Knowledge is power

In recent years, egg freezing – also known as oocyte cryopreservation – has become an increasingly popular option for those who want to delay having children. This procedure involves the extraction and freezing of eggs for later use, potentially allowing you to have children at a time when you are more ready and able to do so. However, the procedure and storage can be pricey, with prices from $10,000 to $20,000 for one cycle plus the cost of storage.

To help offset these costs and retain employees, some employers have begun offering egg freezing as part of their benefits package. 

What percent of employers offer egg freezing as a fertility benefit?

When it comes to fertility benefits, the larger the company, the more likely they are to have egg freezing coverage. A Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans found that 11% of companies with 500+ people and 19% of companies with 20,000+ employees offer an egg freezing benefit. 

But even if you have coverage, it may not be enough. Of those employers offering fertility benefits, 60% have lifetime maximums with a median of $16,250.  Furthermore, many companies with fertility benefits require a diagnosis of infertility to cover the cost of egg freezing.

What employers offer egg freezing and fertility benefits?

To help offset these costs, some employers have begun offering egg freezing as part of their benefits package. Some industries, such as technology or healthcare, are more likely to offer fertility benefits as a way to attract and retain talent.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of the companies that offer free or subsidized egg freezing to their employees:

• Apple: In 2014, Apple became one of the first major tech companies to offer egg freezing to its employees. The company covers the cost of the procedure, up to $20,000 per employee, as part of its fertility benefit program.
• Facebook: Facebook also offers egg freezing to its employees as part of its benefits package. The company covers the cost of the procedure, up to $20,000 per employee, as well as other fertility treatments.
• Google: Google offers a similar benefit to its employees, covering the cost of egg freezing up to $75,000 per employee. The company also covers other fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• Intel: Intel covers $40,000 of IVF expenses, including egg freezing for salaried employees and hourly workers.
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn offers egg freezing as part of its fertility benefit program, covering the cost up to $10,000 per employee.
• Microsoft: Microsoft offers employees $50,000 to egg or sperm freezing.
• Spotify: In 2019, Spotify began offering egg freezing to its employees, covering the cost up to $10,000 per employee.
• Starbucks: Starbucks offers all full- and part-time benefit employees who work at least 20 hours a week a lifetime maximum of $25,000 for fertility services plus $10,000 for prescription drugs. 
• Vanguard: Vanguard works with Progyny to offer employees access to “smart cycles” including egg freezing. It’s unclear if there’s a lifetime maximum.
• Walmart: In 2022, Walmart partnered with KindBody to offer fertility benefits, including egg freezing, to associates (salaried, full-time hourly, and full-time vision managers after 12 months of employment). There’s a $20,000 individual lifetime maximum. 

When an employer offers egg freezing as part of its benefits package, it sends a clear message to employees that their reproductive choices are valued and supported. By covering some or all of the cost of this procedure, employers are acknowledging that many women face barriers when it comes to starting a family, such as career advancement or personal circumstances.

However, it’s worth considering the broader societal implications of egg freezing as a workplace benefit. While it can provide employees with greater reproductive freedom, it also highlights the fact that our current systems of work and family are often at odds with each other. In addition to offering egg freezing benefits, we need to work towards creating more family-friendly workplaces that support a range of family structures and life choices.

While [egg freezing benefits] can provide employees with greater reproductive freedom, it also highlights the fact that our current systems of work and family are often at odds with each other.

How to find out if your employer offers an egg freezing benefit

If you are wondering if your employer offers egg freezing as a benefit, here are three steps you can take to find out:

Check your employee benefits package

The first step in finding out whether your employer offers egg freezing is to check your employee benefits package. Many employers will include information about their benefits offerings in the employee handbook or on their company intranet. Look for keywords such as "fertility," "reproductive health," or "family planning" to find out if egg freezing is mentioned.‍

Ask your human resources representative

If you are unable to find information about egg freezing in your employee benefits package, speak with your human resources representative. They should be able to answer any questions you have about your employer's benefits offerings, including whether egg freezing is available.‍

Look for signs of a family-friendly workplace

Even if egg freezing is not explicitly mentioned in your employee benefits package or by your human resources representative, there may be other signs that your employer is supportive of family planning. Look for policies such as flexible work schedules, generous parental leave, or on-site child care. These policies may indicate that your employer values work-life balance and is supportive of employees who are starting or expanding their families.

What to do if your job doesn’t offer fertility benefits

If you are part of the majority of Americans who do not have an egg freezing benefit through your employer, there are other options. At Cofertility, we support our members with all the nitty-gritty details of egg freezing – like finding the best clinic, financing the journey, getting discounts on medications, and more. We offer two egg freezing programs:

• In our Split program, you can freeze and store half of your eggs retrieved for up to 10 years for free when you donate the other half to a family who can’t conceive otherwise.
• In our Keep program, you freeze and store your eggs for your own future use, with lower prices on things like storage and access to our community.

Our team is here for you every step of the way, and our online community connects you with others starting their egg freezing cycles at the same time for peer support.

Why most employers don’t offer egg freezing benefits

While egg freezing benefits are becoming more common, unfortunately the majority of Americans don’t have any coverage at all. 

The biggest reason for this is the expense. Most companies do not have the financial resources to offer this benefit. The cost of offering egg freezing can vary from $10,000 to $20,000 per cycle. Especially for smaller companies, the cost of offering egg freezing may simply be too high.

There are also ethical considerations that may prevent companies from offering egg freezing as a benefit. Some companies may be uncomfortable with the idea of offering a medical procedure that is not strictly necessary for an employee's health. Others may be concerned about sending a message to employees that they should focus on work and delay starting a family.

Summing it up

For those who are considering delaying having children, egg freezing benefits can be a valuable resource. And it benefits the employer too! It can help to promote gender equity in the workplace, attract and retain top talent, improve job satisfaction, and provide cost savings for employees. 

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans have zero coverage for egg freezing. However, as the benefits of egg freezing become more widely recognized, we will hopefully see more employers offering this benefit as part of their overall compensation package.  

Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co program allows you to freeze your eggs for free, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive

In recent years, freezing eggs has become an increasingly popular option for those who want to delay having children and keep their options open. Whether it's to focus on their career, to wait for the right partner, or for medical reasons, egg freezing can give you more control over their reproductive futures. But what happens when the time comes to use those frozen eggs? In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about having a baby with your frozen eggs, if and when you're ready.

Using your frozen eggs down the line

Before we dive into using frozen eggs, let's first review how egg freezing works. The process, called oocyte cryopreservation, involves harvesting your eggs and freezing them for later use. This is typically done through a process called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, which involves taking medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then harvested through a minor surgical procedure and frozen using a process called vitrification.

When the time comes to use those frozen eggs to have a baby, the process is called in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves thawing your frozen eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory, growing the embryos, and then transferring the resulting embryos to the uterus. 

Here are the steps involved in using frozen eggs to have a baby:

• Thawing the eggs: The frozen eggs are carefully thawed in a laboratory to ensure their survival.
• Fertilization: Once the eggs are thawed, they are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. This can be done using either conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
• Embryo culture: The fertilized eggs, or embryos, are then cultured in a laboratory for several days to allow them to develop.
• Embryo transfer: Once the embryos have developed, one or more are transferred to the uterus using a thin catheter. Any remaining embryos can be frozen for later use.

Choosing a fertility clinic

You do not have to use the same clinic you used to freeze your eggs to then fertilize those eggs and transfer the embryos. Some people choose to switch clinics because they moved or because they found a doctor they like better elsewhere. If you’re looking for a new clinic, you will want to review the clinic's success rates. The success rates can be found through the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) website. Be sure to compare the success rates of the clinic to national averages. You can also look up the clinic’s reviews online, or ask friends for suggestions.

One thing to keep in mind when switching clinics is that different clinics may have different protocols and procedures for thawing and using frozen eggs. This is usually not a problem, but it will be important for your new clinic to know how your eggs were frozen.

Ultimately, the decision to use the same clinic or transport your eggs to another clinic is a personal one that should be made based on your individual needs and preferences.

Getting your eggs out of storage

If you’re staying at the same clinic, many clinics choose to store eggs in a long-term storage facility versus at the clinic itself. If that’s the case, the clinic is usually responsible for transporting the eggs back to the clinic and laboratory to create embryos. 

If you’re moving clinics, you’ll likely need to coordinate getting your eggs out of long-term storage. Transporting frozen eggs is relatively straight-forward and there are several carrier options you can use to safely get your eggs out of storage. If you worked with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help put you in touch with the storage facility to coordinate moving the eggs to a clinic of your choice.  

So how much will it cost for me to unfreeze my eggs?

The cost of using frozen eggs to have a baby can vary depending on several factors, including the location of the fertility clinic, the number of cycles needed to achieve a successful pregnancy, and whether you have any underlying medical conditions that could affect the process. 

Here are some expenses you can expect when thawing your eggs:

• Egg thawing and fertilization 
• Genetic testing (optional)
• Medication
• Embryo transfer

Overall, this can cost $3,000-$10,000 totally depending on the clinic. It’s best to reach out to clinics you are interested in to get real pricing.

Success rates with frozen eggs

The success rates of using frozen eggs to have a baby can vary depending on several factors, including your age at the time the eggs were frozen, the quality of the eggs, and the number of embryos transferred. Generally, the younger you were when freezing your eggs, the higher the chances of success. 

Studies show that for a woman under age 35, nine eggs give you a 70% chance of at least one child. As medicine and technology advances, we hope to see this number increase even further!

Summing it up

Egg freezing provides the flexibility and peace of mind that comes with knowing your eggs are safely stored and available for future use while you live your best life. You may not even need those eggs to get pregnant down the line; but if you do, you’ll be so glad you froze them. 

If you work with Cofertility to freeze your eggs, we can help you find the best clinic and long-term storage facility, and then transfer those eggs when you’re ready. We’re here for you!

Whether you’re about to go through the egg retrieval process for egg donation, egg freezing, or a full in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, you’re likely going to have some questions. While this procedure seems intimidating to a lot of folks, it’s actually not as scary as it seems. Understanding how the process works and what to look out for can help ease some of those pre-procedure jitters, so let’s break it all down. 

Before

Questions for your provider

Knowing what’s coming is half the battle when it comes to medical procedures.Here we’ve listed some great questions to ask your provider before your egg retrieval.

• Can you walk me through the timeline for the egg retrieval, from when I give myself the trigger shot (a medication sometimes used to help your ovaries release mature eggs) to the recovery room after the procedure?
• What anesthesia options are available?
• What is your best estimate of how many eggs you think you’ll be able to retrieve?
• What are the most common side effects you see after the procedure? What do you recommend I do to manage those symptoms if I have them?
• Is there anything you recommend I do leading up to the procedure to minimize my risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)? 
• When and how will the clinic update me about the eggs after the procedure (e.g., phone, email, app, etc.)?
• How can I reach your clinic if I have questions or concerns?
• Who do I contact if I have a problem outside the clinic’s normal hours?

Depending on your particular situation, you may need to ask more questions, but this is a good place to start. 

Anesthesia/sedation options

For egg retrievals, an anesthesiologist will be on site to provide your sedation. Most clinics use monitored sedation that is propofol-based. This is not the same as general anesthesia, which is used for longer and more invasive procedures and requires a breathing tube. With monitored sedation, a medication is given through the veins (IV) to make sure you feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure. No breathing tube is used, so you’ll be able to breathe on your own. This is commonly called “twilight” sedation—think of it as a really great nap! 

Unfortunately for some folks, nausea can be a side effect of the anesthesia. If you’ve had anesthesia before and you know you’re prone to nausea, make sure to let the anesthesiologist know about it. There are a few other ways to help manage nausea due to anesthesia.

• Stay hydrated. Postop nausea is sometimes due to dehydration, usually because you haven’t had anything to eat or drink before your surgery. Dehydration leads to low blood pressure, which can make you even more queasy. As soon as you’re able to after your procedure, start rehydrating. Staying really hydrated up until the night before your procedure can also help. 

• Take anti-nausea medicines. Some over-the-counter (OTC) options like antacids, ginger root tablets, and others can be helpful for mild to moderate nausea. Ask your doctor before using any of these though! Some medications can’t be taken together. If the OTC options don’t help, you can also ask your doctor about prescription options.
• Avoid activities that require too much movement or concentration. Things that involve concentration or changes in your perception (like reading or riding in a car) will often make symptoms worse. Closing your eyes and keeping your room dimly lit can help calm your nervous system while the anesthesia wears off fully.

You can learn even more about all the anesthesia and sedation options here.

Prep

Most clinics will go through their specific requirements and recommendations at your preoperative visit. The most important thing to avoid is having anything to eat or drink the day of the procedure. 

A common question people ask is whether they need to shave before their egg retrieval. The answer is no—shaving (or not shaving) does not impact the procedure at all so come as you are! If you prep anything, it should be everything you need for when you come back home to recover. Here’s a checklist of things to have ready on the day of your procedure:

• Comfortable, loose clothes
• Heating pad(s)
• OTC medicines like Tylenol, stool softeners, and anti-nausea 
• Plenty of fluids and electrolytes (water, Gatorade/Powerade, coconut water, etc.) 
• Activities like audiobooks, movies, etc. that don’t require too much concentration
• Someone to take you home

During

Is egg retrieval painful?

This is the most common question we get and it’s totally understandable! Thankfully, with the anesthesia that’s given, you will be asleep so won’t feel or remember anything during the procedure. 

What exactly happens during an egg retrieval?

Alright, let’s get into how this procedure actually works. First, the doctor will use a transvaginal ultrasound to find your ovaries, which should by now have clusters of tiny follicles. Your doctor will then gently guide a long needle through an opening in the ultrasound probe and into the vaginal wall. This needle is attached to a catheter and the catheter is attached to test tubes labeled with your name and unique patient identification number. One by one, the eggs will be drawn out of the ovaries using light suction and collected in the test tubes. These test tubes are  then handed off to the embryologist, an expert in the science of oocyte cryopreservation (the technical term for egg freezing).

Once all the eggs that can be retrieved are collected, the doctor will remove the needle. They will examine your ovaries and your vaginal wall to make sure there isn’t too much bleeding. It’s normal for these sites to bleed a little–they did just have a needle inserted into them. Typically,  your doctor will be prepared to apply pressure or, rarely, to use a cauterizing (heated) agent to control any bleeding. 

That’s it! You’ll leave with no stitches or scars. Pretty cool, huh?

How long does an egg retrieval take?

The process described above may sound really complicated but in reality, it only takes about 15 minutes. That’s less time than most people spend scrolling TikTok while on the toilet. 

After

Waking up

Immediately after the egg retrieval, you’ll definitely be a little groggy as you recover from the anesthesia. You’ll usually be told to rest for 30–60 minutes in the recovery area, where someone will monitor you as you wake up from the anesthesia. Most anesthesia takes about 24 hours to be fully out of your system, but you’ll feel close to normal by the time you leave the office.

During your recovery time, your doctor will come in to let you know how many eggs were successfully retrieved. They will also let you know how many eggs were deemed mature by the embryologist. What does that mean? Well, let’s go way back to middle school biology. Mature eggs have reached the metaphase II (M2) stage and are therefore considered to have “meiotic competence”. Meiosis is the process of cutting the number of chromosomes and genetic material by half so that when it combines with sperm, the resulting embryo has the proper number of chromosomes and all the genetic material it’s supposed to have.

Immature eggs are not capable of fertilizing because they are not “meiotically competent”. However, sometimes it is possible to have eggs mature in the lab (in vitro maturation or IVM) and then fertilize them. While this isn’t popular now, we do ask our partner clinics to freeze immature eggs for when this technology is more widespread in the future. 

In our Split program, where you freeze for free when donating half, you keep half of the mature eggs PLUS 100% of any immature eggs if they are retrieved and vitrified.

Common side effects and how to manage them

After everything is said and done, the most common side effects people have are constipation, bloating, cramping, spotting, and pain. Rest, over the counter medicines like Tylenol and stool softeners, and staying hydrated are usually all that’s needed for these symptoms. Heating pads can also be really helpful for those who have cramping or pain. If you have any bleeding, make sure to use pads—not tampons—so you can monitor the amount.

The majority of people are back to their normal activities by the next day, but it’s recommended that you go home and relax for the rest of that day with another adult with you, just in case. You also should not drive for at least 24 hours after your procedure. 

Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or other medications depending on your case. You may be asked to avoid sexual intercourse for a period of time or avoid things like taking a bath. Make sure to follow any specific instructions your provider gives you for your recovery. 

Red flags

If you notice any of the symptoms below, report them to your healthcare provider asap:

• Temperature above 101 F
• Severe abdominal pain or swelling
• Severe nausea or vomiting that doesn’t go away
• Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking through a pad in an hour; some light bleeding is normal)
• Difficulty urinating, or painful urination
• Fainting or dizziness

Good Luck!

If and when you decide to pursue egg freezing, Freeze by Co is here to help you every step of the way. As mentioned earlier, our Split program allows those who qualify to freeze their eggs for free! In a Split cycle, you donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family that can’t otherwise conceive and freeze the remaining half for yourself, so you get half the mature eggs and all the immature ones. 

Don’t want to donate? We got you! You can still participate in the Keep program, where you’re able to freeze your eggs and keep them all for yourself, on your timeline. In addition, you’ll have access to our online support community. This is a valuable resource that lets you engage with other people freezing their eggs at the same time! 

The best way to feel comfortable and confident about your egg retrieval is to know what to expect. The process won’t be exactly the same for everyone but with the tips we shared above, you’ll be more than prepared when the big day comes. Whatever you choose, our team is here to support you and help you feel empowered as you determine which family-building options are right for you!

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is becoming a popular medical procedure for women, but the biggest barrier is the high cost. We surveyed over 750 women about egg freezing, and 67% of them said cost was their main barrier.

That’s why we started Cofertility, and our Split program where eligible women can freeze their eggs *for free* when donating half of them to a family that can’t otherwise conceive. But we know that egg donation isn’t for everyone, which is why we also support women who want to freeze and keep their eggs. For these women, there are ways to make egg freezing more affordable. In this guide, we'll discuss some of the most common ways to pay for egg freezing.

First off, how much does it cost to freeze your eggs?

This is always a difficult question to answer, because it depends! It depends on the clinic you’re going to, where you are located, the medications you are prescribed (it differs based on your age and body), and where/how long you store the eggs. Average egg freezing cycle costs range from $10,000 - $20,000, plus annual storage. 

How can I pay for egg freezing?

If you want to freeze your eggs and research all your options for paying for it, here are the main buckets of options.

Health insurance

Unfortunately, very few insurance plans today cover the cost of egg freezing, unless it is medically necessary. For example, if you have a medical condition that may impact your fertility, such as cancer, your insurance may cover the cost of egg freezing as part of your cancer treatment. Check with your insurance provider to see if they cover egg freezing and what the requirements are.

Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)

If your insurance doesn't cover egg freezing, you can use pre-tax dollars from your FSA or HSA to pay for the procedure and medications. These accounts allow you to set aside a certain amount of money each year to pay for eligible medical expenses, including egg freezing.

Donate half your eggs

At Cofertility, our Freeze by Co Split program allows you to freeze and store your eggs *entirely for free* for 10 years, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive.

Financing

There are a growing number of financing options, such as loans or payment plans, to help patients pay for egg freezing. These options allow you to spread the cost of the procedure over several months, making it more manageable. 

Top egg freezing financing companies

If you’ve decided you want to go the loan route, you have many options to choose from. There are general lending companies as well as companies that specialize in loans just for fertility treatments. 

Sunfish

Sunfish makes egg freezing (and fertility treatment in general) attainable for all types of families. If you're interested in egg freezing, Sunfish can help you explore low-interest loans and financial planning tools, including low-interest loans or lines of credit of up to $100,000, with terms ranging from two to 15 years.

Ally

Ally offers fertility financing solutions to cover the cost of egg freezing at select partner clinics. Fill out a form to see your lending options and choose from 24-84-month loan options with annual percentage rates (APRs) starting at 3.99%.

FutureFamily

FutureFamily offers egg freezing loans, and they handle paying all your bills so you have just one easy payment. Starts at $150/month* for 60 months based on your clinic, credit score, and approved egg freezing related expenses. While you can apply individually, the rates are better (0% APR) if you are freezing with one of their partner clinics.

Lending Club 

Lending Club offers egg freezing loans that cover genetic testing, medications, and the medical procedure at select partner clinics. They forward payment directly to the providers within three business days. Monthly payments are as low as $263/month to finance $15,000 with a 7.99% APR for 72 months.

What to know about taking out a loan

When taking out a loan, you’ll want to understand the terms and conditions of the loan, as well as the responsibilities that come with borrowing a large sum of money. A lot of the websites listed above will have online calculators to help you get a sense for the terms and fees you can expect. 

Loan amount: Consider how much you want to finance and whether they finance that amount. You could finance part, or all, of the egg freezing expenses. 

Loan terms: Loan terms are the length of time you have to repay the loan, and they can range from a few months to several years. Shorter loan terms generally result in higher monthly payments, while longer loan terms result in lower monthly payments but a higher total cost over the life of the loan.

Interest rates: Interest rates are the fees charged by the lender for borrowing money, and they can have a significant impact on the total cost of the loan. Find out the current interest rate being charged, and if that interest rate will stay the same or change over time. 

Loan fees: Of course, these lending groups need to make money, and they do this through loan fees. Loan fees are the additional charges associated with taking out a loan, including origination fees, application fees, late-payment fees, or prepayment penalties. You can use the annual percentage rate (APR) to compare average yearly fee and interest-rate expenses over the term of the loan. It's important to carefully review all loan fees and to make sure you understand the total cost of the loan.

Repayment options: Repayment options are the ways in which you can pay back the loan, including monthly payments, lump sum payments, or a combination of both.

Loan security: Loan security is the collateral that you provide to the lender to secure the loan, such as a home or a car. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender may take possession of the collateral. If you're taking out a secured loan, it's important to carefully consider the risks and responsibilities associated with putting up collateral.

Finally, if you’re quoted a monthly payment, remember to look beyond the monthly payment.  Think about how long you will pay, and what fees and costs have been added. 

Other ways to pay for egg freezing

Credit cards

Of course, if you have a high limit on your credit card, you could always put the cost of the procedure and medications on your credit card, as long as you feel comfortable paying this off. Think of all those points! However, keep in mind that credit cards typically have higher interest rates than personal loans.

Savings

Maybe you’re a high earner and had scholarships to cover college tuition. Or perhaps a family member left you money. If you have the cash in your savings, you can certainly put it towards egg freezing. 

Crowdfunding

Using crowdfunding to pay for medical expenses is an increasingly popular option (thanks US healthcare system!). Crowdfunding is when you ask your friends, family, followers, and even strangers to chip in to pay for your medical expenses – usually through an app like GoFundMe. 

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee of success with a crowdfunding campaign, and you may not be able to raise enough money to cover the cost of egg freezing. 

Employee benefits

Some employers offer coverage for egg freezing as a benefit to their employees. Check with your handbook or HR department to see if this is an option for you.

Summing it up

If you want to freeze your eggs, know that you have financing options. Research and compare your options to find the best one for your needs. By taking the time to understand your options, you can take the first step towards preserving your fertility and achieving your family-building goals.

To see if you're eligible for our Split program, take our quiz to tell us more about yourself.

If you are considering freezing your eggs, it might be helpful to talk to women on the other side of egg freezing. What was it like? How old were you when you froze your eggs? How many did you get? Did you end up needing them?

We asked a few former egg freezers these questions to share with the world. In this Q&A – you’ll hear from real women who have undergone egg freezing to get a first-hand account of what it entails and if they’d do it again. So whether you're single, in a relationship, or just curious about the process, this Q&A is for you.

The egg freezers:

• Lauren is a 43-year-old healthcare executive who froze her eggs at 36 and used them in her 40s to have two children.
• Michelle is a 40-year old tech exec who froze her eggs at 35. 
• Eliza is a 39-year old healthcare investor who froze her eggs at 34.
• Stephanie is a 39-year old non-profit fundraiser and mom of three. She froze her eggs at 35 to donate them to her sister.

How many eggs did you freeze?

Lauren: I froze 35 eggs across three egg retrievals when I was 36-38. 

Michelle: I froze 19 eggs in one retrieval when I was 35.  

Eliza: We ended up with 16 eggs and froze four embryos from one retrieval when I was 34.

Stephanie: I froze 14 eggs in one retrieval when I was 35.

Why did you freeze your eggs?

Lauren: I was recently divorced and focusing on my career and my own journey. I knew I wanted children, probably as a single mom, but wanted the flexibility to wait until I was ready. 

Michelle: As I approached my 35th birthday, the startup I was working for got acquired, so I decided that was fortuitous timing to use some of the funds to invest in my future. I wasn't ready to have kids at the time, but wanted to keep my options open. 

Eliza: I had PCOS and knew I could have trouble conceiving like some others in my family. My doctor suggested freezing embryos since I was in a relationship.

Stephanie: At the time, my younger sister had been diagnosed with a rare condition, which required major surgery and the removal of multiple large benign cysts from many of her organs, including near and on her reproductive organs. We weren't sure what the outcome would be, and I wanted her to know that even if she was unable to have children herself following the procedure, she would have my eggs waiting for her to use, ensuring that her own dna (adjacent) would be in the mix.

How would you describe the experience – both physically and emotionally?

Lauren: It was physically and emotionally draining. I ultimately went through three egg retrievals over two years. I am extremely lucky to have an incredibly supportive family (including my 96 year old grandmother!) and strong friends who encouraged and cared for me through every step of the process. It was actually beautiful to experience the love, kindness and support from so many wonderful people to help me achieve my dream.

Michelle: At the time, none of my close friends had frozen their eggs, so I did a lot of Googling and it was a little like navigating in the dark. I visited several clinics in NYC, and ended up choosing the clinic based on the doctor I felt the most comfortable with and one that guaranteed "at least 12 eggs in up to 4 cycles" for patients with a certain AMH level. To better educate and prepare myself, I created a spreadsheet to document visits, schedule, medicine dosage, etc -- and have ended up sharing this doc with multiple friends and colleagues over the years who have contemplated going through the process. The overall experience was relatively seamless for me physically (the hardest part was being home by 7PM for my shots!), and emotionally I felt empowered taking back some control over the dreaded "biological clock." 

Eliza: It was an expensive process, and I took it very seriously. I took off work (which ended up being unnecessary) and educated myself as much as possible. I was afraid of the shots at first, but got used to them quickly. The actual retrieval was a breeze, although I was constipated for a few days after!

Stephanie: I think it was definitely different than what the average egg retrieval experience is because I wasn't going into it with the emotional stress or anticipation of hoping for a child at the end. I already had two healthy children and knew I would likely have one more down the line, but I think I was aware that there wasn't as much wrapped up in for me as most people experience. Physically, it was tiring. I experienced all of the symptoms I had read about - bloating, mood swings, tiredness....It was a weird month to say the least, but it was easy to tolerate because I was confident the pay off would be there. That said, I think the fact that I already had two healthy children without any fertility challenges meant that I wasn't too worried about my egg production. I know that so many of my friends who had already gone through it had the added stress of knowing that they may not produce very many viable eggs. The retrieval itself wasn't bad, and after a day or two of rest, I felt pretty much like myself, although the bloating took a bit longer to subside. 

Did you end up needing to use the eggs to conceive? If not, what did you do with them?

Lauren: Yes! I used eggs from two different retrievals to create embryos for both of my extraordinary sons!

Michelle: I was very lucky to have conceived my son naturally at 39. I'm planning on trying to try for a second child, so I will save my eggs for that in case I need them. I'm so thankful to have that as an option!

Eliza: Yes – one of those embryos is my son!

Stephanie: The eggs are in storage as a backup plan if my sister needs them. Thankfully, it looks like they won't be needed, but until all of our families are complete, they'll hang out on ice.  

If you could go back in time, would you do it again? Why or why not?

Lauren: Absolutely 

Michelle: Absolutely would do it again. It was certainly a big investment but it was 100% worth it. I wish I could have done it a few years earlier, but I'm glad I did it when I did and that the public discourse around fertility has evolved over the years.  

Eliza: Had money not been an issue, I would have tried to freeze even more. I actually have a friend who did two rounds – one to freeze embryos and one to freeze eggs. If I could go back, that’s how I would have done it.  

Stephanie: I would do it a thousand times over. I would do anything to help my sister build a family, and knowing what the process is like, if I were in a position to consider freezing for myself (if my life story had played out on a different timeline) I would do it as well. It's a small price to pay for the peace of mind, if it's done as a preemptive measure, and an even smaller price to pay if it helps build your family.

What advice do you have for someone considering egg freezing?

Lauren: It changed my life and enabled me to become a mom on my own timeline. I would absolutely recommend it to any woman not yet in the right relationship!

Michelle: Sooner is better than later. If you think you might want to freeze your eggs, I’d go for it.

Eliza: I love the concept of Cofertility’s Split Program where you get to freeze your eggs for free in exchange for donating half of them! 

Stephanie: Get a good support system. It helps to have a friend or partner who will gladly give you a shot in the bathroom of a bar (yes, this happened!) or a coworker who cuts you a little slack for a few weeks, or sends food over the next day.  Find a clinic where you feel comfortable and cared for. Get a really comfy pair of sweatpants that you're cool wearing on repeat for a week. Remember that it is a limited time, it will be over soon, and it will be worth it.

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‍Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co program allows you to freeze your eggs for free, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive

Whether donating time, money, hair, blood, we donate because we believe it makes the world a better place. We are wired to feel happy, and when we give we not only feel happy, we also feel a sense of connectedness to those around us. Egg donation is one of those things that can not only make you feel as though you are making a difference, but an act that can create life and family tree branches that may never have existed otherwise. 

Deciding to donate your eggs is a generous and compassionate act that provides hope to many families dreaming of a child. So even though the decision to donate your eggs may be an easy one, sometimes deciding if you should or should not tell friends and family about your donation, may not be as easy. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the considerations for sharing your egg donation journey. 

Should I tell my family I’m an egg donor? 

While there is no right answer, one thing is for certain, your decision to donate is yours and your alone and so is your decision to tell or not tell. This means you are the one who can best make this decision.

So when thinking through this decision, it is helpful to think about the relationships you have and what you feel comfortable telling those close to you. How supportive will they be about your decision? Do you feel afraid they might criticize you or not understand why you would want to do this, or try and talk you out of it? What is your fear or concern about telling, and how do you think this information will impact your relationships?

Something else to keep in mind is that when the egg donation process starts, you will be required to self-administer hormone injections for approximately two weeks. You will also need to have daily medical ultrasound appointments. And since egg donation is a medical procedure, you will not be able to drive home alone and will need someone to be with you after the retrieval. You may even need a few days off from work or school if you experience side effects. So, if you live with friends or family, it may not be easy to keep it from them. 

Also you need to keep in mind that donating your eggs doesn’t just impact you. It impacts your entire genetic family because now they too will be genetically connected to the offspring conceived using your eggs. For example, if you decide not to discuss your egg donation with your family and keep it all under wraps, what happens if in a few years your mother does an at-home-DNA test and sees that she has a ‘grandchild’ out there. Would you rather just explain as things like this come along or would you rather prepare your family members beforehand? 

If you do decide to talk about your plans to donate your eggs, be ready for a wide range of responses, including negative reactions, and uneducated (but well meaning) questions and opinions on the topic. Also be prepared for a lot of surprise and praise and revelations about their own fertility journeys. 

Does my significant other have to know I’m donating eggs?

Just as noted above, because of the medical process related to egg donation, it may be difficult to not have your significant other involved, especially if birth control methods need to change. If you include your partner from day one, they might feel more comfortable and supportive of your decision to donate because they will be well educated about egg donation. 

However, even if they are involved from the beginning, some may still not feel comfortable with this decision because of how they view the potential donor conceived person - they may still see this person as an extension of you and that may be uncomfortable. And if you already have children, your partner may be concerned about any potential impact on the donor-conceived person’s relationship with your children. In these cases, clarifying roles and educating partners will be very important. 

Benefits of sharing 

The benefits of telling your friends and family during the process means they can provide emotional and practical support, such as helping with injections or driving you to your appointments, and helping care for you after the retrieval.  Also, talking about your donation helps educate people and remove some of the stigma that comes along with egg donation. It can also help you learn more about your family tree, their background and health histories. 

How do I tell people I’m donating my eggs? 

If you decide to tell family / friends about your decision to be an egg donor, start off by talking about your motivating factors, such as your desire to help parents build their families. Give them facts about why people need donors and who these people are… put a human face to it. Give whatever information you feel comfortable sharing, let them absorb, process, and then come back to you with more questions. 

How do I tell my future (or current) children I donated my eggs?

Telling your children about your experience as an egg donor teaches them by example the importance of giving and good will, and the idea that we are all connected. How you approach the subject will make a big difference on how they receive the information. If you approach it with pride and honesty, they too will receive it in a very positive manner. 

Depending on their age and level of understanding, children’s reactions vary. Younger children usually cope well with the information, especially if you explain it in age appropriate language. Older children may also have various reactions. Sometimes they just need more time to process it, including a need to understand how it will impact them and their lives. 

Regardless, keep it simple. Explain your reasoning. Describe the process. If you know, tell them about the parents you helped and the outcome. 

Summing it up

The world of infertility treatment is changing. At one time, needing help to create a family was a matter of secrecy.  But now because of human generosity and the incredible advancement of technology, people who never believed it possible, can be parents. Further, medical societies and research encourage parents to tell their child how they were conceived. In the same manner, donors are also advised to be open about their donation. You might be surprised by the support and praise you receive from your friends and family. 

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Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co program allows you to freeze your eggs for free, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive

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Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation or fertility preservation, is a medical process where the follicles in your ovaries are stimulated and retrieved for future use. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including personal or professional reasons, medical conditions, or to preserve your fertility before undergoing treatments that may impact it.  The egg freezing process involves the use of medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs during a cycle. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about egg freezing medications.

What happens during egg freezing?

The first step in the egg freezing process is to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs to be retrieved. This is done with the use of fertility medication, administered in the form of injectable hormones. These medications are designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, rather than the one egg that is typically produced during your cycle.

After 10 to 12 days of stimulation, your fertility doctor will then retrieve the eggs which are immediately frozen for your future use. 

An overview of egg freezing medications

What drugs do you take for egg freezing? Well, it depends on the specific protocol you are given that is personalized to you. While we can’t tell you specifically what drugs you’ll be taking, we can share more about the most common medications and how they work.

First, there’s the egg freezing medications that help your follicles grow

There are a few fertility medications, taken over a 10 to 12 day period, that cause your follicles in the ovaries to grow in a process called ovarian stimulation. The most commonly used are gonadotropins. These medications are self-administered as injections (shots). 

As your follicles grow, the eggs inside start to mature and prepare for the retrieval. These egg freezing drugs may be used individually or together, based on your doctor’s personalized recommendation.

• Gonal-F and Follistm are two brands of the same medication, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). They are from two different manufacturers, but are interchangeable.
• Menopur a combination hormonal medication (FSH and LH).

Then, there’s the egg freezing medications that make sure the eggs don’t get released too soon

At some point each cycle, your egg is released in what we call ovulation. While this is a normal part of your cycle each month, during egg freezing we want those eggs to stay put until they are retrieved by your doctor. This is where GnRH-agonists and GnRH antagonists medications come in. They are prescribed at just the right time to help block the LH surge from occurring so your eggs are not released prematurely. These include:

• Cetrotide and Ganirelix are two brand names of the same medication, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. They both come in pre-filled syringes.

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Lastly, the eggs get a final growth boost called a “trigger”

The last medication of your egg freezing journey stimulates your body’s natural LH surge and helps induce the final maturing of your eggs, preparing them for the egg retrieval. hCG medications help trigger ovulation within 36 hours, so the timing of this medication needs to be precise. 

• Ovidrel, Novarel, and Pregnyl are all the same hCG drug that requires some mixing before administration. 
• Lupron (also known as leuprolide acetate) is an alternative trigger to hCG. 

Other meds you might take during egg freezing

• Omnitrope is a recombinant human growth hormone (HGH) used for eggs that may need a little extra help. 
• Birth control may be prescribed for the weeks leading up to your cycle to both give more control over the timing of your egg freezing procedure, help your ovaries better respond to fertility drugs, and minimize the growth of cysts.
• Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic medication often prescribed to decrease your chance of infection.
• Prenatal vitamins or other supplements may be suggested to support ovarian and overall health. 

How many injections are there for egg freezing?

Let’s just say you should be prepared for a lot of shots! The number of injections required for egg freezing can vary depending on the individual and the specific protocol used, but typically ranges from one to five injections per day for the duration of the stimulation which is typically between 10-12 days. 

Where do these injections go?

Most fertility drugs are injected just underneath the skin in your belly or your thigh. Your clinic or pharmacy will give you specific directions for the shots. It’s really important to follow the instructions carefully. If you freeze your eggs with Cofertility, we’ll help guide you through this process.

What will the fertility medication dosage be?

Before and during your egg freezing cycle, you will have several “monitoring” appointments when you receive a transvaginal ultrasound and blood test for key hormones. These tests give your fertility team the information they need to determine your exact medication and dosage. This information will be then sent to your pharmacy, and you’ll either pick up or receive the medications in the mail. 

What are some of the egg freezing protocols?

A protocol is a standard set of medications and timing that have been proven to work for patients. While your exact protocol will be personalized to what your doctor thinks will work for you, the protocol will fall into a certain bucket. 

• Antagonist Protocol is the most commonly used because it requires the fewest number of injections and works for most patients.
• Long Protocol (aka Down Regulated Protocol) was the first protocol for egg retrievals. It takes 1-2 weeks longer than most protocols, making it more timely and expensive. It’s not as common these days, but is still used for certain types of patients. 
• Microdose Flare Protocol uses Lupron’s dual properties to first activate follicles, and then prevent them from prematurely ovulating. It is used alongside gonadotropins to stimulate the ovaries. This protocol is often used for patients with diminished ovarian reserve or a poor response to other types of protocols. 
• The Mini-IVF or Natural Protocol involves the retrieval of a single egg during a natural menstrual cycle, without the use of ovarian stimulation medications. It is sometimes used for women with a low ovarian reserve or for women who are unable to take stimulation medications.

Potential side effects of egg freezing medication

While fertility drugs for egg freezing are considered safe, they do occasionally cause mild discomfort from bloating. 

The biggest risk to ovulation induction medication is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) – a serious complication that can occur with the use of these medications. OHSS occurs when the ovaries become swollen and painful due to the overproduction of eggs. 

How common is OHSS? Data suggest the incidence of mild OHSS is 20%–33%, moderate OHSS is 3%–6%, and severe OHSS occurs in 0.1%–2% of cycles. In rare cases, OHSS can be life-threatening, so it's important to be aware of the potential risks and to inform your doctor of any symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea). 

If you are at high risk of OHSS, your doctor may prescribe a trigger medicine called leuprolide instead of hCG, which can prevent OHSS. Another medicine called cabergoline also can help reduce the fluid accumulation. Or they may give you extra IV fluids at the time of egg retrieval. 

How much do egg freezing medications cost, and will my insurance cover it?

The drugs required for egg freezing are not cheap. And unfortunately for most patients, they are not covered by insurance. Most patients should expect to pay $3,000 to $6,000 out of pocket, and it varies based on the dosage and duration of treatment. 

There are ways to get better prices on medications:

• Price shop: The cost of medication can vary depending on your location and the pharmacy where you purchase the medication. Try using a tool like GoodRx to compare prices at different pharmacies to find the best deal. 
• Freeze your eggs with Cofertility: In markets where our partners have discounts on meds, we pass those along to our Keep members. 
• Look for manufacturer discounts and coupons: Some manufacturers offer discounts and coupons for their medications. Check out the manufacturer's websites to see if you qualify for any savings.

Summing it up

If you’re freezing your eggs, it’s helpful to get to know the medications that make it possible. Ovarian stimulation medications are designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs during a cycle, which increases the chances of a successful pregnancy in the future. The process is overall very safe and can be tailored to you to maximize results and minimize side effects and risks. 

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Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation or fertility preservation, is a process where they stimulate the follicles in the ovaries and retrieve unfertilized eggs to preserve them for future use. While egg freezing has taken off in recent years, the cost of the procedure can be a significant barrier for many. Why is egg freezing so expensive and what are your options? Let’s dive in.

So how much does egg freezing really cost?

The question of how much does it cost to freeze your eggs will come down to a few factors. These include the clinic, your geography, and how long you keep the eggs in storage. On average, egg freezing patients will spend $30,000 - $40,000 on treatment and storage. 

Let’s look at one case of a 23-year old egg freezer whose insurance did not cover the procedure. Here’s what she paid out of pocket at a New York City clinic:

Fertility workup and blood work - $1,500

Monitoring, blood work, and ultrasound - $2,500

Medications - $4,479

Oocyte retrieval, anesthesia, egg freezing - $15,650

One-year of egg storage-  $1,500

Total - $22,629

This specific patient retrieved 34 eggs, which gives her a good chance at a live birth if she uses those eggs down the line. But most people don’t have an extra $20,000 laying around.

But why is egg freezing so expensive?

One major reason for the high cost of egg freezing is the expense of the technology and equipment required for the procedure. The process of freezing eggs involves:

• Anesthesia and the cost of an anesthesiologist at your egg retrieval
• An operating room and equipment for the egg retrieval
• A freezing process called vitrification, which requires specialized equipment and materials
• A cleanroom IVF laboratory with good air quality
• Safe gamete storage with backup generator in case the power goes out

There’s also a high cost for the people who make egg freezing possible. Reproductive endocrinologists – also known as fertility doctors – make between $236,472 and $315,827 a year according to Salary.com. And anesthesiologists make between $359,300 and $470,200. There are also embryologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and patient coordinators. All these specialists go to school for years and have specific training to ensure the process is successful and safe. 

Another reason for the high cost of egg freezing is the cost of the medication used during the process. The medication used to stimulate the ovaries in preparation for egg retrieval can be quite expensive, and the cost of these medications varies depending on dosages you are given and your insurance coverage.

According to the GoodRx list price index, the list price for drugs used in egg freezing has increased 50% from 2014 to 2020. There are several medications used to stimulate your eggs during egg freezing: Gonal-F, Menopur, and Follistim AQ. And they are all brand drugs without a generic option… meaning the manufacturer gets to set whatever price they want.

Lastly, egg freezing is so expensive because most health plans don’t cover it. Health insurance companies have a lot of leverage; and if they’re good at one thing, it’s negotiating prices. 

How can I get more affordable egg freezing?

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you’re in the right place. Cofertility was founded to reshape the cost structure of egg-freezing, specifically through our Freeze by Co platform.

We have discounts with clinic partners, egg storage facilities, and pharmacies that we pass along to our members. Also, our members get access to our active online community, where you can connect openly with others freezing at the same time.

We stand for choice and offer two accessible programs:

• With our Split program, those who qualify can freeze their eggs for free when you give half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive, including couples with infertility, gay dads, and more. 
• Those in our Keep program can freeze their eggs and store them all for their own later use, while taking advantage of discounts throughout the process to lighten the financial load. 

Summing it up

If you want children someday, egg freezing may help keep that option on the table. But egg freezing can be an expensive process. That’s because of the cost of the technology, equipment, and people required, as well as the cost of medication. Cofertility can help make your egg freezing journey more affordable – or even free. Take this 1-minute quiz to see which programs you qualify for!

One of my biggest regrets in life is not freezing my eggs in my 20s – it’s what led me to help co-found Cofertility and make this process radically more accessible. 

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical procedure that allows women to preserve their fertility for future use. Whether you're focused on your career, dealing with medical issues, or simply not ready to start a family yet, egg freezing can give you the peace of mind of knowing that you have options in the future. But if you're considering egg freezing, where do you start?

First things first: get educated

The first step towards freezing your eggs is knowing what you’re getting into. We have a wealth of knowledge here that you are free to access. I recommend starting with these articles:

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Your Eggs
• How Much It Costs to Freeze Your Eggs
• The Egg Freezing Process: a First-Timer’s Overview
• A Breakdown of Egg Freezing Success Rates by Age

You can also talk to friends who have gone through the process, or join a Facebook group to hear from others in your shoes. 

What are the chances it even works?

We measure the “success” of egg freezing in a couple of ways. Since we don’t know if the eggs will turn into a healthy baby many years from now, the goal is to have a large, but safe, number of healthy eggs retrieved in a single cycle. 

Retrieving 10-20 eggs is ideal. That’s because for a woman under 35, she will need nine eggs to achieve a 70% chance of having at least one live birth. If you’re trying to conceive in your mid to late 30s, you may need double as many eggs to achieve that same 70% success rate. That’s because egg quality (along with quantity) declines as we age. 

Read more in How Many Eggs Should I Aim to Freeze?

It's important to note that egg freezing is not a guarantee of future pregnancy, and success rates vary depending on various factors such as your age at the time of freezing and the quality of the eggs. 

Next steps: find the right clinic

Once you get a better idea of the process and decide if egg freezing is right for you, the next steps are to schedule a consultation with a fertility clinic. During this consultation, the doctor will evaluate your overall health, discuss your reasons for considering egg freezing, and review the risks and benefits of the procedure. They will also likely conduct some initial tests (like AMH) to assess the quality of your eggs and your ovarian reserve, which will give you a better idea of your chances of success with egg freezing.

If you work with Cofertility, we will help you schedule an appointment with one of our local partner clinics. If you participate in our Keep program, we can help you get the best prices on clinic fees, medication, and storage.  

Know your AMH

Research has found that AMH is a good predictor of the number of eggs retrieved during egg freezing, independent of age. Because of this, a fertility doctor will use your AMH levels (amongst other biomarkers) to determine the drugs and dosages during the procedure. 

In general, you can interpret AMH level this way:

• Above 1.0 ng/ml (nanograms per deciliter): Normal
• Below 1.0 ng/ml: Showing weakness in the ovarian reserve
• Below 0.5 ng/ml: Showing severe weakness in the ovarian reserve

But know that a very high level of AMH could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which may require treatment and/or specific fertility medications or treatments. When AMH is over 5.0 nanograms per deciliter, for example, it’s worth addressing if there are other potential signs of PCOS. 

Figure out how you will pay for it

Egg freezing can be an expensive procedure, with costs typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 for one cycle plus the cost of storage. This varies widely based on the clinic and the medications your provider prescribes. But, there are ways to make egg freezing more affordable. Here are a few options to consider when paying for egg freezing:

• Insurance coverage: A minority of insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost of egg freezing and/or medications. It's always best to check with your insurance provider to see if they cover the procedure, and if so, what the specific coverage details are.
• Employer-provided benefits: Some employers offer coverage for egg freezing as a benefit to their employees. Check with your handbook or HR department to see if this is an option for you.
• Financing options: At Cofertility, we have financing partners which can make the procedure more affordable. 
• Donate half your eggs: Our Freeze by Co Split program allows you to freeze and store your eggs for free for 10 years, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive.

To see if you're eligible for our Split program, take our quiz to tell us more about yourself.

Benefits of working with Cofertility

Cofertility is a human-first, tech-enabled fertility ecosystem that provides people agency over if, how, and when they have babies — today or someday. We have two programs for egg freezers:

The Split program, which offers women a chance to both freeze their own eggs and donate half the eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise. If you qualify for the program and decide to donate half of your retrieved eggs, every expense associated with the egg freezing procedure —  medications, supplements, travel if necessary, insurance, and 10 years of storage — are completely free of charge. We don’t even need a payment or credit card up front, as the family you match with covers all the expenses. 

In our Keep program, you can freeze and store your eggs for your own future use, with lower prices on things like storage and medication – as well as our team’s support and access to our community.

The benefits for of working with Cofertility include:

• Power of choice: Freeze your eggs more affordably or, if you qualify, freeze for free when you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. 
• Community: Our inclusive online spaces allow you to connect with others going through the process in our private online community.
• Compassion: We’ll always treat you with care, and our Split program gives you the opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality. 
• Data-driven: We provide you with trustworthy guidance and evidence-based research so you can make informed decisions about your fertility. 
• Free egg freezing: Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free if you qualify for our Split program.

Ready to learn about more affordable (even free!) egg freezing with Cofertility? Fill out this quick quiz to learn about our accessible egg freezing options and see if you qualify for our programs — it only takes one minute.

So you’re freezing your eggs - congratulations! This is such an empowering step in your life, and we hope that you can experience the process with positivity and hope for the future. 

We know the process can also be confusing and overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding what activities are safe and not safe during egg freezing. First and foremost, it's important to understand that egg freezing is a medical procedure and should be treated with the same level of care and attention as any other medical procedure. This means that you should always follow the instructions of your provider and avoid any activities that may put your health at risk.

In this article, we will explore some of the things you can and can't do during egg freezing. Let’s go!

Can I work out while freezing my eggs?

Exercise is generally considered safe during the egg freezing process, but it's important to note that you should avoid any intense or high-impact activities. Because your ovaries will be enlarged from being stimulated, exercise could increase the risk of a rare condition called ovarian torsion, when the ovary twists on the surrounding tissues.

Gentle exercise such as yoga or walking is recommended. If you are someone who has a serious workout regime, we recommend talking to your fertility doctor about what’s safe.

Can you go to work during egg freezing?

Working during the egg freezing process is generally considered safe, but it's important to be mindful of any physical demands or stressors that may be associated with your job. Your fertility doctor may recommend taking some time off work to rest and recover if you're experiencing any side effects from the medication used in the egg freezing process. And after the egg retrieval, it’s recommended you give yourself time to rest (although I know women who felt fine enough to go back to work!). Most people are able to return to work within a day or two of an egg retrieval.

Can you drink coffee during egg freezing?

Caffeine consumption is generally considered safe during the egg freezing process, but it's important to be mindful of your intake. Some experts recommend limiting your caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day, which is roughly equivalent to one cup of coffee. While most of the research on the impact of caffeine is on pregnancy, we think it’s better to play it safe during egg freezing too. 

Can you drink alcohol during egg freezing?

Alcohol consumption is not recommended during the egg freezing process. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption can negatively impact fertility and may also increase the risk of certain complications associated with egg freezing. The good news is there are loads of EANABs (equally-appealing, non-alcoholic beverages) these days. Try a soda water with lime and no one will bother you!

What about smoking?

Smoking is not recommended during the egg freezing process (or ever!). Studies have shown that smoking can negatively impact fertility and may also increase the risk of certain complications associated with egg freezing. Smoking can decrease the number and quality of eggs retrieved, and increases the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially serious complication of the egg freezing process.

Can you have sex during the egg freezing process?

(Gentle) sexual activity is generally considered safe during the egg freezing process, but it's important to be mindful of any potential risks associated with the fertility medications. After all, your ovaries may be enlarged and sensitive. Some fertility doctors may recommend avoiding intercourse or using contraception during certain parts of the process, due to higher risk of pregnancy. This is one you should definitely ask your doctor about.

Note: If you’re participating in our Split program, where you freeze your eggs for free by donating half of the retrieved eggs to another family, you’ll need to avoid sex entirely, since becoming pregnant or contracting and STD would result in your cycle being canceled.

What can you eat during egg freezing?

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is an important part of overall health and wellness, and it's especially important during the egg freezing process. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats can help support your overall health and may improve the success of the egg freezing process. Once the eggs are retrieved, you can indulge in dessert, a cocktail, and resume your normal diet!

What supplements can I take during egg freezing?

In addition to eating a healthy diet, taking supplements may also be beneficial during the egg freezing process. Folic acid, for example, has been shown to improve reproductive outcomes and is often recommended for women undergoing egg freezing. Other supplements such as CoQ10, DHEA, and omega-3 fatty acids may also be recommended by your fertility doctor. It's important to note that you should always talk to your fertility doctor about what you’re taking – and what you want to be taking – before you start egg freezing, as some may interact with fertility medications.

Can you use a hot tub or steam room during egg freezing?

There’s conflicting info here. Some doctors say hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas should all be avoided during the egg freezing process, citing that they can cause a spike in body temperature, which can be harmful and may negatively impact the success of the egg freezing process. While others say it’s fine. Knowing that there’s always a small risk that public hot tubs are carrying bacteria or can cause allergic reactions, it’s safest to wait until after the egg retrieval. 

Can you take a hot bath during egg freezing?

This is another controversial one – some fertility clinics say hot baths are fine, while others say you should stick with showers. Some providers even recommend avoiding baths from the day of your retrieval and several days after, in order to allow your body to safely heal. Ask your doctor what they think, or just stick to showers to play it safe!

Summing it up

Egg freezing is such an intense (and often expensive) process. In order to get your best outcomes possible, it’s probably better to err on the conservative side. Always follow the instructions of your fertility doctor, and avoid any activities that may put your health at risk. We are wishing you the best!

‍Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co program allows you to freeze your eggs for free, when you give half to a family who can't otherwise conceive.

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a procedure that allows women to retrieve eggs when they are most healthy and have them for use later in life. The process of freezing eggs involves a series of steps, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and cryopreservation. One of the most common questions that women have about egg freezing is whether or not it is painful. In this article, we’ll review all your questions about the egg freezing process and pain.

Egg freezing shots

The first step in the egg freezing process is ovarian stimulation, which is done using fertility medications. These medications are designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, rather than the single egg that is produced during a typical menstrual cycle. These medications are typically administered subcutaneously (under the skin) using a small needle. The shots themselves aren’t pleasant, but they’re quick. 

Some women may have a higher pain tolerance than others and some may have more discomfort than others. I personally have a really low pain tolerance, so I was nervous about the shots. But the process was super manageable, and the pain was not as bad as I thought it would be. Here’s what helped for me:

• Icing the spot for a few minutes to numb the area
• Laying down during the process
• Having my husband give me the shots instead of doing them myself
• Remind myself that “you have to want it more than you’re afraid of it”
• Having a good show and some chocolate ready for right after 

After a few days of injections in the same area, you may find some bruising. The bruising is usually normal and should disappear within a few days. Most people also experience mild bloating during the process, but it is generally not considered to be painful.

Vaginal ultrasounds

During the egg freezing process, you will get to know “Wanda” – what many in the fertility community affectionately call the ultrasound wand. Vaginal ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create images of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. This helps your doctor understand how your follicles are growing, and if the medications are working. 

The ultrasound wand (covered in a condom and gel) is inserted into the vagina, which can cause a feeling of pressure. The procedure itself is not considered to be painful, but some describe it as short-lived mild discomfort.

Blood draws

You will likely need several blood draws during your egg freezing journey to see how your hormones are responding. Blood draws, also known as venipuncture or phlebotomy, is a procedure in which blood is taken from a vein in your arm for laboratory testing. 

The pain associated with a blood draw is usually minor, and often described as a "sharp" or "stinging" sensation that lasts for a moment. The discomfort can also come from the tightness of the band that is often used to make the vein prominent and easier to find the vein.

Pain tolerance can vary from person to person, some people may experience a minimal discomfort while others may experience more pain. To minimize the discomfort during the blood draw, it's recommended to relax and breathe deeply during the procedure. If you have a fear of blood draws or needles, inform the technician who may be able to use a smaller needle or a different technique to minimize pain. And if you are prone to experiencing lightheadedness when getting your blood drawn, make sure to let your technician know. Asking if they can do the blood draw while you’re laying down rather than sitting up can make a huge difference!

The egg retrieval

The final step in the egg freezing process is the egg retrieval, where the eggs are then removed using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle. This is typically done under anesthesia or sedation, so you are fully relaxed during the procedure. Anesthesia is administered through an IV (intravenous) line so the amount of medication can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of sedation. Because it is not general anesthesia, you can breathe on your own and don’t need breathing tubes (phew!). Okay let’s break down this process and how painful it is:

• Getting the IV line: An IV line will be inserted into a vein, typically in your hand or arm. Some people describe a "sharp" or "stinging" sensation that lasts for a moment when the needle is inserted into the vein. 
• The egg retrieval: If you use anesthesia (and most people do), you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain or sensation during the 30-minute procedure. 
• Post-retrieval: After the egg retrieval procedure, it's normal to experience some mild to moderate cramping or bloating, similar to the discomfort experienced during menstruation. Your fertility doctor may prescribe pain killers, or give you over-the-counter pain medication to manage any discomfort.

Overall, the egg retrieval is not too painful. The bloating (and constipation) afterwards is considered the most unpleasant part, similar to period cramping.

What to do if you have a low pain tolerance

Even people with low pain tolerance can successfully freeze their eggs. But if you’ve had bad prior medical experiences, the entire process can feel daunting.

First and foremost, it is important to communicate this with your fertility doctor. Let them know that you have a low pain tolerance and ask about the level of pain you can expect at each step, and if there are safe pain management options.

There are a couple of other techniques to help make any pain more manageable:

• Therapy. If your low pain tolerance is rooted in medical anxiety, talk to a therapist. They can help you find techniques (or even medication) to help you go into the procedure with  more confidence.
• Practice deep breathing or relaxation techniques. Focusing on your breath and practicing mindfulness can help to distract you from the pain and reduce your perception of it.
• Ice packs. Applying a cold compress to the affected area before and after shots can help to reduce inflammation and numb the area.
• Acupuncture or massage. These therapies can help to reduce pain and promote relaxation.
• Music. I find it helpful to listen to music through headphones during any medical procedure (from a cavity filling to a blood draw). Music can help transcend you to a calmer place, and distract your mind.

Everyone's pain tolerance is different and what may be unbearable for one person may be manageable for another. Don’t ever be ashamed or embarrassed about having a low pain tolerance, it’s totally normal (and manageable!). 

Is egg freezing safe?

Yes - egg freezing is considered a safe and well-tolerated procedure. However, like any medical procedure, there are risks.

Anesthesia, which most people opt for during the egg retrieval, is considered safe. Overall, there is only one death per every 200,000 to 300,000 cases. However, this number is even lower for women freezing their eggs. The biggest risk factors for complications from anesthesia are being male, being older, being obese, and having inpatient surgery – none of which are likely for egg freezers 

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the most common complication of egg freezing, but it is also rare. About 3-6% of cases experience mild or moderate OHSS (headaches, fatigue, nausea, irritability, breast tenderness, abdominal pain, weight gain, and enlarged ovaries). Severe or critical OHSS is less common at 1–3% of cases and presents as ascites and pleural effusion, shortness of breath, dehydration, vomiting, oliguria, hemoconcentration, thromboembolic events, and massive ovary enlargement, which are potentially life-threatening. If you have any of those symptoms, it’s critical to reach out to your doctor ASAP. 

There are other risks such as pelvic pain, intraperitoneal bleeding, pelvic infection, damage to organs, and ovarian torsion. It’s best to talk to your doctor about the risks of egg freezing.

Summing it up

Egg freezing is considered to be a safe procedure, with most women reporting mild to moderate pain or discomfort. If you have any concerns about pain or pain management, it’s best to talk to your doctor up front. Let them know your concerns and ask about the level of pain you can expect at each step, and ask if there are safe pain management options. We are here, rooting you on!

More people than ever are thinking about preserving their fertility for the future. But what’s the difference between freezing eggs and freezing embryos? More importantly, which is the better option for you?

While both procedures have given people more choice around when they have children and how they conceive them, they’re not the same and there’s plenty to think about when trying to choose one over the other.

What’s the difference?

There’s one major difference between freezing eggs and freezing embryos. When you freeze your eggs, they stay unfertilized. We all know that to make a baby, you need an egg and a sperm because each of them provides half of the material needed. On its own, an egg can’t function (and neither can a sperm).

An embryo, on the other hand, is an egg that has already been fertilized by a sperm. Once they combine, the egg and sperm become a single cell. Over the next three to four days, the embryo divides several times, going from one to two to four to eight cells, and so on until it reaches the blastocyst stage and is ready to be frozen. Once an embryo has developed, there’s no going back– that is, there’s no way to turn that embryo back into a separate egg and sperm. 

Things to consider

So how does this information help you figure out whether to freeze eggs or embryos? Well, there are two big factors to consider: your circumstances and the research.

If you don’t know who you want to have children with, then freezing your eggs may be the best approach. This option gives you the freedom to hold off on thinking about having a baby until you’ve met someone or are ready to choose a sperm donor. 

On the other hand, if you are currently with a partner who you know you’d like to have children with but now isn’t the right time, then freezing embryos might be the way to go. The caveat here is to be 100% certain—stars like Sofia Vergara and more recently, Anna Kendrick, have run into trouble after freezing embryos with partners they didn’t end up with. 

Now, let’s look at the research.

Is freezing embryos really better?

The short answer here is not necessarily. The long answer is that each case is unique so whether freezing embryos or eggs is the better option for you will depend on your specific situation and what your labs, imaging, and other health information suggest. 

With that in mind, let’s break down the pros and cons of each method.  

Pros and cons of freezing eggs vs embryos

Freezing/thawing process

Historically, embryos have been “tougher” than eggs and therefore, easier to freeze and thaw. Freezing eggs was much more of a gamble since they’re large cells with a lot of water inside. That water can turn into ice crystals during freezing which, in turn, can damage the chromosomes in the eggs and make them unusable.

But it’s not all gloom and doom for egg freezers! Researchers have continued to study the technology and the statistics have changed as newer and better freezing technologies have emerged. Nowadays, an excellent lab can expect 90% of the eggs that they freeze to survive compared to 95% for embryos. 

But, let’s be clear, these numbers don’t mean that your chances of a successful live birth are 5% higher with a frozen embryo, it just means that embryos are a little more likely to make it to the next phase of IVF. The higher quality your frozen eggs (i.e. if you freeze your eggs relatively young and maintain a healthy lifestyle), the more likely they will have thaw rates that are just as good (if not higher) than that of embryos.

Quality

A major weakness of egg freezing is that there is no way to test the quality of eggs on their own–they still have to make it through the thawing process, fertilization, and develop into a healthy embryo that can be implanted into the uterus (not all of them make it this far).

This can lead to a situation where someone uses their eggs years after freezing them and those eggs don’t perform as well as they thought they would. By then, this person is older so their egg quality has declined even more. Not having that quality information upfront can make it hard to judge how many eggs need to be frozen to lead to an actual baby.

In contrast, embryos have to get past several important hurdles that give fertility specialists a much better sense of their quality and the chances of a baby later. That’s because turning eggs into embryos requires that they be successfully fertilized and that those embryos survive up to a point where they can be frozen (usually the blastocyst stage, around day 5 of development). 

In addition, embryos are graded at each point in their development based on an embryologist’s opinion of whether they are high quality or not (embryologists are experts who study the development of embryos). 

Finally, you have the option to run a genetic screening test on embryos, which can help more accurately predict whether they’re likely to become healthy babies. Research has shown that preimplantation genetic screening can result in lower miscarriage rates and higher live birth rates per embryo transfer. There is no such test for frozen eggs. 

Chances of a healthy baby down the line

Recent studies comparing the likelihood of actual babies being born, known as the live birth rate (LBR), have shown that it’s now pretty even whether you’re freezing eggs or embryos. Before this, the LBR with frozen eggs was quoted at about 50% the LBR of frozen embryos. 

A study published in May 2022 provides even more evidence to support this. The study, done at NYU, is the largest U.S. report of elective fertility preservation outcomes to date and is based on 15 years of real-life frozen egg thaw outcomes for people who had delayed having children and had natural, age-related fertility decline.

On average, study participants were 38 years old at the time they froze their first set of eggs. The study found that regardless of age, those who thawed at least 20 mature eggs had a 58% LBR. This was unexpected given that so many of the participants were past the optimal age to freeze eggs (35 years old or younger). People under 38 years old who thawed 20 or more mature eggs had a 70% LBR per patient. The length of frozen egg storage did not change the success rate.

Additionally, the study found that 39% of people between 27 and 44 years old (most were between 35 and 40 when they froze their eggs) had at least one child from their frozen eggs, which is comparable with age-matched in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Researchers also found that many of the participants studied had more than one child through egg freezing. 

When compared to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from the nation’s nearly 500 fertility clinics on people trying to conceive at age 40 using fresh eggs or embryos, only 30% who underwent IVF became pregnant and the LBR was less than 20%.

The final conclusion? For those starting families later, egg freezing and thawing at a later date provides a higher pregnancy success rate than using fresh embryos during assisted reproductive technology.

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*One important point the researchers make about their study is that it was limited by the number of patients. More studies need to be done in the future that include people from a variety of geographic locations and center types. 

Cost

Last, but certainly not least, is the financial side of this. Is embryo freezing more expensive than egg freezing?

Honestly, yes. The upfront cost of egg freezing is definitely less than that of embryo freezing (which requires in vitro fertilization before freezing). While egg freezing costs upward of  $10,000 on average, creating and freezing embryos can add a few more thousand dollars to that bill. If you’re freezing embryos using a sperm donor, the sperm can add a further $300 to $4,000, depending on several factors. In both cases, you will also need to pay an annual fee to store your eggs or embryos until you use them. This can cost anywhere from $500-$1000 per year, depending on the clinic you use. 

Depending on the type of medical coverage you have, your insurance may cover some of these costs, so make sure you reach out and see what support you can receive from them. Many clinics also offer financial plans and other forms of support so always ask!

TL;DR: Freezing eggs comes with a lower upfront price tag which makes it an easier and more accessible choice than embryo freezing, allowing more people to preserve their future options. 

Additional Resources

Both the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and experts at Harvard Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed calculators for assessing a person’s chances of success with artificial reproductive technology (ART). The CDC IVF Success Estimator helps estimate the chances of a live birth with IVF while the BWH Egg Freezing Counseling Tool helps to estimate the chances of at least 1 live birth based on your age and number of frozen eggs.  

What do I ask my provider?

Use your health care provider as a support and resource. They should be able to answer any of your questions. Not sure what to ask? Here are a few questions to help you get started: 

• How many eggs or embryos do you recommend I freeze, at my current age, to have the highest percentage chance of a live birth later on?
• How many treatment cycles will I need to do to get to this number? It’s totally normal to need more than 1 cycle, but it’s nice to know what to expect ahead of time. 
• What is this lab’s rate of successful freezing and thawing of eggs vs embryos (“oocyte cryosurvival rate” is the medical term)? Are they closer to minimal or maximum competency?
• How much would each cycle cost? 
• Are there any financial support options, plans, or advice? 
• What are the health risks? What about common side effects? 
• Is there an upper age limit for using my eggs or embryos in the future? 
• How long can I store them and how much will it cost per year?

Do You!

At the end of the day, there’s no universal rule around the best approach to preserving fertility. Family planning is going to look different for every person so you need to do what’s right for you. When you’re ready, talking to a fertility specialist can help you make up your mind. 

In the meantime, Freeze by Co is here to help you every step of the way on that journey. Our Split program allows those who qualify to freeze their eggs for free! In a “Split” cycle, you donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family that’s trying to conceive and freeze the remaining half for yourself. Or, if you don’t want to donate, you can still participate in the Keep program, where you’re able to freeze your eggs and keep them all for yourself, on your timeline. In addition, you’ll have access to our online support community. This valuable resource lets you engage with other people freezing their eggs at the same time! 

Whatever you end up choosing for yourself, our team is here to guide you through it and keep your options open.