If you are considering freezing your eggs—no matter the reason—one of the questions at the top of your list is likely, how much is this going to cost me. Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer. How much you’ll pay altogether is going to be based on a few different factors.
What to consider when it comes to the cost of egg freezing
Where you’re geographically located
Different states, provinces and countries have different prices, based on a number of different factors. These prices can even be significantly different from clinic to clinic.
What your healthcare coverage is like
This is partially related to geography as different states and provinces will have different levels of health care coverage. In Ontario, for example, one round of IVF is covered by the The Ontario Fertility Program—though there are age limits and medical requirements to be eligible. You may also have private healthcare insurance that will cover some costs associated with fertility treatment. (And don’t forget to look into what you can claim on your taxes—you may be able to get some of that money back when you file.)
Your specific and unique circumstances
Different diagnoses will require different types and doses of medication, which can affect the overall cost of your egg freezing experience.
How many times you need to do it
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees here, only best estimates. You may go through the egg freezing process only to find that you have limited or no viable eggs to freeze, meaning you’ll need to do another round to improve your chances at a successful transfer.
A breakdown of what egg freezing might cost you, step-by-step
The initial consult
Before getting really into the egg freezing process, you’ll likely have a consult with a fertility clinic. This may include bloodwork, a physical examination and a lengthy and thorough review of your medical history and your reasons for wanting to freeze your eggs. Depending on the clinic, this might run you anywhere from $200 to $500.
How to Find the Best Fertility Clinic for You →
Fertility medications and monitoring
Before the actual egg retrieval, there will be a period where you’ll stimulate your hormones to increase the number of eggs that can be retrieved at one time. This will likely include daily injections over a period of around two weeks. The cost of these medications can be anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000. During this same period, you may have additional blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the development of the follicles, coming in at $500 to $1,000.
The egg retrieval procedure
You can expect the actual egg retrieval procedure to be anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000 (in Canada) and $8,000 to $15,000 (in the U.S.).
What to Expect at Your Egg Retrieval →
Laboratory and freezing fees
Once the eggs are retrieved, they need to be evaluated and frozen to confirm and them preserve quality. This can range from $1,500 to $3,000 (in Canada) and $2,000 to $5,000 (in the U.S.).
Storage fees
If you’re not using your eggs right away, you’ll need to opt for storing them, where you’ll encounter an annual fee to do so. Expect to shell out an additional $500 to $1,000 per year.
Total (potential) cost for egg freezing:
Low end: $9,200 CAD / $13,700 USD plus annual storage fees
High end: $17,500 CAD / $27,500 USD plus annual storage fees
What comes after egg freezing?
If you’re going the egg freezing route, you’ll also need to consider the cost of the second part of the IVF equation—egg fertilization and embryo transfer—which also come with fees to plan for.
