Oocyte cryopreservation, commonly known as egg freezing, is a medical procedure that allows women to preserve their reproductive potential by storing their eggs for future use. This involves retrieving a woman’s eggs, freezing them using a flash-cooling technique called vitrification, and storing them in specialized facilities. As more individuals in India choose to delay childbearing, the procedure has become a sought-after option. Understanding the full financial commitment requires a detailed look at the costs associated with the entire process, which extends beyond the initial retrieval.
The Cost of the Initial Freezing Cycle
The upfront expense for a single, complete egg freezing cycle in India generally falls between ₹1,00,000 and ₹3,50,000 (one to three and a half lakh Indian rupees). This core amount covers the fixed costs of the clinical and laboratory procedures required to retrieve and freeze the eggs.
The cost includes the monitoring phase of ovarian stimulation, which involves transvaginal ultrasounds and blood tests to track follicle growth over roughly 10 to 14 days. Following this, the egg retrieval procedure, or Ovum Pick-Up (OPU), is a significant component. The OPU is a minor surgery performed under short-acting anesthesia, requiring charges for the operating theatre, the anesthesiologist’s services, and the fertility specialist’s fee.
Initial laboratory work also constitutes a large part of the expense. This includes the process of vitrification, the high-speed freezing method that prevents ice crystal formation. The core cost covers the denudation of the eggs, their evaluation for maturity, and the physical cryopreservation into liquid nitrogen tanks. Some clinics bundle the first year of storage into this initial cycle price.
Variable Expenses and Medication Costs
A substantial portion of the total expenditure comes from the hormonal stimulation medications, which are often not included in the initial package price. These drugs, primarily recombinant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) administered via daily injections, stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The cost of these gonadotropins can range from ₹30,000 to over ₹1,50,000 per cycle.
This variability is tied to the patient’s ovarian reserve and her body’s response to the drug protocol. A woman with a lower Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level or advanced reproductive age may require a higher dosage or a different, more expensive combination of medications to maximize egg yield. Medication costs can account for 30% to 40% of the entire bill for the cycle.
Initial screening tests are also factored in before starting the cycle, typically falling outside the package cost. These include a comprehensive infectious disease panel, a full fertility hormone assessment, and initial consultations. These preparatory expenses generally add between ₹2,000 and ₹15,000 to the total cost.
Long-Term Cryopreservation Storage Fees
The financial commitment for egg freezing extends past the retrieval date, requiring a recurring fee for the maintenance of the eggs. Once vitrified, the oocytes must be kept in specialized cryogenic storage tanks filled with liquid nitrogen to halt biological activity. These ongoing costs are billed annually or biennially by the clinic or the associated cryobank.
The annual storage fee in India ranges from ₹8,000 to ₹30,000, depending on the clinic’s location and facility standards. This fee covers the operational costs of maintaining the cryotanks, monitoring the liquid nitrogen levels, and ensuring the integrity of the storage facility. The total amount spent on storage depends entirely on the duration for which the woman chooses to preserve her eggs.
Cost Variations Across Indian Cities
The geographic location within India significantly influences the final price of the procedure due to differences in operating costs and market demand. Tier 1 metropolitan areas, such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, consistently present higher price points for the initial freezing cycle. In these major hubs, the average cost often sits at the upper end of the national range, sometimes reaching up to ₹3,50,000.
This increased pricing reflects the higher rents for specialized medical infrastructure, the use of advanced technology, and the concentration of high-end corporate fertility chains. In contrast, smaller Tier 2 cities generally offer the procedure at lower costs, often closer to the national average minimum.
The reputation and scale of the clinic also play a role, with established, high-volume centers often charging a premium compared to smaller, independent facilities. A thorough review of local clinic pricing is necessary for an accurate budget. Financial planning must account for both the initial procedure and the annual storage fees over time.