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Should I Freeze My Eggs? 7 Things to Know Before You Decide

October 28, 2026

Deciding when to have children isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. And whether you’re focused on your career, haven’t found the right partner or just aren’t ready for a family, egg freezing is one way to keep you options open.

But how does it affect your chances of having children? And is it orth it?

“A lot of people come in hoping egg freezing can take some of the pressure off,” says Jessica Mason, DO, a primary care physician with the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group in Southington. “And for some people, it can. But we also want patients to understand what it can and can’t do, so they can make a decision that feels right for them.”

Here’s what to know before making a decision.

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1. The age you freeze your eggs matters

When you freeze your eggs, they are kept at the age you are now.

“That matters because both the number and quality of your eggs tend to go down with age,” explains Dr. Mason. “In general, eggs frozen at a younger age have a better chance of leading to pregnancy later.”

But there’s no perfect age that works for everyone.

“You don’t have to walk into your appointment ready to freeze your eggs,” she adds. “Sometimes the first step is simply asking questions and learning what your options look like.”

2. Frozen eggs don’t guarantee future pregnancy

Egg freezing can give you another option for the future, but it’s not a guarantee.
It’s important to remember that:

Not every frozen egg will survive the thaw.
Not every egg that survives will fertilize.
Not every fertilized egg will grow into an embryo that leads to a baby.

“Your chances depend on several things, including your age when you freeze the eggs and how many mature eggs are stored,” explains Dr. Mason. “While we can’t make any promises on the future, we can talk about your options together.”

3. One round of egg freezing might not be enough

Each person reacts differently to the medications used for egg freezing.

“One person might produce several mature eggs in a single cycle. Someone else might produce only a few and decide to go through another cycle to store more,” says Dr. Mason.

Before treatment, blood tests and an ultrasound can help estimate how your ovaries might respond and how many eggs you could produce, but they can’t predict if those eggs will result in a baby.

“There isn’t one magic number of eggs that guarantees success,” she adds. “Your age, your test results and how your body responds all help guide the plan.”

4. The egg freezing process takes about 2 weeks

Egg freezing begins with many of the same steps as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Most people can expect the following steps:

Daily hormone injections for about 1 to 2 weeks to help multiple eggs mature.
Blood tests and vaginal ultrasounds to check how the ovaries are responding.
A final injection to prepare the eggs for retrieval.
A short outpatient procedure to collect the eggs.
Freezing and storage of the mature eggs.

“The process can seem overwhelming when you first hear about all the steps,” says Dr. Mason. “But your care team will guide you through all of it, so you’ll know what to expect before you start.”

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5. Bloating and other side effects are common

The daily hormone injections that you’ll need to take can cause some temporary side effects.

“These can include bloating, fatigue, headaches, mood changes and mild pelvic discomfort,” says Dr. Mason. “You may also have some cramping or pressure after retrieval, but most people feel better within a day or two.”

In rare cases, the ovaries can react too strongly to the medication, which can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

“Most people do well, but it’s still important to know what feels normal and what doesn’t,” she adds. “If something feels off, let your team know.”

6. Egg freezing can cost more than you expect

Egg freezing can be a big financial decision.

Possible costs include:

Your consultation and testing.
Hormone medications.
Monitoring appointments.
Egg retrieval and freezing.
Annual storage.
Thawing, fertilization and IVF if you use the eggs later.

Insurance coverage is different for everyone. Some plans pay for fertility preservation before treatments like chemotherapy that could affect fertility. But if you’re freezing eggs for personal reasons, it might not be covered.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for the full cost upfront,” says Dr. Mason. “You want to know what you’ll pay now, what storage will cost each year and what it may cost if you decide to use the eggs later.”

7. You’ll still need IVF to get pregnant using frozen eggs

When you’re ready to use your frozen eggs, they will need to be thawed and fertilized with sperm using IVF before an embryo can be placed in the uterus.

With egg freezing, you can choose the sperm source later. Embryo freezing happens after the eggs are fertilized with sperm from a partner or donor.

“This is a very personal decision,” says Dr. Mason. “What matters most is understanding your options so you can make the choice that feels right for you and your future.”