I am considering freezing my eggs

Understanding the goal

Considering egg freezing usually means you're not ready to try to conceive now but want to preserve the option of using younger, healthier eggs later, whether the reason is career timing, not yet having a partner, financial readiness, or simply wanting more control over your reproductive timeline. This pathway is built around that proactive, forward-looking decision.

Egg freezing works by retrieving multiple eggs in a single cycle, rather than the one egg released naturally each month, and cryopreserving them for future use. The number and quality of eggs retrieved are closely tied to your age and ovarian reserve at the time of freezing, which is why timing matters even when there's no immediate plan to use them.

This is a deeply personal decision, and Dr. Ghadir's role is to give you clear, honest information about what to expect at your specific age and reserve, so you can decide with confidence rather than under pressure.

What we evaluate first

Before starting a cycle, a focused evaluation confirms you're a good candidate and helps predict roughly how many eggs a cycle might yield, which informs whether one cycle is likely enough or whether more may be recommended.

The pre-cycle evaluation typically includes:

• AMH blood test and antral follicle count to estimate ovarian reserve and predicted egg yield
• Baseline hormone panel (FSH, LH, estradiol, thyroid) as needed
• Transvaginal ultrasound to assess ovaries and uterus
• Infectious disease screening, required before any cryopreservation cycle
• Review of medical history, medications, and any conditions affecting stimulation, such as PCOS or endometriosis
• Discussion of your goals: how many eggs you're hoping to bank and your general future family-size expectations

How the plan is built

Your protocol is customized based on your ovarian reserve, age, and how your body has responded to any prior stimulation. Most patients undergo a stimulation phase of roughly 10 to 14 days using injectable hormone medications, with frequent monitoring visits to track follicle growth via ultrasound and bloodwork.

Once follicles reach the appropriate size, a trigger injection is given, and egg retrieval, a brief outpatient procedure done under sedation, follows about 36 hours later. Mature eggs are then frozen the same day.

Success factors and honest expectations

It's important to set realistic expectations: not every retrieved egg is mature, not every mature egg will survive thawing, and not every thawed egg will fertilize and develop into a viable embryo. Freezing eggs preserves possibility, not a guarantee, which is why Dr. Ghadir discusses attrition at each stage rather than focusing only on the retrieval number.

Age at the time of freezing remains the strongest predictor of future success when those eggs are eventually used, more so than age at the time of thaw. This is the core rationale for freezing earlier when it's a realistic option for you, though there is no single right age, only tradeoffs to weigh against your personal circumstances.

Many patients who freeze eggs never end up needing them because they conceive naturally later, and that is a good outcome too. Egg freezing is best understood as an insurance policy on your fertility timeline, not a plan you're committing to use.

Cost, insurance, and timing

Egg freezing typically involves the cost of the stimulation cycle and retrieval, medication costs (which vary based on your protocol and dose), and ongoing annual storage fees. Some employers now offer fertility benefits that cover part or all of the cycle cost, so it's worth checking your specific plan; our team can help verify coverage and discuss financing or multi-cycle packages if more than one retrieval is likely to be recommended.

From consultation to completed retrieval, the process typically spans about four to six weeks, including baseline testing, the stimulation phase, and the retrieval itself. Because monitoring appointments occur every few days during stimulation, some flexibility in your schedule during that window is helpful, though most appointments are brief.

Emotional support and partner involvement

Egg freezing decisions often come with mixed emotions, relief at having a proactive option, but sometimes also grief around fertility timelines not unfolding as originally imagined, or anxiety about the medications and procedure itself. Our team takes time to normalize these feelings and connects patients with mental health professionals experienced in fertility care when helpful.

If you have a partner, they're welcome and encouraged to be involved in appointments and decisions, including the eggs-versus-embryos conversation. For those without a partner, this process is entirely self-directed, and many patients complete it independently with support from friends, family, or our clinical team during retrieval day.

Working with Dr. Ghadir

Dr. Shahin Ghadir is a founding partner of the Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC) and holds a clinical faculty position at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, bringing extensive experience in fertility preservation to each patient's individualized protocol. He has worked with patients freezing eggs for a wide range of personal reasons and approaches each with the same level of care and clarity.

Your protocol, monitoring schedule, and yield expectations are tailored specifically to your ovarian reserve and goals, not a generic template. Dr. Ghadir will walk you through realistic numbers for your age and answer questions about storage, future use, and next steps candidly.

What to expect

1. 01

   Consultation and evaluation

   Dr. Ghadir reviews your AMH, antral follicle count, and medical history to estimate likely egg yield and confirm you're a good candidate for a stimulation cycle.

2. 02

   Cycle planning and medication teaching

   You'll receive a personalized medication protocol and hands-on teaching for self-administered injections, along with a calendar of monitoring appointments.

3. 03

   Stimulation and monitoring

   Over roughly 10 to 14 days, you'll take injectable hormone medications with frequent ultrasound and bloodwork visits to track follicle growth and adjust dosing.

4. 04

   Trigger and retrieval

   Once follicles are ready, a trigger injection is given, followed about 36 hours later by a brief outpatient egg retrieval procedure performed under sedation.

5. 05

   Freezing and storage

   Mature eggs are cryopreserved the same day as retrieval, and you'll receive a report on how many eggs were retrieved and frozen, along with storage details.

6. 06

   Future planning

   Whenever you're ready to use your eggs, you'll return for thawing, fertilization, and embryo transfer, with your original results informing expectations.

Frequently asked