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Elective Egg Freezing

We understand that due to different circumstances, women may choose to delay pregnancy until the time is right. Thanks to the latest egg freezing technologies, we can give women the opportunity to preserve their younger eggs until they are ready to conceive. Optimally, it is best for women to freeze their eggs as young as possible since age affects eggs more than any other factor. Typically, a greater quantity and quality of eggs (chromosomally normal) will be obtained before 30, slightly fewer from 30 to 35 and a much smaller yield over 35 years of age. Egg freezing after age 37 is still an option, but more than one cycle may be needed to retrieve the recommended number of mature eggs.

How does egg freezing work?

  • First, fertility drugs are administered to help stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than in an unstimulated cycle. 
  • The eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries, frozen (cryopreserved) via a flash-freezing method known as vitrification.
  • The eggs then remain safely cryopreserved and ready for thawing when needed. Learn more about Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

We are proud to offer advanced treatment plans for women who choose to freeze their eggs. The first step is to have a consultation with one of our specialists who will guide you through a customized treatment plan. Our experienced financial counselors are also available to discuss affordable solutions for treatment.

One of the unique perks that we offer through our Egg Donation Program, is for repeat RMA Long Island IVF Donors to repeat a donation cycle and freeze some or all of their eggs for their own future use.

Fertility Preservation for Medical Reasons

Fertility preservation can provide peace of mind for women facing cancer treatment or a chronic medical condition by allowing them to focus on getting well while knowing that they have done all they can to maximize their chance of having a baby in the future, who would also be genetically related to them. Women might choose to preserve their fertility through IVF with either egg freezing or embryo freezing for such medical reasons as:

  • Anticipated treatment of cancer
  • Fertility-reducing medications
  • Endometriosis
  • Anticipated ovary removal
  • Gender transition surgery

How does the egg or embryo freezing work?

Treatment plans and medications are individualized depending on the disease being treated.

  • First, fertility drugs are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than are produced in a natural cycle.
  • The eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries. Mature eggs are frozen (cryopreserved) after retrieval via a flash-freezing method known as vitrification. If the patient wishes to freeze embryos, the retrieved eggs are fertilized using either her male partner’s sperm or donor sperm. The resulting embryos are then frozen (cryopreserved).
  • The eggs or embryos remain safely cryopreserved and ready for thawing when needed.

Choose the elective egg freezing option that's right for you:

  • An Elective Egg Freezing Cycle. This is offered to repeat egg donors at a substantially-reduced cost. In this cycle, all of the eggs would be frozen for your future use. Medication costs and egg storage fees apply.
  • An Elective Egg Freezing Cycle with a Shared Donation. Qualified repeat egg donors cycle share the eggs but are also able to retain eggs for their own personal, future use. The donor receives $5,000 (half of the usual $10,000 egg donor compensation). Medication is included. Egg storage fees apply.

If you find yourself in need of fertility preservation due to a cancer diagnosis or for another medical reason, it’s important to speak with one of our reproductive endocrinologists as soon as possible to discuss all the possibilities including: egg or embryo freezing as well as ovarian tissue banking. Our experienced financial counselors are also available to discuss affordable solutions for women to preserve their fertility before treatment. For example, we partner with LIVESTRONG Fertility, an organization that provides information, support, and financial assistance for women affected by cancer; and also partner with organizations that help reduce the cost of medications for women about to undergo an IVF cycle before cancer treatment.

Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about your fertility preservation options so that you have the peace of mind knowing that your reproductive future is preserved and in good hands.

Male Fertility Preservation

Some medical or surgical treatments as well as treatments for cancer can affect fertility temporarily or permanently. Additionally, certain high risk professions including military deployment also are associated with fertility risk factors. Men might choose to preserve their fertility through sperm freezing and banking for reasons such as:

  • Cancer
  • Before spinal chord procedures
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Fertility-reducing medications
  • Active member of the military
  • Gender transition surgery
  • Vasectomy surgery
  • Advancing age

Before beginning these treatments, talk with your doctor about how the treatment (or other circumstances) could affect your fertility and if warranted, seek a consult with our reproductive fertility urologist, Dr. Yefim Sheynkin about such fertility preserving options as:

  • Sperm freezing and banking (long-term storage)
  • Testicular Sperm Aspiration or Extraction – sperm retrieved and frozen for future use.
  • Tissue Banking – testicular tissue is removed and frozen for transplantation back into place later.