From the big ones to the those often overlooked, the essential egg freezing questions & answers you need to know
by Isaac Glatstein, MD, MSc
At Conceive NJ we frequently get questions about egg freezing. We are motivated to inform our patients about fertility procedures. So, we gathered the important questions about egg freezing in one place – from the somewhat obvious ones to those people often don’t think to ask.
The trend in egg freezing continues to arc upward. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) reports that in 2022 (the latest year for final figures), 29,083 egg freezing cycles were conducted in the United States. At this time, that number is bound to be much higher. And more people have more egg freezing questions.
This upward trend reflects growing awareness and acceptance of fertility preservation options. Factors contributing to this increase include advancements in reproductive technology, greater access to infertility treatments, and a tendency for individuals to delay childbearing for personal or professional reasons.
4 big picture egg freezing questions
These are often top-of-mind questions women have. Some are answered on our other website pages (see below). Egg freezing addresses the fact that a woman’s eggs decline considerably in quality and quantity as she ages, making successful pregnancy much more challenging later in life.
What is freezing eggs?
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, provides women with an option to freeze their eggs in their younger years when the eggs are more likely to be healthy and preserve them for future pregnancy. This involves the egg retrieval aspect of in vitro fertilization (IVF), followed by cryopreservation and storage of mature eggs in our fertility clinic’s dedicated cryobiology laboratory. When the woman is ready to use her frozen eggs, other steps in IVF come into play:
- The eggs are thawed.
- They are fertilized in the IVF lab with partner or donor sperm.
- The resulting embryo is transferred in her uterus to hopefully establish a pregnancy.
Why should I freeze my eggs?
The main reasons individuals choose to freeze their eggs include:
- Delaying childbearing for personal or career reasons
Many people freeze eggs to preserve fertility while pursuing education, career goals or waiting for the right partner. - Medical reasons (e.g., cancer treatment)
- Egg freezing is recommended for patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or other treatments that may damage fertility.
- Diminishing ovarian reserve or age-related fertility concerns
As fertility declines with age – especially after 35 – some choose to freeze eggs while still relatively young and fertile. - Elective or “social” egg freezing
A growing number of people choose egg freezing for non-medical reasons, often referred to as social or elective preservation. - Pre-transition fertility preservation for transgender individuals
Trans men and other gender-diverse individuals may opt to freeze eggs before hormone therapy or surgery that may impair fertility. - Family planning flexibility
Egg freezing can provide more options for future family planning, such as delaying childbearing until in a stable relationship or ready to parent.
At what age should I freeze my eggs?
The best age to freeze eggs is generally considered to be between 30 and 34 years old, although it can be beneficial as early as the late 20s. Here’s how age impacts egg freezing outcomes.
Ages 25–30
- Highest egg quality and quantity.
- More eggs retrieved per cycle, meaning fewer cycles may be needed.
- Not always necessary to freeze this early unless there’s a medical reason (e.g., cancer, family history of early menopause) or life circumstances (e.g., extended travel or time out of the country).
Ages 30–34
- Often considered the optimal window.
- Good balance of egg quality and personal/professional readiness.
- Higher success rates for future pregnancies using frozen eggs.
Ages 35–39
- Still viable eggs for a pregnancy but egg quality and quantity begin to decline.
- May require more than one cycle to retrieve enough eggs to establish the desired number of children.
- Lower, but still acceptable future pregnancy success rates.
40 and over
- Declining ovarian reserve and egg quality may reduce effectiveness.
- Fewer eggs retrieved and lower success rates per frozen egg.
- Fertility specialists may recommend moving directly to IVF depending on goals.
Key point
Egg quality is the most important factor – and it declines with age – so freezing earlier gives the best chance for future pregnancy success.
How much does it cost to freeze eggs?
The cost of egg freezing in New Jersey varies depending on the clinic and specific services included. Here’s a general breakdown
Average cost range in the NY/NJ area
- Per cycle: Typically between $8,000 and $15,000, covering consultations, fertility medications, egg retrieval, and initial storage.
- Medications: An additional $3,000 to $5,000 per cycle.
- Annual storage fees: Approximately $1,000 per year, depending on the clinic.
Conceive NJ (Wall Township) egg freezing costs
Conceive NJ offers egg freezing starting at $5,000 (or $6,500 if insurance doesn’t cover monitoring fees). This includes monitoring with labs and ultrasound, physician cycle management, nursing support, egg retrieval and egg freezing.
- Yearly storage costs at Conceive NJ are $1,000.
Egg freezing questions people often overlook
Each woman considering egg freezing can have different questions. These can depend on their fertility situation or their individual concerns. The following do not cover all possible questions, but they do address most we hear from patients. And if you have a question not listed here, please contact us and we’ll answer it.
How many eggs should I freeze?
The number of eggs a woman should freeze for future use depends heavily on her age at the time of the egg freezing procedure, as egg quality and quantity tend to decline over time. Here’s a general guideline used by fertility specialists to estimate how many eggs are needed to have a 75% chance of one live birth later.
Recommended number of eggs to freeze by age
| Age | Recommended number of eggs |
| Under 35 | 10–15 eggs |
| 35–37 | 15–20 eggs |
| 38–40 | 20–25 eggs |
What screening is involved before freezing my eggs?
We typically recommend an evaluation of your fertility beforehand to have an idea of whether egg freezing has a good chance of successful pregnancy. This screening can include blood work to evaluate hormones including FSH and AMH levels and an ultrasound to evaluate ovarian reserve using a technique to measure the number of antral follicles. We also recommend tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis, as well as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Is the egg retrieval process painful?
The retrieval process is conducted with the woman under sedation, so the actual procedure is not painful. Keep in mind that injections of egg stimulation medicine are required before the procedure, which some may find more uncomfortable than painful. After the retrieval women can experience some mild discomfort, bloating and cramping for a few days, typically diminishing with each day.
What are the risks of freezing eggs and possible side effects?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks of bleeding, infection, damage to tissue and adverse anesthesia reactions. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is another risk when the ovaries overreact to stimulation medications. While rare, OHSS can lead to other complications such as fluid retention and blood clots but these are generally well managed with modern techniques of ovarian stimulation.
Hormonal medications can cause some side effects after egg retrieval. These may include mood swings, nausea, hot flashes and headaches.
What is the success rate for thawed frozen eggs?
The quality of the woman’s eggs greatly affects the success rate of pregnancy using them later. The first aspect of success is egg survival rate at thawing, which is around 80%-90% for women who freeze their eggs when younger than age 35.
Once the egg survives thawing, its chances of success are generally about the same as for any egg at the age of freezing. About 40% of eggs develop into embryos, and if preimplantation genetic testing is added to the treatment plan, the success rate of transferring a chromosomally normal embryo is upwards of 50%-70% in experienced hands.
How long are frozen eggs viable?
Since egg freezing has been in widespread use for about 10 years, the data is still being analyzed. It’s generally believed that if eggs are frozen using vitrification, which is the current method in most laboratories, they can remain viable for long periods of time.
What happens to eggs I don’t use?
Options for unused frozen eggs
- Continue storage
- Many people choose to keep their eggs frozen indefinitely, paying an annual storage fee.
- Clinics may contact patients periodically to confirm continued interest.
- Thaw and discard
- If no longer needed or desired, eggs can be thawed and discarded in a medically safe and respectful way.
- Donate to scientific research
- Eggs may be donated for research purposes, such as studies in reproductive health or embryo development, with the patient’s consent.
- Donate to another person
- Direct donation of frozen eggs to another individual is possible, though less common than donating fresh eggs.
- Clinics typically have strict screening and legal processes for this.
Why choose Conceive NJ for egg freezing?
- Dr. Isaac Glatstein is a highly skilled and experienced specialist who is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He has conducted many successful egg freezing procedures. He also holds a master’s degree in Human Laboratory Embryology and IVF, one of very few physicians who has training in the laboratory side of the practice.
- Our clinical staff is extremely empathetic and experienced at assisting Dr. Glatstein during the entire egg freezing process including the egg retrieval, helping patients feel comfortable and supported throughout the process.
- Lab Director Dr. Bryan Kloos, HCLD, has decades of experience in all aspects of egg freezing success including the freezing process, storage and thawing.
- While never compromising the quality of our care, Conceive NJ works hard to keep the costs of egg freezing lower than average costs in New Jersey.
Final thoughts on asking questions about egg freezing
We encourage patients to ask any questions they have about egg freezing before and at any time in the process. It’s important that patients understand the process completely. This helps them make the best decision for themselves. Being fully informed helps one to be more relaxed and comfortable in undertaking this fertility preserving option.
Dr. Glatstein will make sure to not only answer all your questions, but to offer information that he knows would benefit the patient in understanding egg freezing.