Cost of Freezing Eggs

Overview

When analyzing the overall cost of freezing eggs, a lot of numbers get thrown up. This can be confusing but understandable as many variables are considered in the equation. Some examples of factors that can affect the price include

• The price difference from clinic to clinic
• The cost of harvesting the egg
• The cost of fertility medication
• Storage fees
• Other miscellaneous costs

In recent times, it has become apparent that the societal patterns around childbirth are changing, but the biological reality of fertility generally remains the same. The average age that women enter menopause is in their 40s, with fertility decreasing in the years leading up to menopause. This means that conceiving and carrying a successful pregnancy without complications becomes progressively more difficult as a woman gets older. 

While freezing eggs can offer hope to a woman about conceiving in the future, it is also worth noting that successful pregnancies are less common with frozen eggs than with fresh eggs. It is also important to note that the quality of eggs decreases as a woman gets older, so harvesting and freezing should be done when the woman is younger rather than when she is nearing menopause. The decrease in quality is due to the eggs containing more chromosomal abnormalities as the woman gets older. Freezing eggs can also be expensive, and most insurance plans do not usually cover the cost.

What is the process of egg freezing?

Before the discussion of the cost of egg freezing, it is important to talk about the process of harvesting, freezing, and storage of eggs. The first step is the consultation with the doctor that will be in charge of the procedure. The doctor takes a complete medical history and assesses the hormone level and the regularity of the woman’s menstrual cycle. A range of tests is also carried out on the woman, including complete blood work. The next step is the administration of fertility medication which aims at stimulating the ovaries to start maturing multiple follicles. 

Regular blood tests are done for the duration of the administration to monitor the levels of the hormones. Ultrasound tests are also done to monitor follicular maturation. At the appropriate time, a trigger shot of hCG is administered. This shot imitates the naturally occurring luteinizing hormone and it leads to the final maturation of the follicles that leads to ovulation. The eggs are harvested just before ovulation occurs; the doctor uses a hollow needle with a catheter attached to it with a small suction to harvest the eggs. The procedure is guided by ultrasound; the needle enters the follicles and aspirates the follicular fluid which contains the egg into a test tube. 

The procedure is done under sedation, so there is minimal pain for the woman. Once the eggs have been harvested, the egg must be separated from the follicular fluid by an embryologist and put in a special media. Then a special solution is injected into the egg to prevent it from being damaged during freezing, the eggs are then frozen and stored. After the egg retrieval, some women may experience cramping, spotting, and bloating among other side effects, these are usually triggered by the extra hormones needed for the procedure. In some cases, ovarian stimulation may lead to a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The symptoms of OHSS can include pain, nausea, vomiting, and significant weight gain.

Costs

Freezing eggs can be expensive, a single cycle may cost as much as 10k dollars, and the storage of eggs may also add additional 5k dollars to the expense. Egg storage is indefinite, which is important as a woman may not need her stored eggs for up to 15 years. Breaking down the cost of storage; the eggs need to be stored in liquid nitrogen and placed inside special storage tanks which will be monitored regularly.

The storage may cost around 1-4 dollars per day of storage, but those costs add up over time. The cost of the first six months of storage is usually included in the initial freezing costs, and the storage cost usually differs from city to city, but on average, storage may cost around 650 dollars per year. This means that the overall cost would continue to build up. Insurance is also unlikely to cover the cost of the procedure because it is an active treatment with no set end date.

What are the factors that affect the success of freezing and thawing eggs?

Some of the factors that may impact the success of the egg-freezing procedure include:

• Age of the egg donor – the younger the woman freezing her eggs, the better the quality of the egg and the fewer anomalies encountered in the egg.
• Number of eggs – freezing a larger number of eggs may ensure a higher chance of success whenever the woman wants to use them, as they may offer more opportunities for a successful IVF
• Age when thawing and IVF – the younger the woman, the more chances of her having a complication-free and successful pregnancy.
• The clinic – The quality of the clinic, professionalism, and experience of their staff also affects the success of the whole process.

Summary 

The cost of egg freezing has become a regular question, due to the increased popularity of the procedure among modern women. While the procedure may be quite expensive, particularly when calculating the added cost of storage and the eventual IVF, it is can be considered to be worth it. This is especially when you consider the potential implication of not freezing one’s eggs. 

From a psychological viewpoint, the cost of not having a biological child or not having a child at all cannot be compared with the cost of egg freezing. The average cost of an IVF cycle with donor eggs (that is ignoring all the legal complications that guide it) is about 20k-40k dollars per attempt, and older women usually need more than one attempt or cycle. When this is considered, it will be discovered that the cost of not freezing one’s eggs may grossly overshadow the cost of egg freezing.