Egg freezing is an increasingly popular among people who want to preserve their fertility and keep their options open for the future. Whether due to personal circumstances or medical reasons, choosing to freeze your eggs is a proactive step in family planning.
Before you decide to go ahead, it’s important to know how much egg freezing is going to cost so you can make an informed decision and plan for your future with confidence. Below, we break down the costs associated with egg freezing, from initial consultations and medications to the freezing and long-term storage of your eggs.
Egg freezing can be an empowering option if you’re planning to wait until later in life to try for a family and want to improve your chances of a successful pregnancy.
As you age, the quantity and quality of your eggs will naturally decline. This can make conception more challenging over time. By freezing your eggs when they’re at their healthiest, you can give yourself more options for starting a family later in life, when the timing is right for you.
Egg freezing is also an option if you’ve been diagnosed with conditions like endometriosis or those with a family history of early menopause. If you need to undergo medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, you might also be thinking about freezing your eggs.
You might consider freezing your eggs if you’re having (or about to have) gender-affirming treatment. We recommend preserving your fertility before your gender-affirming treatment begins, however, it may still be possible to preserve your fertility after.
Find out more about preserving your fertility as a trans or non-binary person.
Regardless of your reasons, egg freezing can provide more flexibility and options for the future.
The egg freezing process involves many of the same steps you’d follow for IVF treatment. Each step is designed to ensure the highest quality of eggs are preserved.
Initial consultation and fertility assessment
You’ll speak to one of our fertility specialists and discuss your goals with them. You’ll have a fertility assessment, AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone) blood test and AFC (antral follicle count) vaginal ultrasound scan.
You’ll also be tested for any infectious diseases like hepatitis C or HIV. This won’t affect your ability to freeze your eggs, just how your egg samples are stored to avoid contamination.
Ovarian stimulation
You’ll begin a partial IVF cycle, known as ovarian stimulation. This is the most ‘hands-on’ part of the process. You’ll be given medication to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Over the course of 10 to 14 days, you’ll self-administer hormone injections to stimulate egg production. We’ll invite you for regular scans to check your progress.
Egg retrieval
Once your scans show your eggs are ready, you’ll be given a trigger injection to take at home. This contains human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which encourages the eggs to mature.
Around 36 hours later, you’ll visit the clinic for your egg retrieval appointment. They’re retrieved through a minor surgical procedure known as transvaginal ultrasound aspiration. It usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The procedure is performed under mild sedation, ensuring your comfort throughout.
The retrieved eggs are then assessed for quality and immediately frozen using a process called vitrification.
Vitrification
The eggs are frozen using a rapid freezing method that prevents ice crystals from forming. This maintains the quality of the eggs and improves the chances of surviving when thawed. Your eggs are safely stored in a cryopreservation chamber at your chosen fertility clinic, where they can remain viable for years until you’re ready to use them.
Several factors can influence the overall cost of egg freezing. These include:
Your age
The number of cycles you might need to retrieve enough eggs
Specific medications needed for ovarian stimulation
How long you want to store your eggs
Your chosen clinic and location
Your fertility specialist will be able to talk through the specific costs in your consultation.
It’s important to consider these factors when planning for egg freezing and decide what matters to you most. Understanding the breakdown of these costs can help you make an informed decision and plan accordingly.
You can find a detailed price list for all treatments and procedures on your chosen TFP Fertility clinic page.
Egg freezing involves several steps, each adding to the total cost. Below is a breakdown of the typical expenses associated with the egg freezing process:
The initial consultation with your fertility specialist, along with necessary fertility testing, typically incurs a fee. These initial assessments help determine your suitability for egg freezing and provide a personalised plan to suit your reproductive goals.
Typically, a fertility assessment, including tests and scans is around £460.
The cost of the medications needed for egg freezing can vary depending on the dosage needed and the duration of stimulation. Your fertility specialist will be able to give you a clear breakdown of medication costs during your consultation.
Once your eggs are retrieved, they are frozen using vitrification. The cost for this procedure covers the:
Egg retrieval process
Vitrification technique
Initial freezing
This is an important step in the egg freezing journey and typically costs around £4,300.
After your eggs are frozen, they need to be stored in a specialist facility. Storage fees are usually charged annually and cover the safe and secure preservation of your eggs until you’re ready to use them.
The cost for annual storage is around £350.
There may be additional costs related to anaesthesia for the egg retrieval procedure, as well as any follow-up consultations or extra testing required. You may need multiple cycles to retrieve enough healthy eggs, which can also increase the overall cost.
We understand that fertility preservation can be a significant financial commitment. We have partnered with Access Fertility who allow you to spread the cost through their repayment plans, making egg freezing more affordable. This includes multi-cycle plans and a refund programme in the event of unsuccessful treatment.
These programmes have helped many of our patients save money, fix the cost of their treatment and relieve some of the financial stress involved with fertility treatment.
Access Fertility offers various packages designed to meet different needs, ensuring that cost doesn’t stand in the way of your family-building goals.
If you have a condition such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or early menopause, you might find it harder to conceive naturally. This can also be the case if you have a family history of fertility challenges, giving you an inherited risk that could reduce your ability to conceive in the future.
Fertility preservation can safeguard your ability to build a family despite known or suspected fertility challenges. This approach helps ensure that you have viable options available when you’re ready to pursue parenthood, providing both reassurance and flexibility.
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’re starting your fertility journey, or looking into your next treatment options, like fertility preservation, we’re here to help. Give us a call for more information or to book an appointment, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
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