Egg freezing: who it's for, what it costs, what success looks like
An honest look at what you're actually buying when you freeze eggs.
How it works
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) uses the same stimulation and retrieval process as IVF, but eggs are frozen unfertilized at the end. ASRM removed the 'experimental' label in 2012. Eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen and can be thawed years later for fertilization and transfer.
Age matters more than anything
Per-egg live birth rates after freezing drop sharply with age. Studies suggest you typically need ~15–20 mature eggs frozen at age 30 to have a reasonable shot at one live birth, and ~25–30 eggs at age 38. Multiple retrievals are common to bank enough.
What it costs
One egg freezing cycle in the US averages $10,000–$15,000 plus $3,000–$6,000 in medications. Annual storage runs $500–$1,000. Many people need 2–3 cycles to bank enough eggs, so total upfront cost commonly reaches $25,000–$40,000.
Employer benefits
Coverage through Progyny, Carrot, Maven, or Kindbody is increasingly common at large employers. Many cover one or more retrievals plus medication. Check your benefits portal — coverage is sometimes hidden under 'family-forming benefits' or 'fertility benefits' rather than the medical plan.
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- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
- FertilityIQ — IVF & IUI cost data
- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Cited figures (cycle counts, dollar ranges, mandate lists) reflect publicly available data as of early 2026. Always confirm specific numbers against the linked sources before relying on them — pricing, protocols, and laws change.
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