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/PMOS 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 12 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.
Expected yield by age
Younger patients, particularly those under 35, tend to retrieve more mature eggs per cycle than those in their late 30s or early 40s, though individual ovarian reserve varies widely. Dr. Ghadir will give you a personalized estimate based on your specific AMH and antral follicle count, and discuss whether a second cycle is worth planning for.
Eggs versus embryos
If you’re partnered and comfortable deciding on sperm now, you can choose to fertilize retrieved eggs into embryos rather than freezing eggs unfertilized. Embryos will allow the possibility of genetic testing with PGT-A; however, when freezing eggs alone, genetic testing is not possible. Freezing unfertilized eggs preserves more flexibility about future partners.
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
At the time of your initial consultation, a financial coordinator will meet with you to discuss the cost and your current insurance coverage to ensure that financial expectations are very clear.
From consultation to completed retrieval, the process typically spans about two to four 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. Ghadir is a partner at HRC Fertility in Beverly Hills and holds clinical faculty appointments at multiple academic institutions, bringing academic-level rigor to a private-practice setting. Patients seeking baseline understanding benefit from his experience distinguishing meaningful clinical signals from normal variation.
Every evaluation is personalized based on your history, your goals, and your individualized treatment plan. There is no one-size-fits-all interpretation of fertility data, and Dr. Ghadir’s approach reflects that throughout your visit.
What to expect
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
How many eggs should I plan to freeze?
There's no universal number, but it depends on your age and future family goals. Dr. Ghadir uses your AMH, antral follicle count, and age to estimate a likely per-cycle yield and discuss whether one or two cycles are reasonable to reach a target number that gives you meaningful future options.
How much does egg freezing cost?
Costs vary depending on which tests are recommended and your insurance coverage. Our team verifies your specific benefits before your appointment so you know what to expect financially, with no surprise billing. You will be assigned to one financial coordinator for your entire fertility journey.
At what age should I freeze my eggs?
The earlier the better; however, there's no single right age. Egg quantity and quality generally decline with age, so freezing earlier, particularly in your early-to-mid 30s or sooner, often yields more eggs per cycle. Dr. Ghadir will give you a personalized recommendation based on your specific ovarian reserve rather than age alone.
Is the medication or procedure painful?
Most patients tolerate the injections and mild bloating from stimulation well, and side effects are usually manageable. The retrieval itself is done under sedation and takes about 5–10 minutes, with most patients resting for the remainder of the day and resuming normal activities within a day or two. However, Dr. Ghadir will let you know when you can resume normal activities.
Does insurance cover egg freezing?
Coverage varies significantly; some employers offer fertility preservation benefits, particularly larger companies, while many insurance plans still classify elective egg freezing as not medically necessary and don't cover it. Our team checks your specific benefits and discusses self-pay and financing options if coverage isn't available.
Should I freeze eggs or embryos?
If you're partnered and comfortable deciding on sperm now, you can choose to fertilize retrieved eggs into embryos rather than freezing eggs unfertilized. Embryos will allow the possibility of genetic testing with PGT-A; however, when freezing eggs alone, genetic testing is not possible. Freezing unfertilized eggs preserves more flexibility about future partners.
How long can frozen eggs be stored?
Eggs can typically be stored for many years with proper cryopreservation, and there's no strong evidence that longer storage duration itself reduces egg quality upon thaw. Storage requires an ongoing annual fee, so it's worth planning for this cost as part of your long-term budget.
What's the first step to get started?
Schedule a consultation for baseline testing, including AMH and antral follicle count. Once results are in, Dr. Ghadir will walk you through your personalized protocol, expected yield, and timeline, so you can decide whether and when to move forward with a cycle.