What egg freezing is
Egg freezing means collecting a woman's eggs and storing them frozen for use later. The eggs can be thawed in future, fertilised with sperm in the lab, and the embryos transferred to the uterus.
It is also called oocyte cryopreservation. Women choose it to keep the option of using their own eggs when they are older. It does not promise a pregnancy, but it can preserve eggs at their current quality.
How much egg freezing costs
One egg freezing cycle typically costs ₹1,50,000 – ₹2,50,000. After that, you pay a storage fee of ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 per year for as long as the eggs stay frozen.
The final cost depends on your medicine dose, the number of monitoring scans and whether you need more than one cycle. You receive a written itemised estimate before treatment starts.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| One egg freezing cycle | ₹1,50,000 – ₹2,50,000 |
| Storage of frozen eggs | ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 per year |
Remember the later costs too. Using frozen eggs means thawing, fertilisation and an embryo transfer, which are charged when you use them. Our IVF cost guide explains those stages.
The right age to freeze eggs
Earlier is generally better. Egg quality and number decline with age, and the decline becomes faster after the mid-thirties.
Many doctors suggest considering egg freezing in the late twenties to early thirties if you plan to delay pregnancy. Freezing in the late thirties is still possible, but fewer good-quality eggs are usually collected.
There is no single right age for everyone. Your egg reserve may be higher or lower than average for your age. That is why tests come before any decision.
Tests that guide the decision
- AMH blood test gives an idea of your egg reserve.
- Antral follicle count is an ultrasound count of small follicles in the ovaries.
- Basic hormone and health tests check that stimulation is safe for you.
These tests can often be done in your own city. The reports can be reviewed on WhatsApp before you travel. If your AMH is low, read our article on low AMH and IVF.
Who might consider egg freezing
- Women who want to delay pregnancy for study, career or personal reasons
- Women about to have cancer treatment that may affect the ovaries
- Women with a family history of early menopause
- Women with conditions such as endometriosis that may reduce egg reserve over time
- Women about to have ovarian surgery
For medical reasons such as cancer, timing matters. Speak to your cancer doctor and a fertility doctor together, as soon as possible.
How the process works
- Consultation and testsThe doctor reviews your AMH, scan and health history and explains what to expect.
- Ovarian stimulationYou take hormone injections for about 10 to 12 days to help several eggs mature.
- MonitoringUltrasound scans and blood tests track follicle growth and adjust doses.
- Trigger injectionA final injection prepares the eggs for collection about 34 to 36 hours later.
- Egg collectionEggs are collected through the vagina under ultrasound guidance, with anaesthesia.
- FreezingMature eggs are frozen by vitrification, a rapid freezing method, and stored.
Most women go home the same day as egg collection. Mild cramps and bloating for a few days are common. Our egg freezing treatment page covers the process in more detail.
Risks and limits to know
Egg freezing is a medical procedure with some risks. The main one is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), where the ovaries over-respond to medicines. Doses are planned and monitored to lower this risk.
Not every frozen egg survives thawing or fertilises. Not every embryo implants. Chances depend mainly on your age at freezing and the number and quality of eggs stored.
Be realistic, not anxious
Egg freezing keeps an option open. It is not a guarantee of a future baby. Ask the doctor how many eggs are likely to be collected in your case.
Egg freezing or embryo freezing?
Some married couples ask whether to freeze eggs or embryos. Embryo freezing uses the husband's sperm to fertilise the eggs before freezing. Egg freezing keeps the eggs unfertilised.
Egg freezing gives a woman more independence over future choices. Embryo freezing tells you earlier how many eggs fertilised. Embryo freezing costs ₹15,000 – ₹40,000. Discuss both with your doctor, because the right choice depends on your situation.
Questions to ask at your consultation
- What do my AMH and scan results suggest about my egg reserve?
- How many eggs might be collected in one cycle?
- Would a second cycle be worth considering in my case?
- What will it cost to use the eggs later?
Write your questions down before the appointment. It is easy to forget them on the day.
How long eggs can stay frozen
Vitrified eggs can be stored for many years. Storage is charged each year, so plan for this cost. Keep your contact details updated with the clinic so storage renewals are not missed.
Laws on how gametes may be used are covered by the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021. Treatment for women is permitted above 21 and below 50 years, which matters when you plan to use frozen eggs later.