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Egg freezing
We can't press pause on life but freezing your eggs allows you to focus on what matters most right now without sacrificing the chance of having a family later. Preserving your fertility by freezing your eggs can safeguard your future, allowing you to try for a family at a time that's right for you.
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What is egg freezing?
Freezing your eggs is a method of preserving your fertility, giving you the gift of time to focus on what matters right now whilst allowing you to try for a family when you're ready.
To freeze your eggs, you'll need to undergo a partial IVF cycle to retrieve your eggs from the ovaries. Healthy eggs are then rapidly frozen and safely stored in liquid nitrogen for future use.
How does egg freezing work?
To freeze your eggs, you will have to go through a partial IVF cycle. It can take up to three weeks to freeze your eggs and involves the following steps:
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Step one
Stimulating the ovaries
A daily injection is used at home to stimulate follicular growth within the ovaries. This increases the number of eggs that are collected.
In most cases, this is a 14-day course of hormone medication.
Step two
Suppressing the natural menstrual cycle
A second daily injection is then added at home to stop natural hormone production and control when your eggs are released.
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Step three
Monitoring progress
Pelvic scans will be performed to check the development and growth of the follicles in the ovaries. This will determine when the eggs are collected from the follicles.
Step four
Egg retrieval
Once the follicles have reached the correct size, an injection will be given to mature the eggs for collection. A needle is then gently guided through the vaginal wall to capture the eggs one by one. Don’t worry, you will be sedated for this part of the procedure to ensure no pain or discomfort.
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Step five
Fertilisation
Healthy eggs are combined with sperm in the lab where they reach and penetrate the egg naturally. A method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single healthy sperm is injected directly into the egg, may be used for cases of low sperm count or quality.
Step six
Embryo development
Fertilised eggs are left for five to six days to develop into mature embryos. These are monitored using an EmbryoScope™ which helps us select the strongest embryos for freezing.
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Who can benefit from egg freezing?
Preserving your fertility can be a reassuring option if you’re looking to have a family further down the line. There are many reasons why you may wish to preserve your fertility. Some of the most common reasons are:
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You're not ready to start a family yet
You may consider freezing eggs for later pregnancy if you don’t yet feel emotionally or financially ready, have personal or career goals to achieve first, or haven’t met the right partner.
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You're a transgender or non-binary person
If you’re starting hormone replacement therapy or plan to undergo gender reassignment surgery as part of the transition process, some or complete loss of fertility can be expected.
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You have a condition or undergoing treatment, that may affect your fertility
Conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis, as well as cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can impact your fertility.
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You're in the Armed Forces or at risk of injury
If you’re working a job deemed as “hazardous” you may wish to preserve your fertility due to risk of injury or exposure to harmful chemicals.
How much does egg freezing cost?
You'll find a breakdown of a typical egg freezing cycle below, as well as the cost of a fertility assessment to help provide you with the answers you need to plan for your future.
*The medication you require throughout your treatment will be an additional cost. **All prices are subject to a regional variation.
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Fertility assessment
£485
Includes consultation
Egg freezing cycle
£4,515
Includes egg retrieval and freezing
Storage
£370
Paid annually
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How successful is egg freezing?
We estimate that 90% of eggs survive the freeze-thaw process, which is a key factor when considering how effective is egg freezing as a fertility option.
The likelihood of getting pregnant with frozen eggs depends on several factors. One of the most important is the age at which the eggs are frozen; women who freeze their eggs before 35 years old generally have a higher chance of conceiving.
Additionally, the success rate is influenced by the number of mature eggs retrieved during the collection process. For more information, you can refer to our egg freezing success rates page.
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Ready to start your fertility journey? We're here for you
Speak to our patient support team for advice about your options and to book your first consultation with a fertility expert.