Egg freezing, medically known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that allows individuals to preserve their reproductive potential by harvesting and storing unfertilized eggs for later use. The decision to undertake this procedure in the UK involves navigating a complex financial landscape, as the total investment extends far beyond the initial advertised price. Costs are highly variable, depending on the clinic, the individual’s physiological response to medication, and the ultimate duration of storage. An itemized breakdown of the financial commitment is necessary for prospective patients.
The Core Cost of a Single Freezing Cycle
The most significant immediate expense is the core procedural fee for a single egg retrieval and freezing cycle. This fee typically encompasses the services directly related to stimulating the ovaries and collecting the eggs themselves. In the UK, outside of the higher-priced London clinics, the charge for this central process generally falls between approximately £3,350 and £4,500.
This fee usually covers all necessary monitoring appointments, including multiple transvaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests to track follicular development. It also includes the egg retrieval procedure itself, which is performed under sedation or light general anesthetic. The final component covered is the laboratory work, specifically the vitrification process, a flash-freezing technique used to preserve the collected oocytes.
Many clinics offer a “headline” price, but this figure often excludes several mandatory services. The cost is fixed regardless of the number of eggs successfully retrieved, meaning the financial risk is borne by the patient if the yield is low.
Essential Costs Outside the Cycle Fee
Several mandatory expenses are almost always billed separately from the core cycle fee, significantly inflating the initial total outlay. The primary additional cost is the fertility medication required for ovarian stimulation, which encourages the ovaries to produce multiple eggs in one cycle. These hormonal drugs, administered via injection, can vary widely in cost depending on the individual’s prescribed dosage and their body’s response.
The cost of these medications typically ranges from about £500 to £2,500 per cycle. Clinics also require mandatory pre-screening and diagnostic tests before treatment can begin, which are usually not included in the main package price. These investigations often include a fertility assessment, such as an Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) blood test and an Antral Follicle Count (AFC) ultrasound scan.
Infectious disease screening, mandated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), is another separate administrative cost. A full initial fertility assessment, including consultations and these mandatory screenings, can add an additional £400 to over £500 to the bill. Patients must be prepared for these essential costs that sit outside the main procedural fee.
Ongoing Storage and Future Usage Expenses
The financial commitment does not end once the eggs have been successfully frozen, as two distinct financial components arise after the initial retrieval cycle. The first is the cost of long-term storage, charged as an annual fee for keeping the frozen eggs preserved in liquid nitrogen. These annual storage fees typically range from £250 to £450, and they accumulate for the entire period the eggs remain banked.
Given that the average storage duration for elective freezing is often several years, this recurring expense can add a substantial sum to the lifetime cost. The second future expense is the cost of using the eggs when the patient is ready to attempt conception. This requires a separate procedure known as a Frozen Egg Thaw Transfer (FETT) cycle.
The FETT procedure involves thawing the eggs, fertilizing them with sperm, typically using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and then transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This final stage is a significant cost, generally ranging from approximately £2,150 to £4,600 per attempt. Patients may need multiple thaw and transfer cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy, meaning the total cost of future usage can potentially exceed the initial freezing cost.
Factors Influencing the Total Investment
The overall financial investment in egg freezing is subject to several factors that cause significant price variation between individuals and clinics. Geographical location is a driver, with clinics in London often charging a premium compared to regional counterparts, sometimes quoting all-inclusive cycle costs in the £5,000 to £7,000 range. A patient’s age and ovarian reserve directly influence the necessary number of retrieval cycles.
Many individuals require two or more cycles to collect a sufficient number of healthy eggs for a reasonable chance of future success, effectively multiplying the core and medication costs. Some clinics address this by offering multi-cycle packages, such as a two or three-cycle fixed price, which can reduce the cost per cycle but demands a larger upfront investment.
It is also important to consider the availability of National Health Service (NHS) funding, which is extremely limited for elective egg freezing. The NHS typically only funds fertility preservation for specific medical reasons, such as before cancer treatment or for certain genetic conditions. Elective, or “social,” egg freezing is almost universally a private, self-funded expense.