I Asked A Reproductive Endocrinologist & OB/GYN For The 101 On Egg Freezing

Up until 20121, egg freezing was reserved for women with medical infertility concerns caused by chemotherapy or chronic health conditions. Today, it's an elective procedure often billed as a way for women to extend their fertile window, increasing the chances that they will be able to have children on their own timeline.

Now that people have the ability to freeze their eggs for personal reasons (even with a steep price tag), it has become significantly more popular among 20- and 30-somethings. Some research suggests the prevalence of elective egg freezing has jumped 39% just since the COVID-19 pandemic2. But even with this shift, egg freezing is still a very hush-hush procedure. Many parts of the process are not openly discussed, and the average person looking to get pregnant might have no idea what it entails before they reach out to a doctor.

Rachel Gerber, M.D: "There is an age-related fertility decline, which happens for two reasons: The first reason is that women are born with all the eggs they will ever have... Ultimately, we can't give you any eggs back. So you don't know what you're starting with or where you're at until you check.

"The other thing that leads to this fertility decline is that your eggs have less reproductive potential per egg [as you get older]. So an egg that you ovulate in your 20s or early 30s has a higher chance of being fertilized and growing into a healthy embryo.

"There have been some studies that look at it as a cost-benefit analysis3, and the answer is probably early 30s to about 35. That's when you're still in a good position to have a positive outcome from the eggs retrieved if and when you need them.

"You are also old enough to have a better chance of actually needing them. Because let's say you freeze your eggs when you're 25 and single. You may meet someone at 27 and decide to have children at 29. People tend to be pretty fertile in their early 30s. And so if you want one or two kids and freeze your eggs at 25, there's still a good chance you could do that without ever using those eggs.

"A general range is $10,000 to $12,000, but it will depend on your insurance and the fertility center you go to. (Editor's note: This covers one procedure, so if you only get six eggs in your first round and you want to reach the average recommended 10 to 12 eggs, you'll have to do another round at the same cost.)

First, you'll undergo an egg count to get an idea of the success percentages you can expect. This is done using two methods: You get an ultrasound to count how many follicles are present in your ovaries and receive a test of your AMH (anti-müllerian hormone).

Initial testing gives practitioners an idea of what medication doses you'll need and how many cycles you'll likely need to undergo. The goal is to find the best dosage to maximize the eggs you can get out without overstimulating the ovaries. If you do overdo this medication, you may feel bloated and lousy.

In a normal cycle, your body picks just one egg. The point of the medication is to encourage your body to pick all of the eggs this month. In order for that to happen, you'll have to take two to three injections a day for 10 to 12 days. During that period, you'll need to come into the fertility office for blood work and ultrasounds about every other day.

"The egg retrieval in our clinic and in most clinics is done under IV sedation. You are hooked up to monitors to make sure your vital signs are OK, and you are breathing on your own. The procedure itself is about five minutes.

"There are certain cases where we see even people in their teens or very early 20s. This can happen in horrible situations where someone is diagnosed with cancer and is going to be undergoing chemotherapy—and we know that chemotherapy can be toxic to eggs. In those cases, we work with the oncologist to attempt to freeze some eggs before cancer treatment. 

Every egg-freezing process—from initial consultation to recovery—will vary from person to person. That said, knowing the basic framework can help you decide if you want to invest in it and what to expect upon your first visit.

In general, the best time to freeze your eggs is between your late 20s and early to mid-30s. This way, you'll have a greater chance of pulling peak reproductive eggs and actually needing them, making it a more cost-effective process. The procedure itself can range from $10,000 to $12,000 (without insurance), but the final cost will depend on the clinic you visit and how many rounds you'll need to reach your goal. Medication and yearly holding expenses will add to that cost. The process shouldn't be too uncomfortable, apart from some cramping in the days after the retrieval.

It's important to speak with a professional at a clinic near you and find a team that makes you feel comfortable and confident in this process. There are many questions you'll likely have beyond these, so be sure to bring any other concerns to the clinic to have answered at your consultation.