How much does it really cost to freeze your eggs?

While the cost of freezing eggs can vary depending on several factors, understanding the key elements that influence the overall expenses can help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive choices. The cost of egg freezing ranges on average between $10,000 to $20,000, including medication. This is a wide range, but as more and more women choose this route, we want to clarify what these costs entail.

These costs do not include added fees for storing your frozen eggs (and eventually using them). The annual cost to store your eggs can range from $500 to over $1,000. And once you’re ready to fertilize those eggs to create embryos that can be implanted through IVF, this can add thousands more dollars to the bill.

Factors that Influence the Cost of Freezing Your Eggs

The cost of egg freezing can vary depending on a number of factors, including:

Location: The cost of egg freezing can vary depending on where you live. In general, it is more expensive to freeze your eggs in clinics in large cities than in smaller towns or rural areas.
Clinic Fees: Different fertility clinics have varying fee structures that encompass the entire process of egg freezing, including consultations, medical assessments, ultrasounds, hormone medications, and the egg retrieval procedure. The reputation and location of the clinic may also influence the cost.
Medications: The cost of the medications used to stimulate the ovaries for egg retrieval is not included in the cost of egg freezing. These medications typically cost $3000 – $5000.
Storage fees: There is also an annual storage fee for frozen eggs and varies from clinic to clinic.
Your age: The optimal time to freeze eggs is typically in one’s 20s or early 30s as egg quality and quantity decline with age. Younger eggs tend to have a higher chance of successful thawing and fertilization, which can impact the number of cycles required for egg retrieval.
Your medical history: If you have any health conditions that could affect your fertility, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the cost of egg freezing may be higher. Sometimes, there may be pre-work required to improve your oocyte freezing process, including surgery to address conditions like endometriosis.
Using your frozen eggs: In order to utilize these eggs down the road, you will have to go through an IVF cycle to create embryos and implant them. Transferring frozen embryos costs about $3,000 – $8,000, plus medication for each attempt.

Insurance Coverage & Freezing Your Eggs

While fertility treatments and procedures are becoming more widely recognized, insurance coverage for egg freezing remains limited. Some insurance plans may cover the cost of egg freezing for medical reasons, such as before undergoing cancer treatment that could affect fertility. However, coverage for elective egg freezing, which is performed for non-medical reasons, is often not included in insurance policies. It’s crucial to review your insurance plan and speak with a representative to understand the extent of coverage, if any, for egg freezing.

Cost of Freezing Eggs vs Freezing Embryos

In addition to freezing eggs, another option individuals may consider is freezing embryos. The process of freezing embryos involves fertilizing eggs with sperm and then freezing the resulting embryos. While the overall costs of freezing embryos are similar to freezing eggs, there are some additional factors to consider. Embryo freezing requires the involvement of a sperm donor or a partner, and the cost of storing embryos can be higher compared to storing eggs alone.

Deciding between freezing eggs or embryos depends on personal circumstances, such as relationship status and future family planning goals. If you are not sure which option is right for you, speak with your doctor.

How to Afford Egg and Embryo Freezing

If you are considering egg or embryo freezing, but you are concerned about the cost, there are a few things you can do to make it more affordable.

Consider a financing plan offered by a fertility clinic or through Sunfish.
Search for available grants or discounts, Sunfish offers a searchable database.
Don’t be afraid to ask family to help! Many of our members are surprised by how willing future grandparents are to contribute.

A Sunfish Financial Advocate can speak with you to walk you through your options, such as financing or grants, and help you make a realistic plan.