Egg Freezing and Storage
Egg freezing is a popular way for women to preserve their fertility. By collecting, freezing and storing their eggs, women are giving themselves the opportunity to use those eggs in fertility treatment later in life.
The reasons why someone might want to preserve their fertility are diverse. For some women, the reasons are primarily social – they may not yet be ready to start a family but would like the possibility of doing so in the future. For others, the reasons are more complex; they may be about to undergo chemotherapy or have known fertility issues which might cause early menopause.
Egg freezing is also popular with male transgender patients, who may freeze and store their eggs in order to have the option of having a child that is genetically related to them after medically transitioning.
While it should never be solely relied upon or thought of as an insurance policy, egg freezing is giving more and more people control of their reproductive health.
At the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health (CRGH) in London, our Secure™ Egg Freezing package has made egg freezing more affordable and straightforward for our clients.

What is the egg freezing process?
Approximately 4 - 6 weeks
Consultation with a CRGH doctor
An initial consultation is the first step in any fertility journey. In this 60-minute appointment, you will discuss your medical history and goals with a consultant of your choice, who will also tell you more about the treatment types on offer and answer your questions.
Blood tests and investigations
Some blood tests and investigations will be required to ensure egg freezing is a suitable treatment for you. These typically include an Ovarian Reserve Test to assess your follicular count and hormone profile prior to the start of ovarian stimulation. There are lots of additional tests which our doctors can also recommend should they be appropriate; for example, those who have had unsuccessful treatment in the past may wish to explore other options, or test their genetic health.
Follow-up consultation
Once your test results are back, you will meet with your consultant to discuss the results. During this meeting, your consultant will also confirm a treatment plan based on these results.
Agree your treatment plan
Before moving forward with any medication or treatment, you will need to agree to the treatment plan and estimated costs of egg freezing. Our Patient Liaison team can provide you with this information.
Nurse consultation
This meeting with one of our specialised fertility nurses marks the start of treatment itself. Your nurse will explain the different steps of treatment and how and when to take your medication, and answer any other questions you might have.
Stimulation
Most patients will undergo a course of medication and monitoring, which will help ensure the best possible results. During this period, you will have regular scans and blood tests to ensure your body is responding correctly, and your medication will be changed accordingly to ensure the best possible results.
Egg collection
Having monitored your blood and scan results closely throughout stimulation, your consultant will decide when is the optimal time to collect your eggs. Egg collection usually happens vaginally, under deep sedation in our theatre. Eggs can also be collected abdominally in certain circumstances. Once collected, healthy eggs are taken to our laboratory to be frozen.
Egg freezing
Healthy eggs are frozen using our ultra-rapid vitrification technique and safely stored in our secure storage facility for future use.
Arrange an Initial Egg Freezing Consultation
An Initial Consultation is the first step in almost every treatment journey. Our consultants are experts at understanding your previous medical and fertility history, as well as your goals for egg freezing. Your initial consultation will be 60 minutes long, with a consultant of your choice. Please fill in the form to request more information on egg freezing or a call back from our support team.
Egg Freezing CRGH
Our Outstanding Success Rates
Live Birth Rate for PGS Treatment
Live Birth Rate for PGS Treatment
2021, All Ages Average, Per Embryo Transferred
53.0%
Live Birth Rates for IVF/IMSI/ICSI/PIMSI Treatment
2021, All Ages Average, Per Embryo Transferred
35.4%
Frequently Asked Questions
The process of egg freezing
How long does egg freezing take?
An egg freezing cycle usually takes around four weeks, although this is dependent on each individual and often governed by menstrual cycles. Some women also decide to have more than one “cycle” to reach a certain number of eggs.
Is egg freezing suitable for everyone?
Egg freezing is suitable for most women, but not everyone. Your consultant will explain more about who egg freezing is suitable for during your consultation.
Is egg freezing safe?
Egg freezing is generally a very safe treatment, although there are some risks. You can read more about the risks below, or visit the HFEA website, which explains the risks for IVF and all other fertility treatments available in the UK. Your consultant will discuss in detail the risks of treatment at your consultation.
Can you pause during the egg freezing process?
Once you start a cycle of egg freezing, it’s not possible to pause, as those eggs will be lost via your natural menstruation. However, if you are undergoing more than one cycle, it’s possible to take time between each cycle.
How much does egg freezing cost?
Treatment costs vary depending on your individual needs, particularly when it comes to medication. You can find an example of the costs on our Pricing page.
Am I too old to freeze eggs?
Generally, female fertility declines with age, and it’s therefore advisable to freeze eggs as early as possible. That said, each individual varies, and your consultant will help you to understand if egg freezing is a good option for you.
At CRGH, we pride ourselves on inclusive access to our treatments, so we encourage you to book an initial consultation to explore your options.
How to prepare for Egg Freezing
How should I prepare for egg freezing?
As part of your treatment plan, your consultant will prescribe medication that will help prepare your body for egg freezing. Our nurses will also help explain the lifestyle changes which could help maximise your chances of success.
Is there anything I should avoid prior to egg freezing?
It’s important to keep your body healthy and relaxed prior to any treatment type. Avoiding stress and excess alcohol prior to your treatment can help prepare your body for egg freezing.
What should I do after freezing my eggs?
How long can I store my eggs for?
You can keep your frozen eggs in storage for up to 55 years, as long as you complete consent forms every ten years.
How do I use my frozen eggs?
To use your frozen eggs, you will need to undergo a fertility treatment like IVF.
Risks Associated with Egg Freezing
Freezing your eggs is generally a very safe service. However, you should always consider the risks before undertaking any fertility treatment. Risks include Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which is an adverse reaction to stimulation medication.
If you experience any symptoms such as swelling, nausea, shortness of breath or reduced urine output during treatment, you should contact CRGH and go to A&E.
Similarly, there is a small risk of pelvic infection after egg collection, the symptoms of which include moderate to severe lower abdominal pain, fever or malodorous vaginal discharge. You should contact CRGH and go to A&E should you experience any of these symptoms during or after fertility treatment.
Your consultant will discuss these risks, and how we avoid them, during your consultation. You can also learn more about the risks associated with all fertility treatment available in the UK on the HFEA website.
How much does egg freezing cost?
We tailor your treatment at every stage to ensure you have the best possible chance of success. Prior to starting treatment our finance team will provide you with an itemised costing of your unique treatment plan.
SEE OUR EXAMPLE PRICING