A woman\u2019s chance of conceiving naturally declines with age. By her mid thirties a women\u2019s egg quality has begun to deteriorate and her egg count will have decreased to the point where it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve and maintain a pregnancy. The decline increases and by her early forties the vast majority of women are unable to conceive with their own eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing<\/strong> involves removing mature eggs, flash\u2011freezing them via vitrification, and storing them in liquid nitrogen for future IVF use. The preservation procedure is typically used by women who want to delay pregnancy for later in their life or preserve good quality eggs before any medical intervention that might affect their quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the mid\u201130s, a woman\u2019s egg quality and quantity begin to fall sharply, lowering natural conception odds. By the early 40s, up to 90\u202f% of women struggle to conceive with their own eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Women who plan to delay parenthood, face medical treatments that could harm fertility, or carry genetic risk factors for early ovarian decline are prime candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a number of considerations that women must address before committing to freezing their eggs. Firstly, there is the cost. Any private sector medical procedure comes at a cost and egg freezing is no exception. As a patient you might pay as little as a couple of hundred euros, pounds or dollars or as much as a couple of thousand just for the collection of eggs alone. Add to this the cost of storage and it is easy to see how the procedure might be out of the reach of many.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also an investment which you need to make in terms of time when you freeze your eggs. You will need hormone injections for 9 to 12 days and possibly visit the clinic a number of times for blood tests and scans to ensure the fertility drugs are working properly. If the drugs do not work as effectively as they should the clinic may have to make adjustments to the drug regime. When appropriate the harvesting procedure will be under anaesthesia. Finally, if you are considering freezing your eggs in a country in which you are not resident you will have to factor in the time and cost of harvesting and returning for a transfer in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Egg freezing is one of the most in demand services that many clinics offer and more and providers are promoting packages aimed at women looking to preserve their fertility. We have put together a guide which provides some useful information about cost and the logistics of freezing you eggs in a number of destinations around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freezing your eggs takes just a few focused weeks but involves several carefully\u2011timed steps.\u202fBelow you\u2019ll find a clear walkthrough that gives you the detail you need to plan treatment at home or abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step\u202f1 \u2013 Fertility assessment & planning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your journey begins with a consultation, blood tests (AMH and FSH) and an antral\u2011follicle\u2011count ultrasound. These checks give a snapshot of ovarian reserve and help your doctor tailor the stimulation plan. Step\u202f2 \u2013 Cycle synchronisation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure all follicles start together, you may take short\u2011term hormones such as the combined pill or oestrogen. Think of it as \u201cpressing reset\u201d on the cycle so every follicle can grow at the same pace once stimulation begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daily self\u2011injections of FSH or FSH\/LH encourage multiple eggs to mature. You\u2019ll return to the clinic every few days for ultrasounds and blood work so the team can tweak doses and watch for rare side\u2011effects like ovarian hyper\u2011stimulation syndrome (OHSS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n When most follicles reach about\u202f18\u202fmm, you receive a \u201ctrigger shot\u201d (hCG or GnRH\u2011agonist). This final dose synchronises maturation and sets a precise 34\u201336\u2011hour countdown to egg retrieval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under light sedation, a thin needle passes through the vaginal wall to aspirate follicular fluid. The procedure is quick; mild bloating or cramps are common, and most people rest for the remainder of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the lab, mature eggs are dehydrated and flash\u2011frozen in liquid nitrogen (\u2011196\u202f\u00b0C). Vitrification avoids ice\u2011crystal damage, and\u2014under UK law\u2014eggs can now be stored for up to 55\u202fyears with renewed consent, giving you real flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Within 24\u201348\u202fhours you\u2019ll learn how many mature eggs were frozen and review any post\u2011procedure symptoms. Together with your clinician you can decide whether to bank more eggs, set up annual storage renewals or map out a future IVF timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good to know<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travelling overseas for egg freezing can open doors to more affordable, flexible and efficient fertility-preservation options than you might find at home.<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re seeking to lower out-of-pocket costs, benefit from shorter wait-lists and extended age limits, or access clinics with cutting-edge vitrification technology, going abroad offers a tailored pathway that many women find both empowering and reassuring. Below, we explore the main reasons why freezing your eggs abroad has become an increasingly popular choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Egg freezing in Spain<\/a> costs an average of \u20ac2,300 not including any medication plus an average \u20ac500 per year to store resulting embryos. There is no time limit on storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clinics <\/a>in Portugal charge an average of \u20ac1,500 for freezing eggs excluding medication and around \u20ac500 per year for storage. Eggs can be stored for up to ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Egg freezing costs around \u20ac700 in the Czech Republic and yearly storage costs can be as low as \u20ac200 per year. Clinics<\/a> can store eggs up to 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Egg freezing costs around \u20ac2,500 in North Cyprus<\/a> and there is no maximum period in which eggs can be stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Egg freezing can cost anywhere between \u20ac1,500 and \u20ac2,500 in Greece<\/a> and eggs can be stored for a maximum period of ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKey Benefits of Social Freezing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Why Female Fertility Declines with Age?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who Should Consider Freezing Eggs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Brief History of Egg Freezing Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Egg freezing abroad: Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Remember the process of freezing your eggs when they of a good quality does not guarantee that their use in the future will result in a pregnancy. When they are used in the future any IVF procedure will be subject to any variable it would if the procedure was undertaken with fresh eggs. Before any future transfer takes place frozen eggs will also have to survive the thawing process which represents another potential problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEgg freezing:\u202fStep by step process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step\u202f3 \u2013 Controlled ovarian stimulation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step\u202f4 \u2013 The trigger injection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step\u202f5 \u2013 Egg retrieval day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step\u202f6 \u2013 Vitrification & secure storage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step\u202f7 \u2013 Recovery & next\u2011steps roadmap<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing abroad: Why do it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why travel abroad to freeze your eggs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Egg freezing abroad – where to go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in Spain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in Portugal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in the Czech Republic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in North Cyprus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in Greece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Egg freezing in Latvia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n