Average Cost of Egg Freezing in the UK

Cost of using frozen eggs via IVF in the UK

If we were to factor in the procedures that come after egg freezing, it would be the frozen egg thaw cycle, ICSI and frozen embryo transfer. Here is a breakdown of the cost:

What factors influence the cost of egg freezing?

There are some variable costs in each egg-freezing cycle as they depend on individual circumstances, personal medical history, etc. These include:

1. Age

As we age, it’s natural for our egg quality and quantity to decline. It’s important to note that as we age, the number of eggs recruited during a menstrual cycle also reduces, thus reducing the chances of retrieving more eggs in a single cycle.

Or if you have a history of low ovarian reserve, you may also be asked to undergo multiple cycles to collect more eggs for freezing. 

Tip: We recommend you to discuss with your healthcare provider about the possibility of multiple cycles. This helps manage expectations and costs, as some clinics offer reduced prices for multiple-cycle packages. 

2. Tests needed

In general, some HFEA-mandated tests are needed before an egg-freezing cycle. If you happen to have any pre-existing conditions or need additional tests, the cost may vary.

3. Medication variability

Medication protocols for egg freezing are personalised based on your follicle growth. During the cycle, you will be asked to come in for routine ultrasound scans, which help doctors decide and modify the protocol if necessary.

4. Location of clinic

The location of your clinic matters. Since you would have to check in with the doctor multiple times throughout your cycle, this would add to the overall budget.

5. Duration of egg storage

Egg storage comes with a fixed fee for a year, while some clinics offer reduced pricing for subsequent years of storage. Depending on how many years you plan to store your eggs, the cost may vary.

Some factors that weigh in on the later part of egg freezing include:

6. Medications for frozen embryo transfer

When you decide to use your frozen eggs, the clinic will thaw them and perform ICSI, while you may be prescribed medication at the same time. This is to prepare your uterus for embryo transfer. Depending on the requirements, these costs may add-in. 

7. Leftover frozen embryo storage 

For a frozen embryo transfer, usually, more than one egg is thawed. A hypothetical example would look like this. If you have frozen 8 eggs, there is a high chance that 3-4 eggs are inseminated via ICSI and 2-3 embryos are formed. 

If you were to use 1-2 embryos for your transfer, the rest would still have to be re-frozen. This could add to the total costs of the cycle.

8. Frozen embryo transfer cycles

As per HFEA policies, clinics are mandated to transfer a single embryo to the womb. This was brought into place to minimise the risk of multiple births from fertility treatment. As a result, birth rates from single embryo transfers have continued to rise, while the risk of multiple births has reduced.

In cases where good-quality embryos are not available, clinics may use a different protocol or recommend multiple transfer cycles, which may affect costs. 

Egg Freezing Success Rates in the UK

As per the HFEA, the majority of women freezing their eggs via the NHS were under 35, with almost 90% being under 38. 

However, the average age of women freezing their eggs in the UK is 38. 

This emphasises the fact that knowing about your success rates by age can significantly help you boost your egg-freezing success rates and your future chances at a healthy pregnancy! 

But if we were to look at egg freezing success rates by age, this is how it would look like:

For women above 35:

As mentioned above, age is the most important factor affecting egg-freezing success rates. 

Women who freeze their eggs before the age of 35 have a much higher chance of success. 

Interestingly, when you freeze your eggs matters more, compared to when you use them. 

The HFEA advises women to use the IVF success rates for women in their age group (using fresh eggs), rather than egg freezing success rates. This data is likely to better represent the live birth rate from frozen egg fertilisation, especially in women below 35.

📚Also read: Freezing eggs after 35: What you need to know

What is the timeline for egg freezing in the UK?

Egg freezing typically takes about two weeks in the UK. You start with fertility tests such as AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) and AFC (Antral Follicle Count) to check your egg reserve and have your first consultation and your protocol mapped out. The medications go on for 10-12 days until egg retrieval surgery.

In between you may be asked to visit the clinic for routine ultrasound scans, bloodwork and monitoring to ensure the medications are working, and to make any adjustments if needed.

📚Also read: Your guide to egg-freezing medication 

Do you do IVF after freezing eggs?

Yes, after freezing eggs comes the process of IVF- rather a variation of it known as ICSI or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection. 

The process of IVF involves the egg and its surrounding cells being exposed to sperm in a dish, incubated in the lab. But with egg freezing, the surrounding cells are removed before freezing, leaving only ICSI possible.

With ICSI, a single sperm cell is inserted into every egg retrieved and checked for embryo growth. On day 5 or 6 of embryo growth, an embryo transfer is planned to insert the growing embryo into the uterus.

How long can you freeze your eggs in the UK?

With recent changes in law, you will be able to store eggs, sperm and embryos for up to 55 years from the date of storage. This is under the condition that the consent form is renewed every 10 years.

Since this law came into effect on 1 July 2022, anyone who has frozen their eggs before can contact their clinic and opt for extended storage, and ask for any additional consent forms needed.

What are some affordable options for egg freezing in the UK?

Ideally, the cheapest option is to get your entire or partial cycle funded by government bodies or insurance. But since this is not the usual case, here are some options that can reduce the cost of your egg-freezing cycle:

1. Egg sharing programmes
2. Choosing clinics via Amilis 
3. Opting for insurance coverage
4. Opting for NHS funding 
5. Fertility benefits by employers

Let’s discuss each below:

Egg sharing programmes

An egg-sharing program is an egg-freezing cycle where you choose to donate half of the eggs obtained during the retrieval. 

The clinic will provide you with the consent form and also explain how the other half will be donated to someone in need or for research purposes.

These programs are offered under select criteria such as age, medical history of the patient, ovarian reserves, test levels, et cetera. If you do come under the eligibility criteria, some clinics offer these programs at an average of £300-£400 for a cycle. This is because all the costs are covered by the clinic except the storage fees of your own eggs.

Choosing clinics via Amilis

Not to toot our own horn, but Amilis is the UK’s first, free egg-freezing platform where we have been working to bring transparency and affordability into the egg-freezing process for millions of women.

And here’s how we do it:

• Access to best fertility clinics in the UK: We partner with pre-vetted egg-freezing clinics in the UK, ensuring you receive high-quality care
• Discounted fertility tests: Our Randox-partnered AMH test is priced at £80, and accepted at all clinics 
• Support and guidance: We offer 1-1 free consultations, resources and guides on all things egg-freezing
• Cost savings: Through our partnerships with leading clinics, we provide discounts on initial consultations 

Going via Amilis can save you anywhere from £250-500 on your entire egg-freezing cycle, based on the clinic you choose!

Opting for insurance coverage

Unfortunately, most private healthcare providers in the UK don’t entirely cover the cost of egg freezing. 

But, it is still worth checking with your insurance provider if they will fund the process partially, or cover any of the bloodwork. Checking the policy details may also help as many plans have specific criteria for coverage. 

Opting for NHS funding 

While this can be an option, the NHS only covers egg freezing under specific circumstances. You can only get coverage if you are under the age of 42 or undergoing medical treatment that affects your fertility, such as chemotherapy, gender reassignment surgery, etc

However, fertility coverage in the UK does come down to your local ICB and the criteria they set for eligibility. To know how to check your coverage, refer to our detailed guide on NHS and egg freezing. 

Fertility benefits by employers

Fertility support and fertility benefits can have a big impact on company, culture and employee morale. In the UK, as per a survey, it was found that 53% of workers would stay longer with their employer if they covered the cost of fertility treatment.

In the UK, companies such as Spotify, Centrica, HubSpot, Meta, and Lululemon have started sponsoring policies and support for fertility treatments. 

With such companies jumping on the bandwagon, we hope to see a lot more fertility-friendly employers take on the lead for 2024 and beyond!

How can I find a clinic that offers egg freezing in the UK?

You can find a clinic that matches your requirements and choose a clinic based on reviews and ratings using our clinic comparator. 

This helps you:

• Compare clinics side by side
• Check out their location 
• Get a breakdown of the pricing for each step of the egg-freezing cycle
• Get more information about the clinic and its team
• Get detailed reviews about each clinic

And to top it all off, you also get a free consultation (worth £250) with the clinic that you opt for!

If you need help choosing clinics our team at Amilis offers 1-1 free calls to answer all your questions and help you choose the right clinic for your egg freezing journey.

Affordable egg freezing in the UK, from Amilis 

If egg freezing is on the charts, then so is planning it out financially, and the right way.

Fertility treatments don’t have to be labelled as an expensive option, and our team at Amilis (that’s us 👋) is working to ensure the same.

We reviewed the entire process, working to reduce the cost of egg freezing at different stages. 

From discounted fertility tests to free 1-1 calls to help you navigate the journey, we’re building a future of affordable, accessible fertility care in the UK, for millions of women planning for or going through egg freezing. 

And in this journey, we’ve got your back too ❤️

Frequently asked questions

1. If you freeze your eggs can you still get pregnant?

Yes, you can still get pregnant naturally after freezing your eggs. Egg freezing doesn't affect your current fertility; it simply preserves some eggs for potential future use if needed.

2. How much does it cost to freeze eggs in Scotland?

The cost of egg freezing in Scotland typically ranges from £3,000 to £6,000 per cycle, not including storage fees. However, prices can vary between clinics, so it's best to contact specific fertility centres for accurate, up-to-date pricing

3. Will I get periods if I freeze my eggs?

Yes, you will continue to have periods after freezing your eggs. The egg-freezing process doesn't affect your menstrual cycle or hormonal balance in the long term.

4. What is the cheapest option for egg freezing in the UK?

The cheapest option for egg freezing in the UK is to go for NHS funding. If you do not qualify, opt for discounted AMH tests and fertility consultations via Amilis, which can make the process more affordable.