How Much Does It Cost to Freeze Eggs?

If you are a young woman and thinking about having a child later in life, you may wish to freeze your eggs. Understanding the costs of this procedure and your options for payment are important steps in your fertility journey.

“More and more young women are looking to egg freezing as a way to preserve their childbearing years and have peace of mind to have kids on their own terms and their own timelines,” says Laura McDonald, co-founder of Flora Fertility. “This process requires medications and at-home injections to produce mature eggs, which are then retrieved and can be stored for future access.”

Costs of Freezing Your Eggs

Freezing your eggs could cost as much as $15,000 for each cycle that you participate. So this is not a task to take on lightly.

“Typical costs range from $5,000 to $15,000 per cycle, not including the storage fees for the eggs. Some programs require a lower amount for the procedure and then bill the medication separately. Others offer a comprehensive cost for the cycle,” says Jennifer Hintzsche, founder of PherDal Fertility Science.

Find out how much you will be charged for egg freezing prior to having the procedure. You’ll need to budget accordingly.

“It’s essential to understand how the fees are charged before you start to avoid getting hit with unexpected costs,” Hintzsche says.

She went on to say that agreeing to donate a portion of your eggs to other people is one way to lower the costs associated with freezing your eggs. But there are ramifications to consider.

“There could be a scenario where you donate your eggs at 25 to pay for your own procedure,” Hintzsche says. “If you decide to have kids at 35, your child might have up to 10 biological siblings ranging from newborn to 10 years old. With growing DNA databases like Ancestry or the troubled 23andMe, these children might be able to identify you or your relatives and family.”

Costs of Storing Your Eggs

After you freeze your eggs, you’ll need to store them until you are ready to use them. These storage costs could last several years depending on your time frame for having a family. Don’t forget to factor storage costs into your budget.

“Storage for the eggs also varies but is typically around $1,000 a year for as long as you store them,” Hintzsche says.

Costs of Medication

When you are comparing costs between fertility clinics, be sure to check out the medication costs. Is the medication included in the costs for egg freezing, or is it billed as a separate cost? You’ll need to know to make a clear comparison of prices.

“The medications used for the stimulation are quite expensive, and some clinics include the cost in their sticker price while others do not,” says Sahar Wertheimer, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility in Beverly Hills, California.

The medication costs associated with egg freezing range from $3,000 to $5,000, according to TJ Farnsworth, founder of Inception Fertility.

Reach Out to Your Insurance Company

Before moving forward with freezing your eggs, check to see if your health insurance will cover any of the costs. You may get partial costs of the egg freezing paid by your insurance company, which will help to lower costs.

“Some insurance policies might cover part of the costs of the procedure or medication, so it’s important to find out if your insurance can help cover some of the costs,” Hintzsche says.

Age Makes a Difference

Younger women who freeze their eggs have good outcomes with the procedure.

“Age matters most, and freezing eggs at a younger age result in better ‘bang for your buck,’ meaning better egg quality and quantity for the same cycle price,” Wertheimer says. “Commonly, patients need more than one cycle to achieve statistics of success that they are happy with.”

Other Ways to Pay

Women are turning to personal loans and credit cards to pay for the costs of freezing their eggs. Depending on the interest rates charged, both can be expensive ways to pay for egg freezing, egg storage, and medication.

“Currently, only 2% of Americans can afford these expenses outright, causing nearly 80% of treatments to be financed through credit cards or high-interest loans, exponentially increasing the cost,” McDonald says.

The Bottom Line

Choosing to freeze your eggs is a big decision that comes with a big price tag. If you decide freezing your eggs is right for you, you’ll want to review the costs carefully. How much does the egg freezing, egg storage, and medication cost? Check with your insurance company about covering some of the costs.

How will you be able to pay? Will you pay out of your savings or by donating a portion of your eggs? Many women turn to credit cards and personal loans. If you do pay by credit card, opt for a card with a low interest rate and a roomy credit line, and pay more than the minimum payment. To get a good rate on a personal loan, it is important to shop around. Borrow the minimum that you need, and make a plan for including loan payments in your budget.