Egg Freezing: Step by Step

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The Egg Freezing Process

  1. New Patient Appointment

    • Clinic or WebEx
    • 30-45 minutes
    • Flexible timeline

    You will discuss your future family goals and collaborate with your physician to plan treatment. You will also schedule a follow up appointment to receive an ultrasound and bloodwork to assess ovarian reserve and reproductive health.

  2. Prerequisite Tests:
    Checklist for Egg Freezing

    • Commitment Varies
    • Flexible timeline

    You will visit RSNY (either during your New Patient Appointment or during a Follow Up Appointment if your New Patient Appointment was done via WebEx) to complete checklist bloodwork and to order any additional tests needed prior to your cycle.

  3. Coordinator Appointments

    • Clinic or Phone
    • 30-45 minutes
    • Flexible timeline

    A coordinator will review the process, including the prescribed medication protocol, Prerequisite Testing Checklist, and schedule for your Egg Freezing orientation class. A billing representative will review all applicable cycle fees and coverage options.

  4. Orientation & Injection Training

    • WebEx
    • 90 minutes
    • Flexible timeline

    In the orientation class, you will receive a detailed explanation of the care plan, learn how to inject prescribed medications, and confirm details of the retrieval process.

  5. Medications

    • Commitment Varies
    • Flexible timeline

    Our medications authorization specialist will review your medications and pharmacy options with you. Compare pharmacies, as pricing may vary. Once you choose a pharmacy, prescriptions will be sent electronically so they are available as needed.

  6. Baseline: “Day 2/3 Start”

    • Clinic
    • 30 minutes
    • On the second day of your menstrual cycle

    Within 2 days of starting your period, you will visit RSNY for an ultrasound and blood test to verify you are ready to start stimulation (e.g., your ovaries are suppressed, and you have no cysts). If everything looks as expected, you will start oral contraceptive pills or at-home injections.
    Note: if you don’t get regular periods, don’t worry. Let your care team know and they will help you to determine the best date to start your cycle.

  7. Monitoring & Injections

    • Clinic
    • Commitment Varies
    • Usually Days 5, 8, and 10 of Stim (timing is variable and depends upon your response to the stimulation medications)

    You will visit the clinic at least 3-5 times for ultrasounds and bloodwork to monitor follicular development and hormone levels. You will also be doing injections around the same time each day as prescribed.

  8. Trigger

    • Clinic
    • Flexible/15 min
    • Usually Days 10, 11, or 12 of Stim

    Around the 10th day of injections, your physician will assess whether you are ready for a ‘trigger shot,’ the final step in preparing your eggs for retrieval. You will be given a specific time to do the shot and your retrieval will happen 34-36 hours later.

  9. Retrieval

    • Mineola Clinic
    • 3 hours
    • Between Days 12-16 of Stim

    You will be under anesthesia for approximately 15-30 minutes while your eggs are retrieved. The next day you will receive a message from the lab with the number of eggs retrieved and frozen and a phone call from your care team to see how you’re feeling.

  10. Post–Retrieval Follow Up

    • Phone
    • 30 min
    • Within 2 weeks post-retrieval

    You will review the outcome of your cycle with your physician, discuss cryostorage of your eggs, and make a plan to achieve your future family building goals.

Your Egg Freezing Journey

  • New Patient Appointment

    You might be feeling anxious or excited - there are a lot of firsts happening today. You’ll meet your physician for the first time, have your first ultrasound and your first blood draw. The first step in this process can sometimes feel like the biggest hurdle, so ask your physician as many questions as you need to get comfortable. Also, it’s helpful to have people to talk to, especially towards the end of the cycle. You may want to start thinking about which of your friends, family, or colleagues you wish to share with.

    Orientation Class & Injection Training

    Appointments, paperwork, finances, meds, your period...are you overwhelmed yet? Take a deep breath - this class is going to break it down for you. This class will calm your fears - you will have the opportunity to review your stimulation protocol (including the injection technique for the medications), the retrieval process, your consent forms, and your cryostorage plans with a nurse or care coordinator. You’ll also meet the appropriate point person for all future questions.

  • Baseline: “Day 2/3 Start”

    So you got your period. Your cycle starts within the next few days. At your appointment, feel free to ask your nurse for a refresher on injections (remember, you can always look back at the video resources online). Take your time on the first evening. Injections can be a little tricky at first but you’ll get the hang of it quickly. It just goes in the top layer of fat on your belly and we promise, it hurts less than you think. There’s always a nurse or physician on call if you have any questions.

    Monitoring & Injections

    This part of the journey represents that largest time commitment and you will need to work around appointments and injections, so plan ahead. On the bright side, you’re getting confident with the injections but as the days progress, you might start feeling a little bloated and not quite yourself. Discuss how you feel with your physician and stick with it!

    Trigger

    You’ve made it to the end - almost. Your retrieval is going to be 34-36 hours later so use the next day to make sure you’re all set. Get ready with your Netflix queue, some comfy PJs, some light snacks, and a friend to hang with. One more thing - the night before your retrieval, remember not to eat or drink after midnight unless directed to do so by your care team.

    Retrieval

    It’s normal to feel nervous about the big day, especially if you’ve never undergone anesthesia before. The retrieval itself goes by super quick (you’re out!) and you’ll start to feel normal again very shortly afterwards. Because you will receive anesthesia, you must be discharged to the care of a responsible adult who will bring you home safely. Do: relax, take the day off. Don’t: operate heavy machinery.

  • Post-Retrieval Follow Up

    The days immediately after the retrieval may be a little rough. Feeling increasingly bloated for a few days is common, but after about day 3 (or 4-5, depending on your body), you’ll start feeling much better. If you have any pain, please call the office.Your doctor will follow up for a debrief and next steps.

    Egg Storage & Next Steps

    Congrats! You’ve taken a big step in your reproductive health and family planning. Our lab will store your eggs until you’re ready to use them. Whenever you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here to support you.

Financing Fertility Preservation

Egg Freezing Fees

The self-pay fees for an egg freezing cycle being at $7,700.

NYU Langone Reproductive Specialists is committed to helping you understand all financial aspects of fertility treatment, so finances don’t stand in your way. We offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art fertility treatment at competitive rates, and our team works with you to evaluate your payment options, including insurance coverage and/or patient financing programs to cover your care.

Visit our Fertility Financing page to learn more

NYU Langone Reproductive Specialists understands that the financial aspects of fertility treatment can be difficult to navigate. We offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art fertility treatment at competitive rates, and our team works alongside you to evaluate your payment options, including insurance coverage and/or patient financing programs to cover your care.

Fertility Financing

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