Considering egg freezing? You’re making a proactive decision about your future family planning. One of the first questions on your mind is likely, “How Much Does Freezing Your Eggs Cost?” This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the costs involved, factors that influence them, and ways to potentially offset these expenses.
Why Consider Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, offers the opportunity to preserve your fertility and increase your chances of having a biological child later in life. While it’s an investment, many find the peace of mind it provides invaluable. Compared to the potential costs and emotional toll of multiple IVF cycles later in life, egg freezing can be a worthwhile consideration.
While not a guarantee of future pregnancy, egg freezing significantly improves your odds of having a healthy baby when you’re ready.
Note: This article uses the term “women” for clarity, but it includes anyone born with ovaries.
What is Egg Freezing?
Oocytes, the scientific term for eggs, are finite. Women are born with a limited number of eggs, and both the quantity and quality decline with age, potentially impacting fertility.
A woman consults with her fertility doctor about the egg freezing process.
Egg freezing allows you to preserve your eggs in a youthful state. The eggs are vitrified, a process of flash-freezing them in liquid nitrogen, effectively pausing their biological clock. During an egg freezing cycle, medication stimulates the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. This process is most effective in your early to mid-30s.
Even after 35, egg freezing can be a valuable option for preserving fertility. Your doctor will assess your individual fertility and ovarian reserve (the number of eggs remaining) to determine your chances of success.
Note: Freezing more eggs increases your chances of a successful pregnancy.
When you’re ready to use your frozen eggs, they’ll be thawed and fertilized individually with sperm through a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The resulting embryos are carefully monitored in an embryology lab as they develop. After approximately five days, a healthy embryo can be transferred to the uterus.
How Much Does it Cost to Freeze Your Eggs?
Deciding to freeze your eggs is a significant decision, involving both financial and emotional considerations. It’s wise to factor this into your overall financial planning, just like college funds, car purchases, or homeownership.
The cost of egg freezing can range from $8,000 to $15,000 per cycle, with some cases exceeding $30,000, depending on various factors. Annual storage fees typically range from $500 to $1,000.
Keep in mind that age significantly impacts egg quantity and quality. Women in their late 30s might require multiple cycles to achieve the desired number of viable eggs. Let’s explore other variables that can influence the cost.
5 Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Egg Freezing
Several factors can affect the overall cost of egg freezing:
1. Location
The cost of egg freezing varies depending on your geographic location. Major metropolitan areas, such as New York City, tend to have higher costs compared to cities like Boston or San Francisco.
2. Age
Older women, typically those over 37, often require multiple cycles of egg freezing to obtain the same number of viable eggs as younger women. This increases the overall cost.
3. Health
If you’re freezing your eggs due to a medical condition, such as cancer, endometriosis, or a family history of early menopause, you may qualify for lower costs or specific financial assistance programs.
A doctor reviews her patient’s medical history.
4. Clinic
Prices can vary significantly between fertility clinics. Research and compare prices, but be cautious of clinics advertising lower upfront costs that don’t include essential medications, monitoring, or storage fees. Obtain a comprehensive breakdown of all associated costs before committing to a clinic.
5. Insurance
Insurance coverage for egg freezing is not always standard. While some insurance companies and employers are starting to offer partial or full coverage for fertility-related care, many policies do not cover egg freezing for elective fertility preservation. Review your insurance policy carefully to understand your coverage.
Egg Freezing Cost Breakdown
Understanding where your money goes is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs associated with egg freezing:
What does the cost of egg freezing include?
Fertility clinics may offer “bundled” pricing, but it’s essential to understand what’s included to avoid unexpected expenses.
Consider the following components when financially planning for an egg freezing cycle:
- Initial consultation
- Hormonal and/or medical stimulation
- Monitoring of hormone levels
- Egg retrieval
- Egg storage
Remember to factor in the future cost of using your frozen eggs, including thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer.
Egg Freezing: Estimated Treatment Costs
Here’s a sample cost breakdown (for illustrative purposes only, actual costs may vary):
- One cycle of egg freezing: $8,000
- Fertility medications: $3,500-$4,000
- Storage fees: Varies, but some clinics offer initial free storage
Total: Approximately $12,000 per cycle
*Note: Many clinics offer financial plans with multi-cycle discounts!
How Much Does it Cost to Use Frozen Eggs?
When you’re ready to use your frozen eggs, keep these costs in mind:
- Egg thaw, fertilization, embryo preparation, and embryo transfer: $13,115
- Donor sperm (if applicable): $400 – $2,000
- Optional Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) of embryos: $380 per embryo
Egg Freezing Cost FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about egg freezing costs:
Does insurance cover egg freezing?
Most insurance companies don’t cover egg freezing, though some may cover diagnostic testing, initial consultations, and medications.
Check with your HR department, as some large companies are starting to offer coverage for egg freezing.
How do I pay for egg freezing?
Consider these options to help finance egg freezing:
- Consult a financial advisor.
- Compare prices and request detailed cost breakdowns from different clinics.
- Inquire about payment packages or guarantees.
- Look for discounts on fertility medications.
- Save diligently.
- Seek assistance from friends or family.
- Utilize a GoFundMe page for donations.
- Use a flexible spending account (FSA).
- Pay with a rewards credit card.
- Carefully review your employee benefits.
Is there financial help available for egg freezing?
Many fertility clinics offer financial packages to help offset the cost of egg freezing, and some even include medications. There are also financial grants available, particularly for cancer patients.
What age should you freeze your eggs?
The optimal age for egg freezing is typically in your late 20s or early 30s, ideally before age 35, to maximize the chances of success. However, fertility preservation at any age is better than none.
If you’re diagnosed with an illness that may impact your egg quality or quantity, such as cancer, consider egg freezing sooner. Similarly, individuals planning to transition with hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery can benefit from egg freezing beforehand.
How many eggs should I freeze?
It’s generally recommended to freeze a minimum of 10-15 eggs per planned pregnancy. Women over 37 should aim for 25-30 eggs per planned pregnancy. Your doctor can advise you on the optimal number based on your individual circumstances.
How many egg freezing cycles will I need?
The number of cycles required depends on your age, desired family size, ovarian reserve, and response to ovarian stimulation. Many patients undergo multiple cycles to retrieve an adequate number of eggs for a higher chance of future pregnancy.
What else should I know about egg freezing?
Consider these factors when making your decision:
- Age matters. Don’t freeze eggs too young (before knowing if you’ll need them) or too old (when egg quality declines significantly).
- Choose a reputable clinic. Research clinics thoroughly and select one with experienced staff and high success rates in freezing, thawing, and fertilization.
- Expect some egg loss. Not all eggs survive the freezing and thawing process, and not all will fertilize correctly.
- Be prepared for potential failure. The live birth rate per frozen egg averages 2-12%, highlighting the importance of freezing as many healthy, mature eggs as possible.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Now that you have a better understanding of the costs associated with egg freezing, consider your next steps. Discuss any questions with a fertility specialist, contact your insurance company or HR department to inquire about coverage, and take the time to process the information.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Many women have faced similar decisions. Contact a fertility clinic today to learn more about egg freezing costs and begin your fertility preservation journey. Their team can answer your questions and provide valuable resources to help you make informed decisions about your fertility and family building.
