Is it worth it to freeze my eggs?

Asked by: Hortense Bernier  |  Last update: December 3, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (52 votes)

… in the journal Fertility and Sterility found it was more cost-effective for a woman to freeze her eggs at age 35 and use them to get pregnant in her 40s

Is freezing your eggs really worth it?

Egg freezing can increase the likelihood of a future pregnancy, but it isn't a sure thing. "The overall success rate of egg freezing varies based on a number of factors," explains Dr. Mundy. "For instance, the quality of your eggs cannot be determined during egg retrieval, and your age can impact overall success.

What is the best age to freeze your eggs?

What is the best age to freeze eggs? Fertility starts to decline from the age of thirty and is greatly reduced after forty years of age. Therefore it the optimum age to freeze your eggs in your late twenties. However, freezing eggs at thirty to thirty five is also quite common.

Will I regret not freezing my eggs?

While some people do regret egg freezing, the vast majority have no regrets (more on that below). In my conversations with hundreds of women in their 30s and 40s, I have heard more regret from those who did not freeze their eggs than those who did.

What is the negative side of freezing eggs?

The chance of serious egg freezing side effects is very low.

Occasionally, egg freezing medications can get the ovaries working too hard, resulting in what we call “ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome” or OHSS. OHSS is associated with swollen, enlarged ovaries and the collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

What It Takes To Freeze Your Eggs, And Is It Worth It?

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What is the disadvantage of frozen eggs?

Disadvantages of Freezing Eggs

There is always the chance of loss during the thawing process both with eggs and embryos. However, since eggs are a bit more fragile than embryos, you may lose more eggs than you anticipated when you decide to thaw them afterwards.

How many eggs does a woman have left at 35?

For example, a woman at 30 often has around 100,000-150,000 eggs in reserve. By 35, that number is likely around 80,000. Late into the thirties, that number could be 25,000, 10,000, or fewer.

How much does egg freezing cost?

A single cycle of egg freezing can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000. Costs may go up depending on the number of cycles needed and, later, embryo creation and implantation fees.

Who is not a candidate for egg freezing?

Our Tennessee egg freezing specialists do not recommend egg freezing for women over the age of 37. Individuals at risk for premature ovarian failure. A woman with a family medical history of early menopause, or the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40, would be a good candidate for egg freezing.

Is freezing eggs covered by insurance?

Egg freezing is generally not fully covered by insurance, but some providers will cover certain parts of the procedure. Therefore, if you are interested in freezing your eggs, we recommend speaking with your insurance provider first to learn what parts of the process may be covered.

Is 38 too late to freeze eggs?

Women over the age of 35 can still freeze one cycle of eggs and see future success. Women over 40 may need multiple cycles as both quantity and quality decrease at this stage. The best bet would be to speak with a reproductive specialist or fertility clinic.

Why is freezing eggs so expensive?

Within California, egg freezing is typically more expensive due to advanced success rates and outcomes on the West Coast. At Pacific Fertility Center of Los Angeles, our egg freezing options cost around $7,000 for a single cycle, $12,000 for two cycles, and $17,000 for three cycles.

How much does it cost to freeze eggs in 2023?

One cycle of egg freezing: $4,500 to $8,000.

Is freezing eggs cheaper than IVF?

Lastly, the upfront cost of egg freezing is less than that of embryo freezing, which requires in vitro fertilization before freezing. While egg freezing costs about $11,000 on average—and starts at under $7,500 here at Extend Fertility—the creation and freezing of embryos can add a few thousand dollars to that bill.

Is elective egg freezing tax deductible?

Any cost to you for treatment of a medical condition, including most physician visits, medications, and medical procedures. Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the temporary storage of eggs and/or sperm are deductible medical expenses.

How many eggs do you want for freezing?

Women under 35 should freeze 20 mature eggs for an 85% chance of having at least one child. Women 38 to 40 should freeze 30 mature eggs for a 75% chance of having at least one child.

How many eggs do you lose per period?

A woman is born with all her eggs. Once she starts her periods, 1 egg develops and is released during each menstrual cycle.

At what age does a woman lose all her eggs?

The number of eggs decreases as women get older. At birth, most girls have about 2 million eggs, at adolescence that number has gone down to about 400, 000, at age 37 there remain about 25,000. By age 51 when women have their menopause they have about 1000 immature eggs but these are not fertile.

Is it harder to get pregnant with frozen eggs?

So, the process of egg freezing doesn't take anything away from your egg reserve, and won't affect your chances of getting pregnant naturally in the future. What it will do is provide you with a backup option if you have difficulty conceiving naturally when you're ready to start a family.

Can you still get pregnant naturally after egg freezing?

As popular as this process has become, many still have questions about whether or not they will be able to conceive naturally if they freeze their eggs. The short answer is that egg freezing in and of itself does not pose an inherent risk to natural fertility.

Does freezing eggs affect the child?

One 2009 study that tracked 900 babies born using frozen eggs found no difference in the rate of birth abnormalities compared with the rate for babies born with fresh eggs. Most other studies have been much smaller, tracking just a handful of babies; they show outcomes similar to babies born using traditional IVF.

How do people afford to freeze their eggs?

Find a Clinic That Offers a Payment Plan

Some clinics offer financing options and even financial counselors to help you navigate the costs of treatments like egg freezing and IVF. For example, Fertility Finance, a company that provides loans for fertility treatments, is partnered with Shady Grove Fertility clinic.