Egg freezing FAQ

While considering egg freezing

How much does egg freezing cost?

On average in the US total egg freezing cost is $15,000 - $20,000 without insurance. The clinics bill of $10,500 - $13,000 doesn't include medication. Post-procedure costs include annual storage of $250 - $1,300, and if you end up using your eggs IVF transfer cost of $9,000 - $12,000. The cost of a cycle and medication varies largely depending on the region where you leave, clinic and on the medication prescribed and pharmacy you use. At Blooming Eve we help you optimize your cost of the procedure and medication.

Is eggs freezing worth it? Why freeze your eggs?

All of us are born with 1-2 million eggs in our ovaries, but this number as well as the quality of eggs (chances to have a healthy baby) declines with time. Egg freezing is a scientifically proven technology existing since 1978 that helps to significantly increase your chances of having a baby at the later age. There're a lot of reasons you might want to preserve your fertility. Most common reason we hear from our members is that they are just not ready to have kids now.

Is freezing eggs painful?

While you have to take injections of hormones during your egg freezing cycle, most women tolerate it very well and mention that it was much less painful than they expected. The most common symptoms are fatigue, bloating and emotional swings that are more uncomfortable than painful and may last for another 7 days after the procedure.

We have seen that journaling, light exercise etc. can help decrease the discomfort and make the process even more meaningful and empowering.

How long is the process?

It's less than majority of women think, the whole process takes about 2.5 weeks. Your doctor may prescribe birth control first to regulate your cycle and plan the start of the egg freezing process. You might need additional medication or more cycles, which can extend the process, but your doctor will go over this with you if needed.

Is egg freezing covered by insurance?

Good and bad news here. Overall costs are rarely covered unless you have a medical reason (ex. cancer) or you have a separate fertility benefit. On the bright side, some parts of the costs (bloodwork, ultrasound, some medication) could be covered with your regular insurance. Even if you don't have benefits, we can help you optimize your cost. If you have benefits, but still struggle with navigating egg freezing - let us know, we help employers improve their benefits too.

Freezing eggs vs IVF?

Egg freezing procedure is very similar to the most common infertility treatment - IVF. The difference is that eggs are frozen/preserved for future during egg freezing, and during IVF egg used right away to achieve pregnancy.

Egg freezing is more efficient and cheaper than IVF as was proven by the most recent study published in Fertility & Sterility in 2022. If you plan to have kids later, egg freezing can increase your chances from 50% to 73% and drecrease the costs more than 2x if you froze before 34.

What is the best age for freezing eggs?

Most of the doctors agree that it's better to do it before the age of 35 as it will allow you to have significantly higher chances of success from just one cycle. But egg freezing still improves success rates of baby making up to the age of 40. It also depends on how many eggs do you have left and some women have lower reserve than average at a much younger age - it is always a good idea at least to get tested. Most of the time fertility tests are covered by insurance, let us know if you need help navigating this!

Does freezing eggs reduce your fertility?

The common misconception is that egg freezing may move you closer to menopause, that simply is not true. The way egg freezing works is that during your cycle due to hormonal stimulation you grow more eggs from follicles that would be otherwise lost in your natural cycle (with one egg ovulated and other follicles not used and died off).

Can I do egg freezing with IUD?

Yes, you can freeze your eggs with an IUD and it won’t affect the outcomes of the procedure.

While preparing to freeze eggs

Where can I freeze my eggs near me?

Blooming Eve researched more than 400 clinics and can help you select the best doctors in your area.

What I can do to prepare for egg freezing?

Here are some general recommendations that you can follow to prepare your body for egg/embryo freezing: decreasing stress, good sleep, regular exercise, healthy diet, normalize your weight (normal BMI range is 19-24), decrease or eliminate alcohol, take vitamins and supplements (ex. folic acid, melatonin, antioxidant such as CoQ10, vitamin B, omega 3, - consult your physician), stop smoking, avoid exposure to toxins and plastic, acupuncture sessions once a week. These changes if applied 1 to 3 months before starting your egg freezing cycle may positively affect your results.

What to expect when freezing eggs?

Egg freezing is a 2.5 weeks process. As the first step you get bloodwork and transvaginal ultrasound to measure your egg reserve. Then your doctor will prescribe hormonal medication (daily injections into your bloodstream that you would have to take for approximately 2 weeks), accompanied by office visits every 2-3 days to check your blood and get an ultrasound. After the medication stimulation your eggs are retrieved during a simple surgery operation under anesthesia that takes a few minutes. The side effects are very rare and minimal, but you can feel emotional and most people feel tired and bloated during and after the procedure. The recovery after is about a week and usually doctors to avoid high intensityor avoid exercising during the stimulation and recovery.

The process

What is the egg freezing process?

1. The first step of the process is fertility assessment: bloodwork and transvaginal ultrasound which helps to measure visible number of follicles (potential eggs). The preparation stage may include birth control to regulate and predict your cycle and overall health adjustments.
2. Then your doctor will prescribe hormonal medication (daily injections into your bloodstream that you would have to take for approximately 2 weeks) accompanied by office visits every 2-3 days to check your blood and get an ultrasound.
3. After the medication stimulation your eggs are retrieved during a simple surgery operation that takes a few minutes. In the next 24 hours retrieved eggs are checked in the lab to identify mature eggs which are further fast frozen and stored at -200 C.

Do's and dont's during egg freezing

Most of the side effects are connected with the use of fertility drugs. Some of the symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Even rarer is the possibility of developing a more severe form of the syndrome that can be life threatening. Blooming Eve makes sure that your condition is closely monitored through checkups as well as continuing communication to make sure the risks are minimal.

Can you exercise while freezing eggs?

You should eliminate high intense exercises such as running, HIIT, aerobics, etc. during stimulation and recovery. This is because your ovaries are enlarged and there is a risk of ovarian torsion (twist of the ovary causing pain and tissue damage).

Can you drink alcohol while freezing eggs?

It's recommended to avoid alcohol during the cycle.

What medications can I take during the cycle?

Most meds are fine for egg freezers. Avoid NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celecoxib etc.) around the time of trigger/ retrieval. If in doubt, consult your nurse or physician.

Are there any dietary restrictions when freezing eggs?

No special food requirements. As a prepartion for egg freezing it's recommended to have a healthy diet (high fiber food, fruits and vegetables, no processed food and limited sugar), to decrease or avoid alcohol. After the retrieval to recover faster you should stay hydrated, drink protein shakes and electrolyte enhanced liquids like Gatorade.

The egg freezing stimulation medication

Can I take medication with me to work/when going out?

Check the storage instructions for your meds, if you have to take the drugs that have to be refrigerated with you - use the cool pack specifically designed for storing medication.

Is it fine to take medication 1 hour late?

It should be fine for most drugs but not the trigger! Doctors generally recommend a 2 hour time window. Trigger is very time sensitive and should be taken at a specific time (+/- 15 mins), so it is very much recommended to set an alarm and not miss the time. If you take your trigger shot at a different time than advised, contact your nurse immediately as the time of your retrieval may be changed.

What if I missed a dose of medication for egg freezing ?

Let your nurse coordinator know immediately, so that they can make adjustments to you medication plan.

What to do if I am missing medication?

Let your nurse coordinator know immediately, so that they can make adjustments to you medication plan or send additional prescription to the pharmacy.

Recovery after the retrieval

What not to do after retrieval?

For 1 week it’s suggested to avoid using tampons, putting anything in your vagina, hot tub, high intensity exercising and sex.

I feel bloated what should I do?

This is normal, should not last more than a week. To recover faster you should stay hydrated, drink protein shakes and electrolyte enhanced liquids like Gatorade.

I have constipation. Is it normal?

This is common. Over the counter stool softeners can help, also eat more a high-fiber food and drink more water.

My period is much heavier. Is it ok?

The first period after procedure may be heavier than usual and more crampy. That is fine but if you have other symptoms, contact your nurse or doctor.

I have nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, decreased urination, intense pain or significantly gained weight. Is it normal?

Contact your nurse coordinator. You may need to see a doctor right away or the next day if your symptoms are severe.

What's next after you are done with egg freezing?

Should I do another egg freezing cycle?

That really depends on your family plans, financing and results of the procedure. It's recommended to have 20 eggs to have high chances of having 1 baby. Talk to your doctor if you want to do another procedure.

Can I ship my eggs or change storage/cryo bank?

Yes, you can decide to relocate your eggs to another cheaper storage. That is normal and you need to inform your clinic, there may be a charge from the clinic for release of eggs. We can help you find a more affordable cry bank staring at $250 a year, send us an email.

What can I do with the eggs if I don't need them?

You have several options (they also can be decided at the beginning in the agreement with a clinic): discard your eggs, donate to research, donate them to another couple (not all eggs are appropriate for donation).

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