Considering egg freezing is a proactive step in family planning, whether driven by personal aspirations, career goals, or health concerns. A primary consideration is, “How much does it cost to freeze my eggs?” This guide offers a detailed look into the costs associated with egg freezing, helping you make an informed decision.
Why Consider Egg Freezing?
While the upfront cost of egg freezing might be comparable to a luxurious vacation, its potential long-term benefits are significant. It can be a strategic choice compared to facing multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) later in life.
Egg freezing enhances your chances of having a healthy baby in the future, although it’s not a guarantee. Understanding the process and associated costs is crucial.
Note: This article uses the term “women” for clarity but includes anyone born with ovaries, regardless of gender identity.
What is Egg Freezing?
Oocyte, the scientific term for a human egg, is key to understanding egg freezing. Women are born with a finite number of eggs, and their quality and quantity decrease with age, affecting fertility.
Egg freezing preserves eggs in a youthful state through vitrification (flash-freezing in liquid nitrogen). Medication stimulates the production of more eggs during a cycle, making the process most effective in your early to mid-30s.
Even after 35, egg freezing remains a viable option for many. Your doctor can assess your fertility and ovarian reserve to determine your chances of success. Freezing more eggs increases the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
When you’re ready to use your eggs, they’re thawed and fertilized with sperm via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The resulting embryos are monitored in an embryology lab, and after about five days, a suitable embryo is transferred to the uterus.
How Much Does It Cost to Freeze Your Eggs?
Egg freezing is a significant decision with financial and emotional implications. Incorporating family planning into your financial strategy is essential.
Egg freezing can range from $8,000 to $15,000 per cycle, with potential costs exceeding $30,000, not including annual storage fees of $500 to $1,000.
Age affects egg quantity and quality at retrieval. Women in their late 30s may need multiple cycles to achieve the desired outcome.
5 Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Egg Freezing
Several factors can influence the total cost of egg freezing:
1. Your Location
The cost varies by city. For example, egg freezing in New York may be more expensive than in Boston or San Francisco.
2. Your Age
Older women (over 37) often require multiple cycles to obtain the same number of viable eggs as younger women.
3. Your Health
If you’re freezing eggs due to a medical condition (like cancer, endometriosis, or a family history of early menopause), costs may be lower.
4. Your Clinic
Prices differ significantly between fertility practices. Research clinics and ask detailed questions about all costs, including medications, monitoring, and storage.
5. Your Insurance
Insurance coverage for fertility preservation varies. While typically not covered, some companies and employers are starting to offer partial or full coverage for fertility-related care.
Egg Freezing Cost Breakdown
Understanding where your money goes is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of typical costs:
What does the cost of egg freezing include?
Clinics may offer “bundled” pricing, but ensure you understand what’s included to avoid surprises.
Key components to consider:
- Initial consultation
- Hormonal and/or medical stimulation
- Monitoring of hormone levels
- Egg retrieval
- Egg storage
Additionally, factor in the costs of using the frozen eggs in the future, including thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer.
Egg Freezing: Estimated Treatment Costs
Here’s a cost estimate for egg freezing at Illume Fertility (out-of-pocket costs, before insurance or financial package discounts):
- One cycle of egg freezing: $8,000
- Fertility medications: $3,500-$4,000
- Storage fees: 2 years free storage included in their Egg Freezing Opportunity Plan
Total: $12,000 per cycle
How much does it cost to use frozen eggs?
When you’re ready to use your frozen eggs, consider these costs (out-of-pocket, without insurance or discounts, specific to Illume Fertility):
- Egg thaw, fertilization, embryo preparation, and embryo transfer: $13,115
- Donor sperm (if applicable): $400 to $2,000
- Optional Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) of embryos: $380 per embryo
Egg Freezing Cost FAQs
Here are common questions about egg freezing costs:
Does insurance cover egg freezing?
Most insurance companies typically do not cover egg freezing costs. However, they may cover diagnostic testing, initial consultations, and sometimes medication.
Check with your HR department, as some companies now offer coverage for egg freezing.
How do I pay for egg freezing?
Consider these options:
- Consult a financial advisor to assess affordability.
- Compare clinic prices and ask for detailed cost lists.
- Look for medication discounts.
- Save regularly.
- Seek help from friends or family.
- Use a GoFundMe page.
- Utilize a flexible spending account (FSA).
- Use a rewards credit card.
- Review employee benefits carefully.
Is there financial help available for egg freezing?
Many fertility clinics offer financial packages, some including medications. Also, explore financial grants, especially for cancer patients.
What age should you freeze your eggs?
Freezing eggs in your late 20s or early 30s maximizes your chances of success. It is always better to freeze at any age than not at all!
If diagnosed with an illness affecting egg quality (e.g., cancer) or planning gender-affirming treatments, consider freezing eggs sooner.
How many eggs should I freeze?
Aim for a minimum of 10-15 eggs per planned pregnancy. Those over 37 should target 25-30 eggs per pregnancy.
Consider the number of mature eggs retrieved, clinic success rates, and other factors.
How many egg freezing cycles will I need?
This depends on age, desired family size, ovarian reserve, and response to stimulation.
Multiple cycles may be needed to retrieve enough eggs for a higher chance of future pregnancy.
What else should I know about egg freezing?
Consider these factors:
- Freeze at the right age. While eggs are better at 20, waiting until 30 provides more clarity on future need.
- Choose your clinic carefully. Select a clinic with experience and high success rates in freezing, thawing, and fertilization.
- Expect to lose eggs. Not all eggs survive freezing or fertilize correctly.
- Prepare for potential failure. Live birth rates per frozen egg range from 2-12% on average, underscoring the importance of freezing as many healthy eggs as possible.
Ready to take the next step?
With a clearer understanding of egg freezing costs, consider your next steps. Discuss questions with a fertility specialist, check insurance coverage, or simply take time to reflect. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey.
Contact a fertility specialist to explore egg freezing options and resources. Their expertise can guide you in making informed decisions about fertility and family building.
