Egg freezing, medically known as oocyte cryopreservation, allows you to preserve your fertility by storing eggs for future use. Whether for medical reasons or to give yourself more time, understanding the process helps you make an informed decision.
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a process where mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, frozen using a rapid-cooling technique called vitrification, and stored for future use. When you are ready to use them, the eggs are thawed, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus. The technique has improved dramatically over the past two decades, with vitrification offering survival rates of 90-95% on thawing. Frozen eggs can be stored for many years without significant deterioration in quality.
The Egg Freezing Process Step by Step
Initial consultation and fertility assessment: Blood tests (AMH, FSH, oestradiol) and a transvaginal ultrasound assess your ovarian reserve and predict response to stimulation.
Ovarian stimulation (10-14 days): Daily hormone injections stimulate your ovaries to develop multiple eggs in a single cycle, rather than the usual one.
Monitoring appointments (4-6 visits): Regular ultrasounds and blood tests track follicle growth and hormone levels, allowing dose adjustments.
Trigger injection: When follicles reach the right size, a final injection triggers the eggs to mature, scheduled precisely 36 hours before retrieval.
Egg retrieval (20-30 minutes): Performed under sedation, a thin needle is guided by ultrasound through the vaginal wall to collect eggs from each follicle.
Vitrification and storage: Mature eggs are frozen within hours of retrieval and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C until you decide to use them.
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
Women in their late 20s to mid-30s who want to preserve fertility but are not ready to conceive
Patients facing medical treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, certain surgeries) that may damage ovarian function
Women with a family history of early menopause or conditions affecting ovarian reserve
Those undergoing gender-affirming treatment who want the option of biological children
Women with endometriosis or other conditions that may progressively affect fertility
Anyone wanting reproductive autonomy and flexibility around the timing of family building
Success Rates and Realistic Expectations
Success depends heavily on your age at the time of freezing. Eggs frozen before age 35 have the best outcomes. On average, around 10-15 mature eggs are needed for a reasonable chance of one live birth, though this varies. Studies suggest that for women under 35, each frozen egg has roughly a 4-7% chance of resulting in a live birth. Many clinics recommend freezing 15-20 eggs to maximise your chances, which may require more than one stimulation cycle. It is important to remember that freezing eggs does not guarantee a future pregnancy — it preserves the option.
Costs, Storage and Timelines
A single egg freezing cycle typically costs between £4,000 and £8,000 in the UK and $10,000-$20,000 in the US, including medications, monitoring and the procedure. Annual storage fees range from £200-£500. Some employers and insurance plans now cover fertility preservation, particularly for medical indications. The process from initial consultation to egg retrieval usually takes 4-6 weeks. Eggs can legally be stored for up to 55 years in the UK (recently extended), and indefinitely in many other jurisdictions, with periodic consent renewals required.
When to Speak to a Specialist
You are over 30 and uncertain about when you might want children
You have been diagnosed with a condition that may affect future fertility
You are about to start medical treatment that could damage your ovaries
You have a family history of early menopause or low ovarian reserve
You want a personalised assessment of your ovarian reserve and likely outcomes
Educational information, not medical advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to your doctor.