What to know about egg freezing
Egg freezing—also known as oocyte cryopreservation—has become an increasingly popular option for women looking to preserve their fertility. Whether you’re planning to delay motherhood or safeguarding your ability to conceive due to medical reasons, egg freezing offers flexibility and peace of mind. In this article, we’ll explore the ideal age to freeze eggs, how long they can be stored, and the costs associated with fertility preservation treatments like this at Mount Sinai Fertility.
What’s the ideal age to freeze eggs?
The optimal time to freeze your eggs is typically between the ages of 25 and 35. This is because the quality and quantity of eggs naturally decline as women age. Freezing your eggs in your early to mid-30s gives you a higher chance of successful fertilization later on.
After the age of 35, egg quality starts to decline more significantly, and while it’s still possible to freeze eggs later, it may take more attempts or additional eggs to achieve pregnancy. Once a woman turns 40, the chances of egg freezing leading to a successful pregnancy are very low.
How long can eggs and embryos be frozen
One of the most common questions we hear is about how long frozen eggs or embryos can remain viable. While egg freezing is a relatively newer technology, early studies show that eggs can remain viable for many years if properly stored.
Embryoshave been used successfully after over 10 years in cryopreservation. This is possible due to a technique called vitrification, which rapidly freezes the eggs and embryos, preventing ice crystals from forming and damaging the cells. Vitrification significantly improves the chances of survival during the thawing process and maintains the integrity of the frozen eggs and embryos over time.
How much does egg freezing cost?
The cost of fertility treatments can vary depending on factors such as the clinic, location, and individual medical needs. At Mount Sinai Fertility, the egg freezing process includes multiple stages such as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and cryopreservation. The total cost of egg freezing typically ranges between $10,000 to $12,000 per cycle. This cost includes medications , monitoring, and the freezing procedure. Additionally, there are annual storage fees for keeping the frozen eggs or embryos, which are usually around $500 to $1,000 per year.
If you plan to use the eggs in the future, there will be additional costs associated with egg thawing, fertilization (often through IVF), and embryo transfer, which can bring the total cost to around $15,000 to $20,000 depending on how many cycles are needed. To learn more about the costs associated with fertiltiy preservation and fertility treatments, visit our fees page.
Egg freezing is an excellent option for women seeking to preserve their fertility for future use. The ideal time to freeze eggs is before age 35.. Eggs and embryos can be stored for many years, giving you flexibility in family planning. While fertility treatments can be costly, Mount Sinai Fertility is committed to providing cutting-edge services to ensure your best chances for success.
If you’re considering egg freezing or would like to learn more about your fertility preservation options, we encourage you to visit the Mount Sinai Fertiltiy website to regrister for a webinar or to book a consultation.