Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, allows individuals to preserve their fertility. This procedure involves retrieving, freezing, and storing eggs. People choose egg freezing for career planning, personal circumstances, or medical conditions that impact future fertility, such as cancer treatments.
Understanding the Financial Costs
The financial cost of egg freezing includes several components. A single cycle typically ranges from $4,500 to $15,000, excluding medication. This covers ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and anesthesia. During stimulation, individuals receive hormone injections for 8 to 11 days to produce multiple eggs.
Fertility medications are a significant expense, ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 per cycle. These injectable hormones stimulate egg production and suppress ovulation. Dosage and medication type influence this cost, with older individuals often requiring higher doses.
Annual storage fees range from $500 to $1,000 per year for maintaining frozen eggs. Some clinics charge up to $1,200 annually, but pre-paying for multiple years can reduce costs to $400-$700. Clinic location and an individual’s response to medication can also influence the overall cost.
Determining the Optimal Number of Eggs
The number of eggs to freeze for future success depends on age. As individuals age, egg quality and quantity naturally decline. Younger individuals may need fewer eggs for a healthy pregnancy.
For individuals under 35, freezing 8 to 15 eggs is recommended for a good chance of a future live birth. Freezing 15 to 20 mature eggs gives a woman under 35 a high chance of at least one live birth. For those aged 35 to 37, the recommendation increases to 12 to 20 eggs for a similar likelihood of success. Individuals aged 38 to 40 may need to freeze 25 to 30 eggs to achieve a good chance of a live birth.
Achieving the desired number of eggs may require multiple retrieval cycles, especially for older individuals. Women in their mid to late 30s might need at least three egg retrievals for a high chance of a baby. On average, 4 to 12 eggs are retrieved per cycle, and individuals often undergo 2.1 cycles to reach their desired number. The more eggs frozen, the higher the likelihood of a live birth, though egg quality at the time of freezing is also a significant factor.
Financial Planning and Support
Navigating the financial landscape of egg freezing involves understanding various payment and support options. Insurance coverage for elective egg freezing is generally limited, as it is often considered a non-medical procedure. However, some insurance plans may cover fertility preservation if it is medically necessary, such as for individuals undergoing cancer treatments that could affect fertility. Some policies might also cover initial consultations, diagnostic tests, and certain aspects of ovarian reserve testing.
A growing number of employers are now offering fertility benefits, which can include coverage for egg freezing. In 2023, 40% of U.S. employers included fertility benefits in their packages, a notable increase from 30% in 2020. These benefits vary but can range from direct coverage of the procedure to financial contributions or discounted rates at fertility clinics. This trend reflects an increasing recognition of the importance of fertility support in the workplace.
Individuals can also explore various financing options to manage the costs. Many clinics offer payment plans, and there are specialized medical loans or fertility financing programs available through companies like CapexMD, Future Family, Ally, and Lending Club. These options allow individuals to spread the cost over several months or years. Some programs, such as “egg sharing,” may offer reduced costs or free freezing in exchange for donating a portion of retrieved eggs. It is advisable to consult with multiple clinics to compare pricing structures and openly discuss all financial aspects before proceeding.