Fertility & Reproductive Health

Female doctor consulting with female patient

Egg Freezing Services for Fertility Preservation

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, allows you to preserve your eggs at your current age for future use. There are many reasons you may wish to preserve your fertility, and egg freezing offers a way to keep your family-building options open. University Hospitals Fertility Center offers comprehensive egg freezing services with expert care and personalized support.

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To schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified reproductive endocrinologists, call 216-765-3352 today.

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Medical Reviewer: Adam Evans, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist | April 2026

Quick Facts

Egg freezing preserves your eggs at your current age for future use.
It may be a good option for women delaying parenthood, facing medical treatments or concerned about age-related fertility decline.
The process involves consultation with a fertility specialist, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and egg freezing.
University Hospitals provides comprehensive egg freezing services with expert care and personalized support.

Why Fertility Changes with Age

Fertility naturally declines with age for every woman, primarily due to changes in egg quantity and quality. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Over time, as women age, the number of eggs decreases. As women progress past their mid-30s and especially after the age of 40 their eggs may be more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, which can affect pregnancy chances and increase miscarriage risk.

Age is the best predictor of egg quality. Fertility is typically highest in a woman’s 20s and early 30s. After age 35, egg quality starts to decline more quickly. However, fertility timelines vary between individuals based on genetics and underlying health conditions.

Age-related fertility decline is one reason some women may choose to freeze eggs. By freezing eggs at a younger age, when egg quality and quantity are typically higher, these women may increase their chances of success if they choose to pursue pregnancy later.

For many women, egg freezing provides peace of mind and flexibility in building a family on their own timeline. Timing considerations for egg freezing are best discussed during an individualized consultation with a fertility specialist, who can help you understand what egg freezing may offer for your specific situation and goals. It is important to note that while egg freezing is a strategy for fertility preservation, no number of frozen eggs is a guarantee of a live birth in the future.

The Egg Freezing Process

The egg freezing process involves several coordinated steps, from initial consultation through retrieval and freezing. Each person’s experience varies based on individual factors and response to medication. Here is an overview of the typical timeline.

Consultation and Evaluation

Your first appointment includes a discussion of your fertility goals and medical history. We will perform an ultrasound to assess your ovaries and conduct bloodwork to evaluate hormone levels and ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve testing helps your fertility team develop an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs and estimate your potential response to fertility medicines.

Ovarian Stimulation

During the process of ovarian stimulation, you will administer hormone injections for approximately 10-14 days to stimulate the ovaries to grow follicles that contain eggs. The exact medication(s), dosage and duration varies based on your individual situation and how your body responds. During this time, you will have regular monitoring appointments with ultrasounds and blood tests to track follicle development and ensure safety. Your medication may be adjusted based on these tests and your individual response.

Egg Retrieval

When you are ready to move forward with egg retrieval, you will undergo an outpatient procedure under anesthesia. Under ultrasound guidance, a needle is passed into the ovaries through the vagina to gently retrieve eggs from the follicles grown during stimulation. Many patients resume normal activities within a day, though some may experience mild cramping or discomfort.

Egg Freezing

Immediately after retrieval, the eggs are evaluated for maturity. Mature eggs are then frozen using a rapid-freezing technique called vitrification, which preserves the eggs until you are ready to use them in the future.

Using Frozen Eggs in the Future

The timing between egg freezing and future use is flexible – eggs can be used months or years after freezing. When you decide to pursue pregnancy, your frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The eggs are combined with partner or donor sperm using a technique called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). The resulting embryos develop in the laboratory. If a cycle yields high quality embryos, these can be biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), frozen for future use or an embryo could be transferred into the uterus. Extra embryos can remain frozen for future use.

Risks and Considerations

Egg freezing is generally safe, but like any medical procedure it comes with some risks. Hormone medications taken during ovarian stimulation may cause mild side effects such as fatigue, bloating and mood changes, which typically resolve after the stimulation cycle. In rare cases, if the ovaries have a robust response to hormone medications, patients may be at risk for a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

The egg retrieval procedure is minimally invasive, but as with any procedure it carries a small risk of bleeding or infection.

While egg freezing preserves your eggs at your current age, it’s important to keep in mind that pregnancy outcomes depend on many factors including egg quality at freezing and individual circumstances when eggs are used.

Specialized Care for the LGBTQ+ Community

University Hospitals offers compassionate, collaborative care for the LGBTQ+ community, including fertility and reproductive health services for LGBTQ+ individuals and same-sex couples.

Frequently Asked Questions About Egg Freezing Services for Fertility Preservation

What is egg freezing?: Egg freezing is a process that allows you to preserve your eggs at their current age and fertility potential for future use. Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, evaluated and frozen using a rapid-freezing technique called vitrification. The frozen eggs can be stored for years and thawed when you are ready to pursue pregnancy.
What is egg cryopreservation or oocyte cryopreservation?: Egg, or oocyte, cryopreservation is the medical term for egg freezing. It refers to the process of preserving unfertilized eggs in a frozen state to be used for future fertility treatment.
What is the best age to freeze your eggs?: Fertility is typically highest in a woman’s 20s and early 30s, and egg quality declines with age. However, the best age to freeze eggs is an individual decision based on your personal circumstances, goals and life stage. Some women freeze eggs in their 20s or early 30s to preserve their fertility options; others do so later for medical or personal reasons. A fertility specialist can discuss timing considerations with you based on your specific situation.
How long can eggs be frozen: There is no established limit on how long eggs can remain frozen and stay viable. You can use your frozen eggs years after they are frozen, depending on when you decide to pursue pregnancy.
Is egg freezing guaranteed to work?: Egg freezing is not guaranteed to result in pregnancy. Success depends on many factors, including the quality of eggs at the time of freezing, your age at the time of freezing, how well the eggs survive the thawing process, individual circumstances when the eggs are fertilized, embryo development in laboratory culture and subsequent transfer to the uterus. Your fertility specialist can discuss realistic expectations and success rates based on your age and individual factors.
Does insurance cover egg freezing services?: Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the reason for egg freezing. Some plans cover egg freezing for medical reasons, such as before cancer treatment, but do not cover elective fertility preservation. We recommend contacting your insurance company to understand your specific coverage. The UH Fertility Center’s billing team can also help verify coverage and discuss financing options.

Learn More and Find a Specialist

Understanding your fertility preservation options and connecting with a care team that supports your goals is an important first step. University Hospitals provides comprehensive egg freezing services with coordinated medical and emotional support throughout the process.

Ready to explore egg freezing and discuss whether it’s right for you?
Schedule Your Fertility Consultation: Call 216-765-3352