Treatment guide
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation)
Eggs are retrieved and frozen unfertilized, for use in a future IVF cycle.
Written and reviewed by the MyBabyBridge editorial team · Last reviewed · 3 sources · General information, not medical advice. Our editorial standards
What it is
Egg freezing uses the same stimulation and retrieval as IVF, but stops there: mature eggs are frozen by vitrification rather than fertilized. Because egg quality tracks the age at freezing rather than the age at use, freezing earlier preserves a better chance — but it preserves a chance, not a guarantee, and not everyone who freezes eggs goes on to use them.
Who it is usually for
Considered for people who want to delay childbearing, before medical treatment such as chemotherapy that may damage ovarian function, before gender-affirming treatment, or alongside an IVF cycle when sperm is unavailable on the day of retrieval.
Unfamiliar term? See the fertility glossary.
What happens, step by step
- Step 1
Assessment
AMH, antral follicle count, and a medical history to estimate how many eggs one cycle is likely to produce.
- Step 2
Stimulation and monitoring
Roughly 8 to 14 days of injections with frequent ultrasound and bloodwork.
- Step 3
Retrieval
The same sedated, ultrasound-guided procedure used in IVF.
- Step 4
Vitrification
Mature eggs are flash-frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Immature eggs generally cannot be frozen usefully.
- Step 5
Later thaw and use
When used, eggs are thawed, fertilized by ICSI, cultured, and transferred as in a standard IVF cycle.
Time and cost
How long it takes
About two weeks of active treatment per cycle. More than one cycle is often needed to bank a meaningful number of eggs, particularly over the age of 35.
What it typically costs
Driven by the same stimulation, monitoring, and retrieval as an IVF cycle, plus medication and annual storage fees, and later the cost of the IVF cycle in which the eggs are used. Ask for an itemised quote that includes several years of storage.
Prices vary widely by clinic and region. Get an itemised estimate in writing — see the IVF cost guide.
Risks and limits
- Not every frozen egg survives thawing, fertilizes, or becomes a usable embryo
- One cycle may not yield enough eggs for a realistic chance
- Ongoing storage fees over many years
- The same stimulation and retrieval risks as IVF
- No guarantee of a future live birth
What to ask your clinic
- Given my AMH and antral follicle count, how many mature eggs would you expect per cycle?
- How many eggs do you recommend banking for my age and goals?
- What are your thaw survival and fertilization rates?
- What are the annual storage costs and the policy if payment lapses?
- What happens to my eggs if I move, or if the clinic changes ownership?
Ask for the answers in writing, alongside itemised costs.
Sources
- Practice Guidance and Committee Opinions — American Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Assisted Reproductive Technology — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Women's Health Frequently Asked Questions — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Thinking about Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation)?
Tell us where you are. We will review it and reply by email with general next-step information.