How Much Does it Cost to Freeze Eggs?
Fertility IQ estimates the total cost to freeze eggs is around $15,000 to $20,000 per cycle, and many women opt for two cycles. However, planning and researching providers will help you find the safest and most affordable options.
If you’ve been having trouble conceiving, rest assured, this doesn’t mean starting a family is no longer an option. You can take action now to invest in your future family and give it your best shot when the time is right. Consult with your doctor to find out if freezing your eggs is a good option for you.
In the meantime, take a few minutes to learn about the process, including how much it costs to freeze eggs.
The Cost to Freeze Your Eggs—6 Factors to Consider
How much it is to freeze your eggs involves understanding the various components. Factor in the following items when estimating the cost of your egg retrieval and storage:
- Preliminary Doctor Visits - Before your eggs can be retrieved, you will need to have some tests and monitoring done, including bloodwork and ultrasounds.
- Stimulation Medications - Your ovaries will require some stimulation before your eggs can be retrieved. This is done using prescription medication.
- Egg Retrieval - Egg retrieval is the visit when your eggs will be collected.
- Anesthesia - Egg retrieval is a mild outpatient surgical procedure, typically using some form of anesthesia.
- Cryopreservation/Vitrification - Once retrieved, your eggs will be frozen in liquid nitrogen to preserve them for use at a later time.
- Storage - When the procedure is complete, you will need to store your eggs until you are ready to use them. You will need to pay the storage facility fees until you are ready to use your eggs.
Payment Options for Egg Freezing Expenses
For many women, a potentially five-figure price tag causes hesitation. Before ruling out the procedure due to cost, find out what options are available to you for payment.
- Employee Benefits - Find out if your employer provides any fertility assistance and if it includes egg freezing.
- Health Insurance - This procedure is not typically covered by health insurance unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as cancer. However, some portion of the process may still be covered and will lower your total cost.
- FSA/HSA - There may also be instances, such as infertility, that allow you to use a flex spending account or health savings account to pay for egg freezing.
- Family Members - You may not enjoy asking people for money, but keep in mind that your parents probably want grandchildren as much as you want children. Find out if they are willing to contribute a portion of the cost to freeze eggs.
- Financing - You can also pay for this type of expenditure with a personal loan or other financing option.
What Is the Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs?
The best time to freeze your eggs is in your late twenties, since fertility tends to decline around age thirty. However, many women in their early-to-mid twenties freeze their eggs.
According to The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), an optimal time to freeze your eggs is in your 20’s and early 30’s. Simply put, the longer you wait, the lower your chances of having enough high-quality eggs.
If you have an underlying condition that can minimize your eggs’ quality and quantity, you may want to consider freezing your eggs sooner rather than later. These conditions may include:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Sickle cell anemia
- Upcoming medical treatments such as chemotherapy
And of course, many women choose to pursue egg freezing for other reasons such as career or personal matters. Whatever the reason, freezing your eggs can be a viable way to control the timing of your pregnancy.
How Long Does Freezing Eggs Take?
It takes about three weeks to complete the egg freezing cycle. The process of retrieving your eggs is similar to the first phase of IVF. It includes:
- One to two weeks of birth control pills
- Nine to ten days of hormone injections
When your eggs mature, they are removed while you are under intravenous sedation, and the eggs are immediately frozen. Most women freeze their eggs for five to ten years. But some babies have been born from frozen eggs stored for over 14 years.
When you are ready for pregnancy, the eggs are:
- Thawed
- Injected and fertilized by sperm in a lab
- Transferred to your uterus as an embryo
Is Egg Freezing Worth It?
Yes, egg freezing is worth it. It’s a great option for those looking to control the timing of their pregnancy, and more importantly, it gives them the opportunity to start the family they deserve.
Here are some more benefits to egg freezing:
- It gives you the opportunity to become a biological parent.
- If you have a genetic condition such as ovarian aneuploidy, egg freezing can help you reduce the risk of having kids with chromosomal abnormalities.
- It’s an option for women who want children but do not have a partner yet.
- It takes away the pressure to find the right partner in time so you can focus on your priorities.
- It puts things under your control. The idea of having children can feel like a lot with societal and familial pressures. Egg freezing puts these at ease and ultimately does what matters most—putting you and your choices first.
Finance Your Egg Freezing
Future Family provides customized financing to enable you to have your eggs frozen. We can help you with an affordable payment plan to cover the cost to freeze eggs, as well as clinical visits, medication, and storage. We’ll even handle the payments you owe to multiple providers, leaving you with just one payment and significantly less stress.
Get started today to learn more about how much it costs to have your eggs frozen and how Future Family can help you fit egg freezing into your financial plan.