split program experience.

What’s a Match Meeting?

A Match Meeting is a casual video or phone call where Split members meet their potential intended parents for the first time. Think of it as a friendly conversation rather than an interview. These meetings typically last about an hour and are facilitated by your Cofertility Member Advocate, who helps guide the discussion and ensure everyone feels comfortable.

During the meeting, both Split members and intended parents share a bit about themselves, their backgrounds, and what brought them to Cofertility. It's a chance to get to know each other beyond the profiles you've read and to ask any questions you might have. Some people discuss their hobbies, careers, or families, while others might talk about their hopes for the future or what drew them to egg sharing.

Your Member Advocate will be there throughout the call to help keep the conversation flowing and address any questions that come up. They can also help navigate more sensitive topics or redirect the discussion if needed.

While Match Meetings are optional in our Split program, most members choose to meet one another and find it adds meaning to their match experience. These meetings help put faces and stories to the family you'll be helping create, often reinforcing your decision to participate in egg sharing. Many Split members tell us that meeting the intended parents shifted their perspective from focusing on the medical aspects of egg freezing and donation (such as the medications and retrieval procedure) to understanding the human impact of their choice.

Preparing for the Match Meeting

It's normal to feel a mix of emotions before your Match Meeting. Remember that intended parents often have similar anxieties. They want to make a good impression and hope you'll feel comfortable working with them. Out of hundreds of profiles, they felt like you were the best match. This shared vulnerability often helps break the ice.

You will most likely have already received background information on the intended parents beforehand either via an intended parent profile or through what your Member Advocate is able to share when you meet one-on-one. Consider questions you’d like to ask them. And think about your own story and what brought you to the Split program.

Of course, you’ll also want to:

Choose a quiet, private space for the call
Test your video and audio setup in advance
Prepare a few questions to kick off the conversation (your Member Advocate can give you some ideas)
Make sure your Zoom display name reflects what you feel comfortable sharing. (For example, if you only wish to share your first name, make sure your last name is not displayed).

What to expect during the meeting

The start of the meeting usually includes brief introductions facilitated by your Cofertility Member Advocate. While it might feel slightly awkward at first, this usually passes quickly as people begin to relax and find common ground.

What to expect:

The meeting typically lasts 30-60 minutes
Your Member Advocate will help guide the conversation
Topics often flow naturally from general to more specific
Both parties have chances to ask questions
The discussion usually becomes more relaxed as it progresses

If the discussion is still going strong and you’re nearing the end of the allotted time, your Member Advocate may offer to schedule another meeting so everyone has the opportunity to have a fulfilling experience getting to know one another.

Common topics of discussion

We find that members have all sorts of conversations! Sometimes the conversations are more somber as intended parents open up about their difficulties with infertility, and other times they are more lighthearted and filled with smiles and laughter.

Here are some common topics we hear during these calls:

What led each party to Cofertility
Family life and relationships
Hobbies and interests
Hopes for the process
Any concerns or fears
Views on future contact or updates

Making the most of your meeting

Creating an authentic connection during your Match Meeting comes naturally when you focus on being yourself rather than presenting a "perfect" version. Share your genuine thoughts about what drew you to the Split program and what excites you about it. When intended parents share their story, practice active listening - this means truly focusing on understanding their perspective rather than just planning what you'll say next.

Good conversations flow both ways, so try asking open-ended questions that can't be answered with a simple yes or no. For example, instead of "Do you like living in [their city]?" you might ask "What brought you to [their city]?" or "What's your favorite thing about living there?" These types of questions often reveal shared interests or experiences that make the conversation more engaging.

Remember that some initial awkwardness is completely normal and usually fades within the first few minutes. If there's a brief silence or pause, don't worry - your Member Advocate is there to help keep the conversation moving.

What happens after the meeting

Your Member Advocate will allow everyone to take the rest of the day/night to reflect on how they feel after meeting, and will check in with both parties separately the following day to confirm everyone's wishes to proceed. If both sides agree, you'll move forward with clinic selection and medical screening.

Next steps:

Take time to process your feelings about the meeting
Share any concerns with your Member Advocate
Ask any follow-up questions that arise
Confirm your comfort level with moving forward
Review any program requirements or next steps

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to share everything about my medical history?

No. Your medical history has already been reviewed during the intake process and will be reviewed by the physician prior to medical screening. The Match Meeting is more about getting to know each other as people and to ensure everyone is aligned on their hopes and expectations for the journey and beyond

What if they ask something I'm not comfortable answering?

It's perfectly fine to say something like, "I prefer not to discuss that" or "I'd rather keep that private." Your Member Advocate can also help redirect the conversation if needed.

What should I wear?

For Match Meetings happening over video call, choose something comfortable that makes you feel confident. Business casual attire (like what you might wear to lunch with friends) works well - a nice top in a solid color typically looks best on camera. Remember, this isn't a formal interview - you want to look put-together while still feeling like yourself.

Should I ask about their infertility journey?

Let them take the lead on sharing personal details about their path to egg donation. Some intended parents are very open about their story, while others prefer to keep certain aspects private. Some intended parents may feel excited and inspired by this option and some may still be working through feelings of pain and loss while trying to hold onto hope. There may be both laughter and tears throughout the course of the discussion.

What if we don't connect?

While most matches proceed successfully after the meeting, both parties have the option to decline if they don't feel it's the right fit. This rarely happens, but it's important to know you have this choice. We want the experience to be as fulfilling as possible for everyone involved.

Summing it up

Remember that this meeting is just one step in your Split program experience. While it might feel significant (and it is), most members find it becomes a natural, positive interaction once the initial nerves settle. Your Member Advocate is there to support you and ensure everyone feels comfortable throughout the process.

Panoramic view of San Francisco skyline with Oakland Bay Bridge at evening light

Egg Freezing

Your Complete Guide to Egg Freezing in the San Francisco Bay Area (2025)

This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in San Francisco, from costs and clinic selection to practical considerations.

California has more fertility clinics than any other state, with many of them located in the greater San Francisco Bay area. In fact, there are over 25 clinics to choose from in SF. While the region offers excellent care options, the costs and logistics can be tough to navigate. This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in San Francisco, from costs and clinic selection to practical considerations.

This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in San Francisco, from costs and clinic selection to practical considerations.

Cost of egg freezing in San Francisco

In SF, the total cost of egg freezing typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle, not including medications which can add another $3,000 to $6,000. This base cost usually covers:

Initial consultation and fertility testing
Monitoring appointments (bloodwork and ultrasounds)
Egg retrieval procedure
Anesthesia
Vitrification

Additional expenses to consider:

Annual storage fees
Pre-testing bloodwork
Future egg thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer

Some SF clinics offer financing options, including payment plans and loans through third-party providers. Some also provide package deals for multiple cycles, which can reduce the per-cycle cost for patients who may need or want to freeze eggs more than once.

Keep in mind that SF-based clinics typically charge premium rates compared to other cities. Not only are salaries higher for staffing in SF, but real estate is also more expensive.

Learn more about egg sharing, which makes egg freezing entirely free when you donate a portion of the eggs to a family that could not otherwise conceive.

Is egg freezing covered in California?

Under new state law, Senate Bill 729 (SB 729), effective July 1st, 2025, some fertility treatments must be covered by insurance. Here’s what to know about the law:

It covers approximately 9 million Californians enrolled in large-group, fully insured health plans.
It does not apply to people who get their health coverage from religious employers, self-funded employers, or people enrolled in Medi-Cal.
It covers fertility treatment, including up to three egg retrievals, for people with “infertility”.
SB 729 defines infertility to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community and unpartnered individuals.

To understand your specific coverage, check with your insurance provider or employer's benefits department.

If you're freezing your eggs for non-medical reasons (often called "elective" egg freezing), you'll likely need to pay out of pocket unless your employer specifically offers it as a benefit. Some large employers in Los Angeles, particularly in tech and finance, include subsidized egg freezing coverage in their benefits packages.

Best egg freezing clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area

There are dozens of great fertility clinics in SF and the surrounding areas. We recommend narrowing it down to a few clinics near you and then deciding based on the factors that matter the most. We all have different priorities and preferences – some people want a smaller, more boutique-style clinic, others insist on a female doctor, and others just want the shortest commute.

Here are the San Francisco Bay area-based clinics we often work with:

NOVA IVF (Mountain View)
‍2500 Hospital Dr Building 7
Mountain View, CA 94040

RMA NorCal (San Francisco - Financial District)
‍150 Spear St Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94105

Pacific Fertility Center (San Francisco - North Beach)
‍55 Francisco St #500
San Francisco, CA 94133

Spring Fertility (San Francisco - Van Ness)
‍1 Daniel Burnham Ct #110
San Francisco, CA 94109

Spring Fertility (Sunnyvale)
‍550 Lakeside Dr
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Reproductive Science Center (San Ramon)
‍100 Park Place, Suite 200
San Ramon, CA 94583

Reproductive Science Center (Oakland)
‍3300 Webster St. Suite 404
Oakland, CA 94609

Reproductive Science Center (Los Gatos)
‍15066 Los Gatos Almaden Road Suite 110
Los Gatos, CA 95032

Kindbody (San Francisco - Financial District)
‍88 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94104

If you work with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help you find the right clinic.

Where to get egg freezing medications in San Francisco

SF offers a few options for obtaining these prescriptions in-person, including:

Avella Specialty Pharmacy
2360 Qume Drive, Suite A
San Francisco, CA 94107

Alto Pharmacy
‍1400 Tennessee St #2
San Francisco, CA 94107

Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy
‍217 Alma Street, Suite 200
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Specialty fertility pharmacies offer several important advantages. Their staff is specifically trained in fertility medications and can provide detailed injection training to help you feel confident administering your medications. These pharmacies often secure better pricing through their high-volume purchasing, and they deeply understand the time-sensitive nature of fertility treatments. Many offer convenient pick-up options or same-day delivery throughout SF to ensure you get your medications when you need them.

However, some patients prefer national mail-order pharmacies that deliver directly to your home or office. Popular options include Schrafts, Freedom Fertility, SMP Pharmacy, and Alto Pharmacy. These companies typically require 24-48 hours for delivery to NYC addresses but may have same-day availability.

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:

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.
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.

Photo of a Black woman looking at a laptop at a cafe

Egg Freezing

What Black Women Should Know About Egg Freezing

This guide is all about egg freezing in the Black community and provides practical information about the process, costs, and support resources available. Whether you're actively considering egg freezing or just exploring your options, you'll find guidance on finding the right doctor, navigating treatment, and connecting with others who understand your experience.

If you're considering freezing your eggs, you may be wondering why so few Black women pursue this option. A 2023 study in Fertility and Sterility revealed an enormous gap: while Black women make up 30% of Chicago's population, they represent only 7% of egg freezing patients - even in areas with comprehensive insurance coverage. The study identified two key barriers: cultural beliefs about egg freezing in the Black community and lack of awareness that fertility preservation was even an option.

Yet egg freezing can be particularly valuable for Black women, who have twice the odds of experiencing infertility compared to white women.

Your reproductive health matters

A landmark 2008 study called the CARDIA Women's Study found important evidence about racial differences in fertility. The research found that Black women had twice the odds of experiencing infertility compared to white women, even after accounting for factors like education, income, and medical conditions. This higher rate of infertility persisted across different groups - married women, unmarried women, and women not using contraception.

Black women are also more likely to have uterine fibroids, which can have an adverse impact on fertility and pregnancy. Black women are disproportionately affected by PCOS, and have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease than white women. And while Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis, it might be due to facing more delayed or altogether missed diagnoses.

These higher rates of reproductive health conditions affect Black women's fertility not just in the moment but can impact future family planning. Beyond the known barriers, more research is needed to uncover the hidden factors contributing to the low rates of egg freezing among Black women. For instance, how do historical mistrust in the medical system, implicit bias in healthcare interactions, and disparities in patient-provider communication influence decisions around fertility preservation? Additionally, little is understood about how mental health, chronic stress, and the cumulative impact of systemic racism affect reproductive outcomes and fertility timelines. Research should also explore the role of community narratives, social support networks, and representation in reproductive healthcare, which may subtly shape perceptions and decisions around fertility preservation. Understanding these complex, interconnected factors is key to developing culturally responsive education, policies, and care models that truly support Black women in making informed reproductive choices. Early awareness and intervention - including considering options like egg freezing - can help protect your reproductive choices.

Understanding egg freezing

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that allows women to freeze unfertilized eggs for potential future use. During the procedure, eggs are retrieved from your ovaries, frozen at extremely low temperatures, and stored until you're ready to use them.

Because the quality and quantity of eggs naturally decline with age, freezing eggs when you're younger can help preserve higher-quality eggs for future family building.

The egg freezing process typically takes 2-3 weeks and involves:

Initial consultation

Medical history review
Fertility testing (bloodwork and ultrasound)
Discussion of treatment plan
Review of costs and insurance

Ovarian stimulation (10-12 days)

Daily hormone injections
Regular monitoring appointments
Ultrasounds to track follicle development
Blood tests to check hormone levels

Egg retrieval

15-30 minute surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs
Light sedation required
Same-day recovery
You will know that day how many eggs were retrieved

Egg freezing has grown in popularity, with a 30% increase in egg-freezing cycles from 2021 to 2022 alone! While egg freezing is generally considered safe and effective, there are potential side effects that you should be aware of before making the decision to undergo the procedure.

Finding the right fertility specialist

Research consistently shows that Black women have better health outcomes when treated by Black doctors. If you’re lucky enough to have multiple clinics to choose from in your area, you can evaluate them on three key areas: success rates, experience with Black patients, and clinic environment.

Ask for data on egg freezing outcomes specifically for Black women, and inquire about the clinic's experience treating conditions common in Black women like fibroids. Consider the diversity of the medical team and staff, as well as the support services offered.

Our Directory of Black Fertility Doctors can help you find a qualified reproductive endocrinologist in your area.

Advocating for yourself

Studies show Black women often face delays in diagnosis and treatment. Keep detailed records of your cycle, symptoms, and test results. Communicate concerns directly with your healthcare team and don't hesitate to seek second opinions if you're unsatisfied with your care. Many women find it helpful to bring a support person to appointments.

How much does egg freezing cost?

This is always a difficult question to answer because it depends! It depends on the clinic you’re going to, where you are located, the medications you are prescribed (it differs based on your age and body), and where/how long you store the eggs.

Average egg-freezing cycle costs range from $10,000 - $20,000 for consultations, testing, ultrasounds, medications, and egg retrieval, plus the ongoing cost of annual storage.

Several options exist to manage these costs. Check if your employer offers fertility benefits and review state mandate requirements. Many clinics offer payment plans or multi-cycle discounts.

Egg sharing: A cost-free option

For women interested in freezing, egg sharing is an increasingly common option. Through Cofertility's Split program, you can freeze your eggs for free when you donate a portion of the retrieved eggs to a family who cannot conceive. Our program covers all expenses - including medications, storage for 10 years, and even travel if needed.

The benefits of egg sharing with Cofertility:

All medical and travel costs covered
Free genetic and fertility testing
Help another Black family build their family while freezing your own eggs for future use
Connection to the Cofertility community for support all along the way and after too
Receive the same quality of care as self-pay patients

Many Black women find meaning in helping other families, particularly given the challenges many Black families face in building their families through egg donation. The Split program offers a way to preserve your fertility while making treatment accessible to others. If donating your eggs to intended parents sounds like something you would like to do, you may be able to qualify for our egg sharing program. Take our quiz to see if you qualify.

Support resources

These incredible organizations focus specifically on supporting and advocating for Black women and families through their fertility experiences:

The Resilient Sisterhood Project’s mission is to educate and empower women of African descent regarding common yet rarely discussed diseases of the reproductive system that disproportionately affect them.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a national network of Black women-led and Black-led, birth and reproductive justice organizations and multi-disciplinary professionals, working across the full spectrum of maternal and reproductive health.
SisterSong’s mission is to strengthen and amplify the collective voices of indigenous women and women of color to achieve reproductive justice by eradicating reproductive oppression and securing human rights.
Eggs over Easy is a documentary film about Black women and fertility.

For mental health support, the Therapy for Black Girls Directory can help you find culturally competent counselors who understand the unique challenges Black women face in fertility treatment.

Making your decision

Your reproductive health matters. Making decisions about your fertility is empowering, especially when you have the right information and support. While the data shows clear disparities in access to fertility treatment for Black women, these challenges are not insurmountable.

Whether you choose to freeze your eggs now, explore egg sharing through our Split program, or simply want to learn more about your options, you're taking an important step in managing your reproductive health. Our team is here to help you navigate this process with confidence.

‍Read more:

Egg Freezing

Your Complete Guide to Egg Freezing in Los Angeles (2025)

In this article, we'll cover the top Los Angeles fertility clinics for egg freezing, typical costs in the metro area, where to get your fertility meds, insurance considerations specific to California, and practical tips for managing treatment in the city.

California has more fertility clinics than any other state, with many of them located in the greater Los Angeles area. In fact, there are over 30 clinics to choose from in LA. While having multiple options is beneficial, it can also make choosing the right clinic feel overwhelming. This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in Los Angeles, from costs and clinic selection to practical logistics.

Cost of egg freezing in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, the total cost of egg freezing typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle, not including medications which can add another $3,000 to $6,000. This base cost usually covers:

Initial consultation and fertility testing
Monitoring appointments (bloodwork and ultrasounds)
Egg retrieval procedure
Anesthesia
Vitrification

‍Additional expenses to consider:

Annual storage fees
Pre-testing bloodwork
Future egg thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer

Some LA clinics offer financing options, including payment plans and loans through third-party providers. Some also provide package deals for multiple cycles, which can reduce the per-cycle cost for patients who may need or want to freeze eggs more than once.

Keep in mind that LA-based clinics typically charge premium rates compared to other cities. Not only are salaries higher for staffing in LA, but real estate is also more expensive.

‍Learn more about egg sharing, which makes egg freezing entirely free when you donate a portion of the eggs to a family that could not otherwise conceive.

Is egg freezing covered in California?

Under new state law, Senate Bill 729 (SB 729), effective July 1st, 2025, some fertility treatments must be covered by insurance. Here’s what to know about the law:

It covers approximately 9 million Californians enrolled in large-group, fully insured health plans.
It does not apply to people who get their health coverage from religious employers, self-funded employers, or people enrolled in Medi-Cal.
It covers fertility treatment, including up to three egg retrievals, for people with “infertility”.
SB 729 defines infertility to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community and unpartnered individuals.

To understand your specific coverage, check with your insurance provider or employer's benefits department.

Best egg freezing clinics in Los Angeles

There are dozens of great fertility clinics in LA and the surrounding areas. We recommend narrowing it down to a few clinics near you and then deciding based on the factors that matter the most. We all have different priorities and preferences – some people want a smaller, more boutique-style clinic, others insist on a female doctor, and others just want the shortest commute.

Here are the LA-based clinics we often work with:

Los Angeles Reproductive Center (Encino)
‍16055 Ventura Blvd # 1127
Encino, CA 91436

‍Reproductive Partners Medical Group (Beverly Hills + South Bay + Orange County)
‍8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

510 N. Prospect Ave, Suite 202
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

13950 Milton Ave, Suite 100
Westminster, CA 92683

Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles (Westwood + Glendale)
‍10880 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 300 Los Angeles, CA 90024

1818 Verdugo Blvd
Ste 402 Glendale, CA 91208

RMA - Southern California (West Los Angeles + Burbank)
‍11500 W Olympic Blvd., Suite 150
Los Angeles, California 90064

2601 W. Alameda Avenue, Suite 404
Burbank, California 91505

Beverly Hills Fertility (Century City)

10390 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 340
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Kindbody (Santa Monica)

500 Broadway, Suite 7
Santa Monica, CA 90401

If you work with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help you find the right clinic.

Where to get egg freezing medications in Los Angeles

Los Angeles offers multiple options for obtaining these prescriptions in-person, including:

VFP Pharmacy (Westside Village)
10840 National Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(855) 306-4888

‍MDRx (Westwood)
10921 Wilshire Blvd,.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-6666

MDRx (Encino)
17071 Ventura Blvd, #100
Encino, CA 91316
(800) 515-3784

RoxSan (Beverly Hills)
465 North Roxbury Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 273-4611

Northridge Plaza Pharmacy (Northridge)
18546 Roscoe Blvd, Suite 102
Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 998-8700

Alto Pharmacy (Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw)
5916 Bowcroft Street
Los Angeles, CA 90016

Specialty fertility pharmacies offer several important advantages. Their staff is specifically trained in fertility medications and can provide detailed injection training to help you feel confident administering your medications. These pharmacies often secure better pricing through their high-volume purchasing, and they deeply understand the time-sensitive nature of fertility treatments. Many offer convenient pick-up options or same-day delivery throughout NYC to ensure you get your medications when you need them.

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:

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.
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.

Egg Freezing

Everything To Know About Egg Freezing in NYC, Including the Best Clinics

This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in NYC, from costs and clinic selection to practical logistics. We'll cover the top NYC fertility clinics for egg freezing, typical costs in the metro area, insurance considerations specific to New York state, where to get your meds, and practical tips for managing treatment in the city.

New York City is a hub for fertility treatment, with some of the nation's leading egg freezing programs and most experienced fertility specialists. While having multiple options is beneficial, it can also make choosing the right clinic feel overwhelming. This guide will help you understand what to expect when freezing your eggs in NYC, from costs and clinic selection to practical logistics.

In this article, we'll cover the top NYC fertility clinics for egg freezing, typical costs in the metro area, insurance considerations specific to New York state, where to get your meds, and practical tips for managing treatment in the city.

Cost of egg freezing in NYC

In New York City, the total cost of egg freezing typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle, not including medications which can add another $3,000 to $6,000. This base cost usually covers:

Initial consultation and fertility testing
Monitoring appointments (bloodwork and ultrasounds)
Egg retrieval procedure
Anesthesia
Vitrification

Additional expenses to consider:

Annual storage fees
Pre-testing bloodwork
Future egg thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer

Some NYC clinics offer financing options, including payment plans and loans through third-party providers. Some also provide package deals for multiple cycles, which can reduce the per-cycle cost for patients who may need or want to freeze eggs more than once.

Keep in mind that Manhattan-based clinics typically charge premium rates compared to other cities. Not only are salaries higher for staffing in NYC, but real estate is also more expensive.Learn more about egg sharing, which makes egg freezing entirely free when you donate a portion of the eggs to a family that could not otherwise conceive. Is egg freezing covered in New York state?Under New York state law, egg freezing must be covered by insurance when a medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause infertility. This includes treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other medical treatments that could affect reproductive organs. The law also applies to people undergoing gender-affirming care that might impact fertility.If you qualify for egg freezing coverage under this law, insurance companies:

Cannot impose age restrictions
Cannot set annual dollar limits
Must cover standard services including collecting, freezing, preserving, and storing eggs
Can require preauthorization and medical necessity review
Can apply standard copays and deductibles

Note: These insurance requirements don't apply to self-funded Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans which are common with large employers, although some of these plans may choose to offer fertility coverage. To understand your specific coverage, check with your insurance provider or employer's benefits department.

However, if you're freezing your eggs for non-medical reasons (often called "elective" egg freezing), you'll likely need to pay out of pocket unless your employer specifically offers it as a benefit. Some large employers in New York City, particularly in tech and finance, include subsidized egg freezing coverage in their benefits packages.

New York now requires employers to give paid time off for fertility treatments

Starting January 1, 2025, private sector employees in New York State are entitled to 20 hours of paid leave annually for fertility treatments. This leave is separate from existing sick leave or other paid time off.

Key points about using New York’s Paid Prenatal Leave for egg freezing:

It covers fertility treatment and care
Must be paid at your regular rate of pay
Can be taken in hourly increments
No medical documentation required
Available immediately upon hiring
Cannot be denied when requested
Protected from retaliation

The 20-hour allowance runs for 52 weeks from your first use, not the calendar year. Unused hours don't carry over. The 20-hour allowance should cover most or all appointments in a typical egg freezing cycle, including consultations, monitoring visits, and retrieval day.

Best egg freezing clinics in NYC

There are dozens of great fertility clinics in NYC and the surrounding areas. We recommend narrowing it down to a few clinics near you and then deciding based on the factors that matter the most. We all have different priorities and preferences – some people want a smaller, more boutique-style clinic, others insist on a female doctor, and others just want the shortest commute.

‍Here are the NYC-based clinics we often work with:

‍Sama Fertility (Midtown)
‍115 E 57th St.
New York, NY 10022

Extend Fertility (Midtown)
‍200 W 57th St #1101
New York, NY 10019

Global Fertility & Genetics (Midtown)
‍115 E 57th St suite 420 & 430
New York, NY 10022

Kindbody (Bryant Park)
‍16 E 40th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10016

Kindbody (Flatiron)
‍102 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10011

Spring Fertility (Bryant Park)
‍114 W 41st St 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10036

Neway Fertility (Upper West Side)
123 W 79th St.
‍New York, NY 10024

If you work with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help you get the best deal and find the right clinic.

Where to get egg freezing medications in NYC

Your fertility clinic may recommend specific fertility pharmacies, though important to note that New York City and the surrounding area offers multiple options for obtaining these prescriptions in-person, including:

‍Metro Drugs
‍243 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 794-7200

‍Apthorp Pharmacy
‍2191 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
(212) 877-3480

‍Prima Pharmacy
‍8 East 41st Street
New York, NY 10017
(718) 230-3535

‍Mandell’s Clinical Pharmacy
‍7 Cedar Grove Ln #20
Somerset, NJ 08873
(877) 252-0553

‍Dobbs Ferry Pharmacy
‍18 Cedar Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
(800) 941-8380

Specialty fertility pharmacies offer several important advantages. Their staff is specifically trained in fertility medications and can provide detailed injection training to help you feel confident administering your medications. These pharmacies often secure better pricing through their high-volume purchasing, and they deeply understand the time-sensitive nature of fertility treatments. Many offer convenient pick-up options or same-day delivery throughout NYC to ensure you get your medications when you need them.

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:

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.
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.

Egg Freezing

Why Cofertility Was Named Best Egg Freezing Service In 2025

This year, Goop recognized Cofertility as one of the best egg-freezing services, highlighting our commitment to making fertility preservation more accessible while maintaining the highest medical standards. This recognition means a lot to us, but what matters most is what it represents: a new way forward for women considering egg freezing.We've built something different. Through our Keep and Split programs, we're proving that excellent fertility care can be both accessible and affordable. Here's a closer look at what sets Cofertility apart and why we're considered the top choice for women considering egg freezing in 2024.

When we founded Cofertility, we set out to solve a problem: egg freezing was too expensive, too isolating, and too complex for many of us to access. We believed there had to be a better way. By reimagining the entire experience—from cost to care to community—we've created programs that work for more women.

We've built something different. Through our Keep and Split programs, we're proving that excellent fertility care can be both accessible and affordable. Here's a closer look at what sets Cofertility apart and why we're considered the top choice for women considering egg freezing in 2024.

Two groundbreaking programs that put women first

Cofertility offers two distinct programs designed to meet different needs and preferences. The Keep program provides traditional egg freezing services, allowing women to store all their retrieved eggs for future use. By freezing your eggs through Cofertility’s Keep program, you’ll gain access to:

Preferred and vetted fertility clinic recommendations in many major areas, with discounted or free consultations
Skip the line — many fertility clinics have months-long waitlists for egg freezers. If you work with one of our partner clinics, we’ll help get you through faster
Special discounts on long-term egg freezing storage
Dedicated, 1:1 support from our Member Advocates to help you through every step of your egg freezing journey
Access to our members-only community of women in all stages of their egg freezing journey and direct, free access to fertility experts
Financial support and resources through our financing partner, Sunfish (waived application and membership fees for all Cofertility members)

Cofertility believes in complete transparency about costs. The Keep program provides detailed pricing upfront, including:

All medical procedures
Necessary medications
Storage fees
Additional services

What truly distinguishes Cofertility is our Split program—a first-of-its-kind approach that makes egg freezing entirely free, including medications and storage, while maintaining the same high standards of care. Through Split, women can freeze and store their eggs at no cost by donating half of the retrieved eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise. This program maintains the same exceptional standards as Keep while making fertility preservation accessible to more women.

Why the Split program is revolutionary

The Split program earned particular praise for its innovative approach to making egg freezing accessible. Unlike traditional egg freezing services that can cost $15,000 or more, Split provides:

Free egg freezing and storage
Free medications
Free genetic screening
The opportunity to help another family
The same high-quality care as the Keep program

This program removes financial barriers while allowing women to preserve their fertility and help others build families.

Quality care without compromise

At Cofertility, medical excellence is non-negotiable. We partner exclusively with the nation's top fertility clinics, ensuring every patient receives care from board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and experienced embryologists. These partnerships mean patients benefit from:

State-of-the-art laboratories and freezing techniques
Rigorous quality control standards
Comprehensive genetic screening
Industry-leading success rates

Personal support from dedicated Member Advocates

At the heart of Cofertility's exceptional experience are our Member Advocates—experienced professionals who guide you through every aspect of your egg freezing process. Our Member Advocates provide personalized, one-on-one support from your first consultation through egg freezing and beyond.

Each Member Advocate brings extensive knowledge about fertility care and a deep commitment to supporting women through this significant decision. They're not just coordinators; they're advocates who:

Help you understand your options between our Keep and Split programs
Connect you with top clinics that match your needs and location
Coordinate all medical appointments and scheduling
Answer questions about medications and procedures
Provide emotional support throughout the process
Help you join our community of others going through similar experiences

Many of our Member Advocates have personal experience with fertility treatment, bringing both professional expertise and genuine empathy to their roles. They understand the questions, concerns, and emotions that come with egg freezing because they've been there themselves.

This personalized support makes a real difference. As one member noted, "Having someone who knew exactly what to expect, could answer all my questions, and was always available made me feel so much more confident about my decision to freeze and donate my eggs."

Our Member Advocates are available through text, email, or phone—whatever works best for you. They're known for their quick response times and willingness to go above and beyond to support our members. Whether you need help understanding a medical term, want to adjust your medication schedule, or just need someone to talk to, your Member Advocate is there.

Founded and run by women

In an industry historically dominated by male leadership and corporate interests, we aim to be different. Our female founders brought both professional expertise and personal understanding to reimagine egg freezing from the ground up.

What makes Cofertility different is that we've experienced these challenges firsthand. We understand the anxiety of waiting rooms, the complexity of insurance paperwork, the stress of scheduling appointments around work, and the weight of making decisions about your future fertility. This perspective shapes everything we do:

We design our programs around women's actual needs and schedules
We explain medical information clearly, without condescension
We build supportive communities rather than leaving women to navigate this alone
We prioritize transparency in pricing and medical information
We create inclusive spaces for all paths to parenthood

This female-led approach extends throughout our organization. Our team brings together women with deep experience in healthcare, technology, and fertility services. Many have gone through fertility treatment themselves. This collective experience helps us anticipate and solve problems before they affect our members.

Being women-founded and women-led isn't just about representation—it's about fundamentally changing how fertility care works. We're proud to be recognized as the best egg freezing service, but we're even prouder of why: we're creating the fertility care experience that women deserve.

Making egg freezing work for you

Being named the best egg freezing service by Goop is an honor, but our real measure of success is in the women we serve every day. Whether you choose our Keep program or our innovative Split program, you'll find the same commitment to excellence, personal support, and genuine care that earned us this recognition.

The future of fertility care shouldn't be defined by barriers and limitations. It should be shaped by choice, accessibility, and support. At Cofertility, we're proud to lead this change, but we're even prouder to support women as they make important decisions about their fertility.

Ready to learn more? Reach out to us. We'll help you understand your options, answer your questions, and guide you toward the program that best fits your needs. You can also join our community to connect with others who are considering or going through egg freezing.

Your fertility decisions are personal, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Let us show you why we're considered the best in egg freezing—not just for what we do, but for how we do it.

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Egg Donation

We Asked, You Answered, We Listened: Insights from Our Split Member Survey

At Cofertility, we're committed to continuously improving our egg sharing program and providing the best possible experience for our members. Recently, we conducted a survey of 121 split members to gather insights into their motivations, experiences, and suggestions for improving our egg sharing program. We're excited to share some key findings and outline areas where we're focusing our efforts to enhance our program.

What we learned

Motivation for egg sharing

One of the most striking findings from our survey was the strong preference for our egg sharing model over traditional cash compensation. Many members expressed that they felt more comfortable with the idea of helping a family while also preserving their own fertility options. In fact, a whopping 88% of respondents stated that they were more motivated to donate their eggs via egg sharing than via a cash-compensation egg donation model.

“This has been such a positive and meaningful experience for me! I initially started this process mostly thinking about the free egg freezing benefits for myself, but after learning more about/virtually meeting the IPs I am donating to, it made me so much more excited for that part of the process and that I’m able to help such a great couple start a family of their own.”

This feedback reinforces our belief in the ethical and emotional benefits of our unique model.

Overall satisfaction

We were heartened to see that most members reported positive experiences with Cofertility. 97.4% either agreed or strongly agreed that regardless of their own family-building journey, they were glad to have participated in an egg sharing program.

This exceeds industry standards. A UK study found that egg share donors are happy with their decision: 83.3% would donate again, and only 2.1% regretted their participation.

“I'm at a time in my life that I'm thinking about having a family, but definitely later. I had thought about freezing my eggs but the cost was what stopped me from doing it sooner. It really is problematic that your eggs are most viable when you have the least in your bank. This Cofertility split program has given me the chance to secure my eggs while they are still viable without worrying about cost, and the bonus is that I get to help a family in need as well. It sounds a little too good to be true... and yet. Genius.”

Areas for improvement

We love hearing how positive this experience has been for so many of you, but we’re always looking for ways to make it even better— especially when you share feedback on how we can improve. Here’s what we’re focusing on, thanks to your insights:

1. Post-retrieval communication

We know some of you have felt a bit unsure about what happens after the egg retrieval. That’s completely understandable—it’s a big step, but it’s not the end of the journey. Once your eggs are safely stored, your Member Advocate will reach out to walk you through the next steps. Whether it’s getting you connected with our online community, helping you plan for the future, or offering advice for your OBGYN, we’ll make sure you feel supported.

And while post-retrieval complications are very rare, if anything comes up, know that we’ll be there to guide you through it and ensure you feel fully supported throughout your recovery.

2. Matching process

We completely understand how difficult it can feel if it takes longer than you expected to find a match. While we know it can be discouraging, please remember that this process can take time and is just about finding the right fit.

We’ll check in with you and work together to make your profile stand out even more. This could include updating your questionnaire with more detailed answers, adding a video to showcase your personality, or sharing additional photos. Whatever we can do to help, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

That said, we want to be honest—there is a chance you may not match, but we’re here to help in every way we can. We can offer advice on different fertility, like our Keep program, so even if a match doesn’t happen, you’ll have other paths to explore with our full support.

3. Clarity on the number of cycles

We heard from some members that they didn’t know if Split members do one egg freezing cycle and donate half the eggs or do two cycles (one cycle for themselves and one cycle to donate). The right number of egg freezing cycles depends on how many eggs you retrieve, your age, how many children you think you want to have from the frozen eggs, and your personal preferences. We have some content on the topic but think this is a great conversation for you to have with your doctor, who can provide you with medical advice.

Ultimately, this is your decision. We’re here to fully support your goals.

Looking ahead

Your feedback is invaluable in helping us create the best possible experience for egg donors. We're deeply grateful for your honesty and willingness to share your experiences with us.

"I had an overall great experience. Cofertility has been super supportive!" This comment from one of our members encapsulates what we strive for, and we're committed to making this the universal experience for all our members!

We want you to know that we're listening, we care, and we're actively working to get better every day. Our goal is to continue refining our program to ensure it truly serves the needs of our members.

Thank you for being part of the Cofertility community. Together, we're reimagining fertility care and creating new possibilities for families everywhere.

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Egg Donation

What is Mutual Matching in Egg Donation?

In this article, we’ll explore what mutual matching in egg donation is, why it matters, and how our Split program empowers women with more ethical choices in their egg donation journeys.

So, you’re considering donating your eggs. But you’ve been wondering about the future of those eggs once retrieved. Who will they go to? Will you have a say?

Historically, egg donation has been a process shrouded in anonymity, where the donor and the family never meet, and the egg donor knows nothing about the family. However, not only is full anonymity in egg donation impossible with today’s technology, but it might not be what you want. Some women donating their eggs may want to know more about the recipient family, or even meet them. That’s why Cofertility is proud to be the first company to introduce the concept of “mutual matching” in the egg donation process.

In this article, we’ll explore what mutual matching in egg donation is, why it matters, and how our Split program empowers women with more ethical choices in their egg donation journeys.

What is mutual matching?

Mutual matching in egg donation is a much more human-centered, personalized approach to connecting egg donors and recipients.

Through Cofertility’s Split program, women can freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to another family who can’t conceive, including those with infertility, gay dads, cancer survivors, and more.

For Split members participating in the fresh egg donation program, we offer the option to learn more about the recipient family before agreeing to start the egg donation process. This can be through a call with the intended parents or by connecting asynchronously through a letter or video recording.

A mutual match means the matching process is a two-way street. The intended parents aren’t the only ones who select a match, nor are they the only ones to determine the scope and degree of communication required before confirming a mutual match. The Split member should be comfortable and consenting to moving forward, too — that’s why it’s called mutual.

Why we were the first to offer mutual matching

Traditionally, egg donation has been an “anonymous” process, with strict guidelines that ensure neither the donor nor the intended parents know the identity of the other party. However, with the advent of DNA testing, true anonymity is impossible to guarantee. Plus, not everyone wants it to be a secret.

When we started Cofertility, we wanted to do a lot of things about egg donation differently. One of those things was simply giving you the option of knowing who your eggs are going to and being able to say no if it doesn’t feel right.

Mutual matching changes the old egg donation dynamic by giving you the option to learn more about, or even communicate with, the recipient family before the process continues. This offers both parties the opportunity to engage in a meaningful way, discuss their expectations, or just get to know each other.

At Cofertility, a mutual match is entirely optional — not everyone may want to know more about the recipient family, and that’s okay. We respect everyone’s choice in how they experience the process.

Why is a mutual match important (for some)?

Ensuring that every match moves forward with the consent of both the egg donor and the intended parent(s) is central to our process. While the degree and format of information exchanged prior to a mutual match can vary, the core principle remains: both parties must feel comfortable and agree to proceed.

For some Split Members, a mutual match provides a sense of trust and reassurance. Others may prefer to keep the experience private and maintain distance. The beauty of mutual matching is that it offers flexibility, allowing matches to mutually agree to the level of engagement that feels right for them.

From a donor’s perspective, mutual matching can offer a more humanizing experience. Donating eggs is a big decision; some women feel more comfortable knowing more about the family who will benefit from their generosity. Mutual matching can foster a connection based on shared values and mutual respect, helping donors feel even more empowered in their decision-making process.

Disclosed vs. undisclosed egg donation

While intended parents initially pick a donor match from our database, mutual matching refers to the egg donor having the final say in moving forward with the donation with that family or not.

You’ll also want to consider how, if at all, you would communicate with the family after the egg donation.

If the eggs you donate lead to a child (and we hope they do!), your relationship with the parents and/or children can take on two forms:

Disclosed: You exchange contact information and can communicate directly.
Undisclosed: You do not exchange contact information and only communicate via Cofertility.

The scope and degree of communication (both during and post-match) is what both parties make of it and can be outlined in your legal agreement. Communication can range from sharing an annual holiday card to direct, regular communication between you and the donor-conceived child.

This allows both donors and recipients to have more control over how much information they wish to share and whether they want the option of mutual matching. While disclosed donation provides more openness and the potential for mutual matching, undisclosed donation provides a more traditional approach, where no identifiable information is shared between the donor and the recipient, without guaranteeing anonymity.

And, even if a Split member wishes to remain undisclosed, she can still connect with intended parents on a call should they choose to opt in. At Cofertility, we believe it’s important for everyone to have options and to make the choice that feels best for them.

The future of egg donation

At Cofertility, we believe that giving donors and recipient families the option of mutual matching is a step toward more ethical and transparent egg donation practices. We are proud to have been the first agency to introduce this option and set the standard, and we hope others will follow

Mutual matching may not be for everyone, but having the option ensures that each woman who chooses to donate can do so in a way that aligns with her values and preferences. Whether a donor opts to know more about the family or not, the most important thing is that she feels supported and empowered in her decision.

We are committed to ensuring that each donor’s journey is as positive and meaningful as possible. By offering more choices, Cofertility is proud to lead the way in a new era of egg donation — one where transparency, ethics, and personal agency come first.

To see if you qualify for Cofertility’s Split program, our unique approach to free egg freezing when you donate half the eggs retrieved to another family that can’t conceive, click here.

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Egg Donation

Becoming an Egg Donor: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve helped thousands of women freeze their eggs over the years in our Keep and Split programs. It's a big decision, and it's natural to want to know everything before moving forward. This article aims to address the most common questions we receive, providing clear and honest answers to help you make an informed choice.

We’ve helped thousands of women freeze their eggs over the years in our Keep and Split programs. For those considering Split, where you freeze your eggs for free when donating half to a family that couldn’t otherwise conceive, there are even more questions about the donation piece. It's a big decision, and it's natural to want to know everything before moving forward. This article aims to address the most common questions we receive, providing clear and honest answers to help you make an informed choice.

Will egg donation affect my future fertility?

This is one of the most frequent concerns we hear. The short answer is no, egg donation does not harm your future fertility. Here's why:

During a typical menstrual cycle, your ovaries prepare several eggs, but usually, only one matures and is released during ovulation. The rest of the eggs that month naturally break down and are reabsorbed by your body.
The hormone medications used in egg freezing/donation allow all the eggs in that menstrual cycle to mature instead of just one. The key is that you're not losing more eggs than you would have otherwise—you're just maximizing the potential of your current cycle.
You get a new group of eggs each menstrual cycle, so donating doesn't deplete your overall egg reserve.
Research has not shown any long-term negative impacts on fertility from egg donation.

Our Medical Advisor, Dr. Mare Mbaye, wrote more about this topic: Does Donating Eggs Affect Your Fertility?

Why might I need to take birth control pills during the donation process?

Birth control pills are sometimes used in egg donation cycles for two main reasons:

1. Timing: They help synchronize your cycle with the recipient's treatment schedule.

2. Follicle synchronization: They help ensure your follicles are all uniform and small before the stimulation phase. When follicles are similar in size, they respond more evenly to the stimulation medications, allowing a greater number of eggs to mature at the same pace.

3. Ovarian cyst prevention: The hormones in birth control pills can help suppress the growth of ovarian cysts during the stimulation phase.

Not all cycles require birth control pills. Your medical team will determine if they're necessary for your specific situation.

What's the difference between mature and immature eggs?

During the egg retrieval process, doctors aim to collect mature eggs, also known as metaphase II (MII) oocytes. MII eggs are the ones that are fully mature and ready for fertilization. Metaphase I (MI) stage eggs have started maturing but aren't fully developed yet. MI eggs can sometimes mature into the more developed MII stage with the right conditions, but this doesn’t always happen. Germinal vesicle (GV) stage eggs are the most immature and can be recognized by having a visible nucleus. Here's a brief explanation:

Mature eggs: These are ready for fertilization and have the best chance of developing into healthy embryos. The hormone medications used in egg donation help maximize the number of mature eggs retrieved.
Immature eggs: These eggs haven't completed their developmental process and are less likely to result in successful pregnancies today. However, members of our Split program get to keep all the immature eggs if their clinic policy allows in hopes of being able to use them in the future.

Our Medical Advisor Dr. Meera Shah wrote more about this: Egg Freezing: Mature vs. Immature Eggs

How does the disclosure process work?

At Cofertility, Egg donation range on a spectrum from undisclosed to disclosed. Many donors have questions about what this looks like:

In a disclosed relationship, you exchange contact information and can communicate directly. The scope and degree of communication (both during and post-match) is what both parties make of it.
In an undisclosed relationship, you do not exchange contact information and only communicate through Cofertility. With an undisclosed donation, you and the family can choose to allow the donor-conceived child to receive your contact information when they turn a certain age (usually 18). This is called Open ID, an increasingly popular option.

It's a common misconception that disclosed donation means frequent or ongoing contact. In reality, the level of communication can vary greatly:

It might be limited to medical updates or questions.
Some families choose to have more open relationships, while others prefer minimal contact.
You and the recipient family can discuss and agree on communication preferences.

Will egg donation be painful?

The egg retrieval process is typically not painful, but you may experience some discomfort:

The procedure is done under sedation, so you won't feel pain during the retrieval.
After the procedure, you might have some cramping or bloating for a few days.
Most people describe the discomfort as similar to menstrual cramps.

What are the costs associated with egg donation?

As a Split member, you don't incur any costs. All of your office visits, screenings, medication, procedures, and travel expenses, plus 10 years of storage with our preferred biorepository partner, are completely covered.

The only expenses you would encounter is in the future, when you ship the eggs to a clinic to fertilize.

Can I donate if I have a particular medical condition?

Eligibility for egg donation depends on various factors. Some medical conditions may disqualify you, while others may not affect your ability to donate. The best way to find out is to reach out to us, or apply.

Read more in Can I Freeze My Eggs If...

How many times can I donate eggs?

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is an organization that provides guidance and recommendations to fertility clinics and professionals. One of the guidelines that the ASRM has established is regarding the maximum number of egg donation cycles that an egg donor can undergo in their lifetime. According to their recommendations, egg donors should undergo no more than six cycles of egg donation throughout their lifetime. However, most of our Split members donate only one or two times.

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While this article covers many common questions, please reach out if you have any other questions or want to talk through the process with one of our Member Advocates. At Cofertility, we're committed to providing transparent information and support throughout the egg donation process.

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Egg Donation

Genetic Testing for Egg Donors: What You Need to Know

When donating your eggs to another family that can't otherwise conceive, a necessary step is carrier screening. Carrier screening is a type of genetic test that can tell you whether you carry a gene for certain genetic disorders. By understanding the role of genetic testing, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and communicate effectively with healthcare providers, genetic counselors, and anyone else.

If you're participating in Cofertility’s Split Program, where you freeze your eggs for free when donating half to another family that can't otherwise conceive, a necessary step in the process is carrier screening. Carrier screening is a type of genetic test that can tell you whether you carry a gene for certain genetic disorders. This critical step ensures the best possible outcomes for both you and the recipient family.

You may have some questions or find yourself wondering about its necessity, what it involves, and how the results could affect you and the intended parents. This article aims to clarify the process and provide you with essential information to help you feel informed and confident.

By understanding the role of genetic testing, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and communicate effectively with healthcare providers, genetic counselors, and anyone else.

Why is genetic testing required for egg donors?

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has developed guidance for the screening of egg donors that most clinics and egg donation agencies (like ours) follow. This guidance includes genetic risk assessment, and specifically carrier screening. Why is carrier screening important?

Carrier screening plays an important role in ensuring the health of any potential children resulting from the donation. Many genetic conditions are recessive, meaning a person can carry the gene without showing symptoms. By screening egg donors, we can identify these genetic variants and minimize the risk of passing on inherited disorders.

Importantly, this genetic information is also valuable for you as the donor. It provides insights into your own genetic makeup, which can be beneficial for your future family planning. If you discover you're a carrier for a particular condition, you can make informed decisions about your own reproductive health and discuss potential risks with your healthcare provider.

Additionally, genetic testing helps in the matching process between donors and intended parents. By understanding the genetic profiles of both parties, we can ensure compatibility and reduce the risk of passing on inherited disorders. This contributes to the overall success and safety of the egg donation process.

What is carrier screening?

Carrier screening is a type of DNA test that looks for variants (mutations or DNA changes) in certain genes. These genes are associated with "recessive" conditions, which means a person needs to inherit two copies of the variant gene - one from each parent - to develop the condition.

Understanding autosomal recessive inheritance

We inherit two copies of every gene - one from the egg provider and one from the sperm provider. Autosomal recessive diseases occur when someone has a gene variant in both copies of a certain gene. Individuals who carry only one variant for a recessive disease are called "carriers" and generally don't have any symptoms of the disease.

X-linked inheritance

Some conditions are linked to genes on the X chromosome. Females typically have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. For X-linked conditions, males who have a variant are usually affected, while females are typically carriers. This is important in egg donation because a female carrier has a chance of passing the condition to male offspring.

The testing process

Genetic testing for egg donors typically involves the following steps:

Sample collection: Either a blood draw, saliva, or cheek swab sample is taken.
Laboratory analysis: The sample is sent to a specialized genetics laboratory for analysis.
Waiting period: Results usually come back within 2-3 weeks.
Result interpretation: A healthcare provider or genetic counselor will interpret the results for you, at no cost to you.

Today’s carrier screening tests often examine more than 100 genes associated with various inherited conditions. This comprehensive approach has replaced older methods that only tested for conditions common in specific ethnic groups.

What can you learn from genetic testing?

Genetic testing, particularly carrier screening, can provide you with a wealth of information about your genetic makeup. Primarily, you'll learn about your carrier status for the genetic conditions included in the panel. Being a carrier means you have one copy of a gene variant associated with a particular condition, but you don't have the condition yourself. This information is helpful for understanding potential reproductive risks, both for your role as an egg donor and for your own future family planning.

In addition to carrier status, genetic testing can sometimes offer insights into your ethnic background. Certain genetic variants are more common in specific populations, which can provide clues about your genetic ancestry. While this isn't the primary purpose of the screening, it can be an interesting secondary finding for some individuals.

Occasionally, carrier screening might reveal unexpected information about your own health. For instance, being a carrier for certain conditions might be associated with an increased risk of developing related health issues. While rare, these findings can be valuable for your long-term health management.

Furthermore, genetic testing results can sometimes shed light on your family health history. You might gain a better understanding of why certain conditions run in your family or discover previously unknown genetic factors that could be relevant to your relatives.

While genetic testing provides valuable information, it doesn't predict everything about your health or your potential offspring. Many factors beyond genetics contribute to overall health and development. Nonetheless, the insights gained from genetic testing can be a powerful tool for making informed decisions about your health and your participation in the egg donation process.

Types of conditions included in carrier screening

Carrier screening generally tests for genes associated with:

Moderate to severe childhood diseases
Conditions that lead to a shorter life expectancy
Disorders causing disability
Diseases with limited or no treatment options

Some examples of conditions often included in carrier screening are:

Cystic fibrosis
Spinal muscular atrophy
Thalassemia/hemoglobinopathy
Fragile X syndrome
Tay-Sachs disease
Sickle cell anemia

Specific conditions tested can vary depending on the screening panel used.

How genetic test results affect your donor status

In most cases, being a carrier for a genetic condition won't prevent you from being an egg donor. The key is ensuring that your genetic profile doesn't match with any variants carried by the intended parents or sperm provider.

However, there are some rare situations where a positive carrier screen might affect your eligibility, like if you're a carrier for a serious X-linked condition, like Fragile X.

What does a negative carrier screen mean?

A negative or normal screen means that no changes were found in any of the genes on the panel tested by the lab. While this is good news, it's important to remember that no test is perfect. Carrier screening doesn't test for all recessive diseases and can't identify all carriers for the diseases that were tested.

What does a positive carrier screen mean?

A positive carrier screen means that you have been identified as a carrier for one or more genetic conditions tested in the screening. Being a carrier doesn't mean you have the condition yourself. Instead, it means you have one copy of a gene variant associated with a particular condition.

Being a carrier is actually quite common. Most people are carriers for at least one genetic condition, and this usually doesn't affect their health. However, it can have implications for reproductive planning, both for egg donation and your own future family planning.

If you receive a positive result on your carrier screen, there's no need to worry. We cover the cost of talking to a genetic counselor to help you understand what your test results mean. The genetic counselor can explain your results in detail, discuss any potential implications, and answer any questions you may have. This ensures that you have a clear understanding of your genetic status and can make informed decisions moving forward.

Remember, a positive carrier screen doesn't necessarily disqualify you from being an egg donor. The implications depend on the specific condition and the genetic status of the intended parents or sperm provider. The genetic counselor and your Cofertility Member Advocate will guide you through what your results mean for your participation in the egg donation program.

Summing it up

Genetic testing is a required part of the egg donation process. It is a tool to ensure the best possible outcomes for all involved. The information you gain can be valuable not only for your role as an egg donor but also for your own future family planning.

As you go through this process, it's normal to have questions or concerns. Don't hesitate to ask your fertility doctor, genetic counselor, or your Cofertility Member Advocate for clarification or support. They're there to guide you through this important step in your egg donation journey.

Remember, being a carrier for a genetic condition is common and doesn't necessarily impact your overall health or ability to be an egg donor. By participating in genetic testing, you're contributing to informed decision-making and potentially helping create families while gaining valuable insight into your own genetic makeup.

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Egg Freezing

Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Banking

In this guide, we'll dive into both egg freezing vs. embryo banking, empowering you to navigate this important decision with confidence.

You may not be ready to have kids quite yet, but perhaps you’re starting to think about your future. If you’re exploring fertility preservation or assisted reproductive technologies, you might be considering whether egg freezing and embryo banking is right for you.

Both options offer unique advantages and considerations, and understanding their differences is important for making an informed choice that aligns with your goals and values. In this guide, we'll dive into both egg freezing vs. embryo banking, empowering you to navigate this important decision with confidence.

How does egg freezing and embryo banking differ?

Both egg freezing and embryo banking begin with the same medical procedure: about 10-14 days of fertility medications and monitoring appointments, followed by an egg retrieval.

The fertility medications encourage the development of multiple mature eggs, followed by a minimally invasive procedure to retrieve those eggs. The medical process, medications, and monitoring are identical whether you ultimately choose to freeze your eggs or create embryos.

The key difference between egg freezing and embryo banking lies in what happens after your eggs are retrieved.

Egg Freezing: The retrieved eggs are immediately frozen using vitrification technology and stored until you're ready to use them. In the future, when you decide to pursue pregnancy, these eggs will be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and the resulting embryos will be transferred to your uterus.
Embryo Banking: The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory, creating embryos. These embryos are then cultured for a few days and the healthiest ones are selected and frozen. When you're ready for pregnancy, the embryos are thawed and transferred to your uterus.

In essence, the medical journey up to the point of retrieval is the same for both options. The decision point comes after retrieval, where you choose whether to freeze the eggs unfertilized or to fertilize them and freeze the resulting embryos. Which option is right for you may depend on factors like whether you have a partner or access to sperm at the time of retrieval, or your personal preferences around timing and future family planning.

Egg freezing: increasing your options down the line

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a process where your eggs are retrieved, frozen, and stored for future use. This technology has revolutionized fertility preservation, providing women with the opportunity to delay childbearing and increase their chances of having a biological child later in life.

Pros of egg freezing

Flexibility and autonomy: Egg freezing offers women greater control over their reproductive timeline. It allows them to focus on career goals, personal development, or finding the right partner before starting a family.
Medical reasons: Women facing medical conditions that may impact their fertility, such as cancer treatment or certain surgeries, can benefit from egg freezing as a way to preserve their options.
Technological advancements: Advances in vitrification (flash-freezing) technology have significantly improved the success rates of egg freezing, making it a more reliable option.

Cons of egg freezing

Age-related factors: While egg freezing can preserve fertility, the age at which eggs are frozen plays a critical role in their viability and potential for successful pregnancy.
Additional procedures: If you decide to use your frozen eggs, you'll need to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to fertilize them and transfer the resulting embryos.
Cost: Egg freezing and subsequent IVF can be expensive, and insurance coverage may vary.

Embryo banking: a step closer to parenthood

Embryo banking, or embryo cryopreservation, involves creating embryos through IVF using a woman's eggs and a partner's or a donor's sperm. These embryos are then frozen and stored for future use.

Pros of embryo banking

Known fertility potential: With embryo banking, you have a better understanding of the fertility potential of the embryos, as they have already undergone fertilization and, if you choose, can undergo preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). This allows you to understand the genetic makeup of your embryos sooner and determine whether additional egg retrievals might be needed.
Higher success rates: Embryos have slightly higher survival rates after thawing compared to eggs, potentially increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Gender selection: With embryo banking, you have the possibility of learning the sex of the embryos sooner through preimplantation genetic testing), whereas with egg freezing, you would need to wait until fertilization and further testing at a later stage.

Cons of embryo banking

Requires sperm: Embryo banking requires the use of sperm, which may not be ideal fo r those without access to sperm or those who haven't found a partner yet.
Ethical and legal considerations: Embryo banking could raise ethical and legal questions regarding ownership, disposition, and potential future use of the embryos, particularly in cases of divorce or death.
Can’t be undone: Once embryos are created with someone’s sperm, they can’t be turned back into eggs, meaning you can’t change your mind on the biological father for those fertilized eggs down the line.

Questions to ask yourself

Choosing between egg freezing and embryo banking is a deeply personal decision, and will depend on your individual circumstances, goals, and values. To help you navigate this choice, here are some good questions to ask yourself:

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What are my current relationship goals and family plans? Are you planning to have children with your partner? Or are you unsure about your future plans?
What is my financial situation, and can I afford the associated costs? Both egg freezing and embryo banking can be expensive. Does your insurance cover the costs? Does your employer, or a partner’s employer, offer any fertility benefits?
What are my thoughts regarding embryo creation and storage? Embryo banking involves creating and potentially storing embryos that may not be used. Would you be okay with that?
Am I comfortable with the potential outcomes and uncertainties associated with each option? Both egg freezing and embryo banking have varying success rates, and there's no guarantee of a successful pregnancy.
Have I discussed my options with my partner and/or a fertility doctor? Open communication with your partner and seeking guidance from a fertility doctor will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and values.

Remember, knowledge is power. Understanding the processes and considerations involved will help you make the choice that best suits your individual needs and aspirations.

Summing it up

Choosing between egg freezing and embryo banking is a big decision with long-term implications. You’ll want to carefully consider your individual circumstances, goals, and values before moving forward.

Remember, you can always turn eggs into embryos but the opposite is not true. So if you have any doubt, freezing eggs may provide more flexibility for future decisions.

Egg freezing and embryo banking with Cofertility

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

Through our Split program, qualified applicants 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 and Split members also get 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 individuals overcome the biological constraints of their reproductive timeline, giving egg freezers greater control of their career goals and family planning while promoting social justice and advancing gender equality.