Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation): Process, Timing and Cost

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, preserves a person’s mature eggs so they can be used years later. The eggs are retrieved using the same process as IVF, then frozen quickly by vitrification. Later, they are thawed, fertilized (usually with ICSI) and transferred as embryos.

Reasons people freeze eggs include not having a partner yet, wanting to delay childbearing, upcoming medical treatment such as chemotherapy, a gender-affirming care plan or a diagnosis that could reduce ovarian reserve, such as endometriosis.

The process

1. Consultation and testing, including AMH and an ultrasound antral follicle count.
2. Ovarian stimulation, about 8 to 14 days of injectable gonadotropins with monitoring.
3. Trigger shot to mature the eggs. See trigger shots.
4. Egg retrieval under sedation, typically 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Freezing of mature eggs.
6. Storage with annual fees. Ask about renewal and what happens if you stop paying.

Recovery usually takes a day or two, with bloating and cramping.

How well does it work?

The most important factor is age when the eggs were frozen. Younger eggs are more likely to survive, fertilize and lead to a healthy pregnancy. The number of eggs frozen matters too, so people with fewer eggs or who are older at freezing may need more than one cycle. Clinic experience varies, so ask for thaw survival, fertilization and live birth data.

Risks

• Risks of stimulation and retrieval, including OHSS (uncommon) and procedure risks. See urgent symptoms.
• The cost of storage and later IVF, and the possibility that frozen eggs may never be used.
• No guarantee of future pregnancy. Egg freezing is a chance, not a guarantee.

Cost

Costs include evaluation, stimulation medication, retrieval, freezing and yearly storage, and again later for thawing and IVF. Some employers cover egg freezing, and some states require coverage for medical reasons such as cancer treatment. See fertility costs and insurance and the cost estimator.

Questions to ask

What is the clinic’s thaw survival and live birth rate for my age? How many eggs do you recommend for me? What does storage cost and what is the contract if I move or stop paying? Use the appointment questions planner.

Who might consider egg freezing

People choose to freeze eggs for many reasons. Some are not in a relationship but want to preserve options, some face medical treatment such as chemotherapy that may affect fertility, some have conditions such as endometriosis that may reduce reserve over time, and some are planning gender-affirming care. Others want to delay for career or financial reasons. None of these reasons need justification to anyone, but a clear understanding of what egg freezing can and cannot offer helps you decide.

Medical versus planned egg freezing

Freezing for a medical reason, such as before cancer treatment, is often urgent and may begin at any point in the cycle in a “random start” protocol. Coverage may be available in some places. Planned freezing for later use has no deadline but is most useful earlier, so the decision is a balance between readiness and time. A consultation, with AMH and an antral follicle count, can give an estimate of how many eggs a cycle might yield and how many cycles you might need.

Success depends on more than number

Beyond age at freezing and number of eggs, outcomes depend on the clinic’s freezing and thawing skills. Ask how many of the clinic’s frozen eggs survive thaw, how many fertilize, how many become blastocysts, and how many lead to live births for patients of your age. Because many patients freezing eggs have not yet returned to use them, some clinics have limited data, and you should ask how the clinic handles that.

Contracts and storage

Storage is usually billed annually, and contracts specify what happens if you stop paying, move, change your mind or die. Understand your options, including donating eggs to research, discarding them or transferring them to another facility. Ask about fees for transfer. Make sure contact details are current, as clinics may be unable to reach you years later.

Emotional aspects

Freezing eggs can bring relief and also sadness or pressure. Some people worry that it is a promise they may not be able to keep. It helps to think of it as one possible form of insurance rather than a guarantee. Talk with someone you trust, or with a counselor. See stress and emotional health.

Alternatives to consider

• Embryo freezing if you have a partner or are using donor sperm, because embryos tend to survive thawing more reliably than eggs
• Trying to conceive sooner if timing and circumstances allow
• Donor eggs later if needed. See donor egg, sperm and embryo.

Questions to ask

• How many eggs do you recommend for me, and how many cycles might that take?
• What are the clinic’s thaw survival and live birth rates for my age?
• What is the full cost, including medication and annual storage?
• What does the storage contract say about transfer and disposal?

Learn more

How fertility changes with age · Fertility clinics: how to choose