Defining These Methods

What Is Embryo Freezing?

Embryo freezing, also called embryo cryopreservation, involves creating embryos through IVF and then freezing them for future use. During this process, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting. The resulting embryos are then carefully frozen and stored in specialized tanks until you're ready to use them.

This fertility preservation method is often chosen by couples who are undergoing IVF treatment and have extra embryos they wish to save for the future, or by couples who desire pre-implantation genetic testing of their embryos. Embryo freezing has been successfully practiced for decades and offers excellent survival rates after thawing.

What is Embryo Banking?

In embryo banking, embryos are created over multiple cycles before pregnancy is attempted. This approach is particularly valuable for individuals or couples who know they want multiple children and want to preserve their fertility while delaying family-building. Banking embryos at a younger age maintains consistent genetic quality for future pregnancies, regardless of when you actually decide to build or expand your family.

What is Egg Freezing

Egg freezing, technically called oocyte cryopreservation, focuses solely on preserving eggs before fertilization occurs. This fertility preservation option involves stimulating your ovaries with medications, retrieving mature eggs, and freezing them for future use. When you're ready to conceive, the frozen eggs are thawed and fertilized through IVF to create embryos for transfer.

Egg freezing has become increasingly popular as a proactive fertility preservation choice, allowing individuals to preserve fertility for the future while maintaining complete reproductive autonomy over their frozen eggs.

Key Differences Between Embryo and Egg Freezing

Flexibility and Control Over Reproductive Decision Making 

Egg freezing can have advantages that are more personal than just freeze and thaw rates. Eggs can be frozen and then fertilized in the future with donor or partner sperm. That means you can preserve your own fertility without knowing who you may parent with in the future—or go solo!

Where embryo freezing requires sperm at the time of creation, making it ideal for couples in committed relationships or individuals who are comfortable using donor sperm, egg freezing can be a great option for people who want to maintain flexibility for future embryo creation. 

Success Rates and Viability

Embryo freezing typically offers higher success rates than egg freezing, although the gap has lessened over time. Embryos are more resilient during the freezing and thawing process, with survival rates often exceeding 95%. Frozen eggs generally have slightly lower survival rates. However, eggs frozen at younger ages tend to perform better, making timing a crucial factor in considering egg freezing.

Option for Genetic Testing

When freezing embryos, patients have the option to perform pre-implantation genetic testing(PGT-A) on their embryos prior to freezing them. This test evaluates whether each embryo has a normal number of chromosomes or not. While this testing is performed in >70% of embryo cryopreservation cycles, it is most effective for those 35 years old or older. 

It is currently not possible to perform this kind of testing on eggs before fertilization. So, for patients who are planning to freeze eggs but not yet make embryos, there is no way to know how many of their eggs have a normal number of chromosomes at the time of freezing. This information can be obtained once eggs are thawed and fertilized with sperm.

Storage Timeline 

Both frozen embryos and frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely without a loss in quality.

Financial Considerations

The costs associated with embryo freezing versus egg freezing can vary significantly. Embryo freezing typically costs more upfront since it includes the full IVF process, ranging from $12,000 to $25,000+ per cycle, plus annual storage fees. Egg freezing generally costs between $8,000 and $20,000 per cycle, with additional costs incurred later when you're ready to use the eggs for IVF.

Embryo banking has higher costs up front but can be a good option for those who need or want to build a robust bank of embryos for future family planning. Rather than going through IVF cycle by cycle as you're ready for each pregnancy, embryo banking allows you to complete multiple retrieval and fertilization cycles while you're younger, storing all resulting embryos for use over many years.

The financial investment for embryo banking is significant upfront but it can provide substantial long-term value and peace of mind. Many fertility financing programs now specifically support embryo banking strategies, recognizing the long-term benefits of this approach to family planning.

When evaluating fertility financing options, consider both immediate costs and future expenses. Embryo freezing and banking front-load most expenses, while egg freezing spreads costs across different time periods, potentially allowing for better financial planning—or at least more saving.

At Sunfish, we offer our unique IVF Success Program to ensure you’re confident and supported going through this journey—and that you know what it will cost. 

Get started with IVF success

When to Consider Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing makes sense in several specific situations:

During IVF: If you're already undergoing IVF and have extra high-quality embryos, freezing them provides an excellent option for future family expansion without repeating the entire IVF process.

Genetic testing: If you're planning to use preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), embryo freezing allows for testing before storage, potentially improving future success rates.

Medical necessity: Before cancer treatment or other medical procedures that might affect fertility, embryo freezing can preserve your ability to have biological children if you have a partner or are comfortable using donor sperm.

Committed partnerships: Couples in stable relationships who want to preserve their fertility together often choose embryo freezing because embryos contain their shared genetic material.

Embryo banking: When planning for a larger family and undergoing IVF, it may be most effective to freeze embryos from several cycles up front, rather than spreading out cycles over time or between pregnancies.

When Egg Freezing Might Be Your Best Option

Egg freezing offers advantages in different circumstances:

Career or life planning: If you want to delay childbearing for career, educational, or personal reasons while preserving your fertility at a younger age, egg freezing provides maximum flexibility.

Reproductive Autonomy: Egg freezing allows you to preserve your fertility and maintain complete autonomy over how/if/when your eggs are used. In contrast, things like separation or divorce from a partner could prevent you from using your frozen embryos.

Medical necessity: Before medical treatments that might affect egg quality or quantity, egg freezing can preserve your reproductive potential while maintaining future flexibility.

Age-related fertility decline: As you approach your late twenties or early thirties, egg freezing can help preserve egg quality before age-related decline affects your fertility.

Making Your Fertility Preservation Decision

Choosing between embryo freezing and egg freezing requires careful consideration of your current circumstances, future goals, and financial planning. Consider factors such as your age, relationship status, career timeline, and personal values when making this important decision. 

Consult with a fertility specialist who can evaluate your individual situation and provide personalized recommendations based on your medical history and fertility assessment. They can help you understand expected success rates for each option given your specific circumstances.

Remember, if you’re deciding between freezing eggs or embryos, especially if single, your decision is not just medical, but legal and emotional as well. Make sure you’re getting advice that reflects your values and timeline, not just lab statistics.

Financing Your Fertility Preservation Journey

Both embryo freezing and egg freezing represent significant investments in your future family. Fortunately, fertility financing options are increasingly available to make these treatments more accessible. Many employers now offer fertility benefits that include coverage for fertility preservation, and specialized lending programs designed for fertility treatments can help bridge funding gaps.

HSA and FSA accounts often cover fertility preservation expenses, and various grant programs support individuals pursuing these treatments. When exploring financing options, consider both immediate treatment costs and long-term storage expenses to create a comprehensive financial plan.

[Take our quiz for a personalized guide to paying for family-building costs]

Taking the Next Step

Whether you choose embryo freezing or egg freezing, you are taking an empowered step toward maintaining your reproductive choices in the future. Both options have helped countless individuals and couples achieve their family-building goals—when the timing was right for them.

If you're considering egg freezing or embryo freezing, start by consulting with a reproductive endocrinologist who can assess your individual situation and recommend the most appropriate approach. Remember that the best choice is the one that aligns with your current circumstances, future goals, and personal values.

Not sure what to do next? We can help connect you with a clinic or get you started toward your cryopreservation journey. Fill out our short intake to start.

Get started with IVF Success