Your local home for world-class fertility care
Our boutique fertility clinic is located in northeast Louisville, Kentucky, convenient to Bardstown, Bowling Green, Lexington, Owensboro, Richmond, and Southern Indiana.
Egg Freezing
Egg freezing empowers you to take control of your family-building timeline. Preserving your fertility now helps to give you more options later. Whether you're ready to start the freezing process or just want more information, KFI is here to provide the support you need, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Egg Freezing?
Starting a family is a big decision. Some women know they want a child but need to delay for personal reasons, like career aspirations, relationship building, or travel and education. Freezing your eggs can help give you the time you need and take the pressure off your biological clock.
Egg freezing is also an option for individuals diagnosed with cancer or other health conditions who want to preserve their fertility before starting treatment, or for those in the LGBTQ+ community about to undergo hormone therapy. Egg freezing may be particularly valuable for women with endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve, or other gynecologic risk factors for future infertility.
The Egg Freezing Process
Egg freezing is a multi-step process similar to in vitro fertilization (IVF), except the eggs are frozen prior to fertilization. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Medical Exam
Before you start the egg freezing process, you’ll meet with one of our fertility specialists to discuss your medical history, as well as undergo blood work and hormone testing. Additionally, we’ll perform a transvaginal ultrasound to conduct an antral follicle count (AFC), which assesses the number of follicles (egg containing cysts) in your ovaries (ovarian reserve).
Your specialist will use this information to estimate how many eggs they expect to retrieve. You'll also discuss a medication protocol to stimulate your ovaries and how to prepare for egg retrieval.
2. Ovarian Stimulation and Monitoring
Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, you might start the egg retrieval process by taking birth control pills or other hormonal medications to help synchronize your follicles.
Once you’re cleared to begin injections, your specialist will provide detailed instructions for self-administering them. While medication regimens can vary, most people will take follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH), which stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs during a cycle.
These injections will be administered over 8 to 12 consecutive days, during which we'll monitor you regularly. Once the follicles reach an appropriate size, you’ll receive a trigger shot to induce the final maturation of your eggs. We know injections can seem scary at first, but our team will make sure your questions are answered and you are comfortable with the use of your medications prior to starting treatment.
3. Egg Retrieval
Using a transvaginal ultrasound probe to guide the process, your fertility specialist will retrieve the mature eggs from the ovaries with a long needle. This is an outpatient procedure, and you’ll be put under sedation so you won’t feel any discomfort. The entire process takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
4. Recovery and Freezing
After egg retrieval, you may experience temporary cramping, bloating, constipation, and vaginal spotting. You can ease any discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers or a heating pad. Let us know if you experience severe pain or heavy bleeding. Complications are rare, so it’s important to contact our office if you have any concerns.
A few hours after egg retrieval, your eggs will be cryopreserved using vitrification. This process involves rapid freezing through liquid nitrogen to minimize the risk of ice crystals forming within the eggs, thus improving survival rates. Storing your eggs might feel stressful, but you can be assured they'll be safe. Our storage facility has around-the-clock monitoring with alarms to ensure equipment is properly functioning and eggs are being safely stored at the right temperature.
"I can't emphasize how every single staff member at KFI functions to support their patients as a TEAM. For everyone new to the journey, please be reassured that you are in excellent hands at KFI."
— KFI patient
KFI Egg Freezing FAQs
The egg freezing process typically takes about two to three weeks once you begin medication. After a preliminary consultation and diagnostic testing, you’ll start ovarian stimulation, which encourages multiple eggs to mature at once. During this phase, you’ll come in for several monitoring appointments. When your follicles are ready, the eggs are retrieved during a short outpatient procedure and then frozen. Many patients complete the entire process within a single menstrual cycle.
There’s no single “right” age to freeze your eggs, but success rates are generally higher when eggs are frozen in your late 20s to mid-30s. That’s because both egg quantity and quality decline naturally with age. However, patients choose egg freezing at many stages of life — some proactively in their 20s, others in their late 30s or early 40s to keep future options open. A fertility specialist can help you understand your individual ovarian reserve and timeline.
The number of eggs recommended varies based on your age and reproductive goals. In general, younger patients often need fewer eggs to achieve a comparable chance of success, while older patients may need to bank more than one cycle’s worth. Because not every egg will mature, fertilize, or develop into a healthy embryo, freezing a larger number increases overall chances. Your care team will review your ovarian reserve testing to help determine how many eggs you may want to freeze.
Egg freezing can be an effective way to preserve fertility, but success depends on several factors—especially the age at which the eggs were frozen. Younger eggs generally have higher fertilization and embryo development potential. Once thawed, the eggs must still be fertilized and develop into embryos before transfer. While egg freezing doesn’t guarantee a future pregnancy, it can meaningfully improve the chances of building a family later, particularly for people who preserve their eggs at a younger age.
The costs of egg freezing typically include ovarian stimulation medications, monitoring visits, the egg retrieval procedure, and cryopreservation. Storage fees are billed separately, often annually, and should be factored into long-term budgeting. Costs may vary depending on whether egg freezing is pursued electively or for medical reasons, such as before cancer treatment. During your consultation, your care team can provide a detailed, personalized estimate.
Coverage for egg freezing differs widely among insurance plans. Some policies cover diagnostic testing or monitoring but not the retrieval itself, while others exclude elective fertility preservation entirely. However, coverage may be available when egg freezing is medically necessary, for example, before cancer treatment or certain medical conditions that threaten fertility. Many employers are also expanding fertility benefits. Our financial team can review your plan, help clarify what’s included, and outline any out-of-pocket costs.
Egg freezing may be considered medically necessary when a person faces treatments or conditions that could harm ovarian function. This includes cancer therapies like chemotherapy or radiation, surgeries involving the ovaries, certain autoimmune diseases, or genetic conditions associated with early menopause. In these situations, preserving eggs beforehand can help protect future fertility. A fertility specialist can evaluate your medical history and coordinate care with your oncology or medical team if urgent preservation is needed.
Egg freezing is considered a safe and well-established procedure. The medications used for ovarian stimulation are similar to those used in IVF and are generally well tolerated. The primary risks include mild bloating, temporary discomfort, or, in rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The retrieval procedure itself is performed under sedation and carries very low complication rates. Your care team will closely monitor you throughout the process to ensure your comfort and safety.
Most patients describe egg freezing as uncomfortable rather than painful. During the stimulation phase, bloating or pressure is common as the ovaries enlarge. The egg retrieval procedure is performed under sedation, so you won’t feel pain during it. Afterward, some patients experience mild cramping or soreness for a day or two, similar to period discomfort. Your care team will review what to expect and provide guidance on managing any temporary side effects.
Recovery from an egg retrieval is typically quick. Most patients go home within an hour and resume light activities the same day. Mild cramping, bloating, or spotting can occur and usually resolves within a few days. You’ll be advised to avoid strenuous exercise, sexual activity, and alcohol temporarily as your ovaries return to normal size. Your team will schedule a follow-up and let you know when it’s safe to resume your regular routine.
Yes. Egg freezing does not affect your ability to conceive naturally in the future. The process doesn’t remove eggs that you would have used that month — it collects eggs that would otherwise have been lost during your natural cycle. Many patients who freeze their eggs go on to conceive spontaneously, while others return to use their frozen eggs later. Your doctor can help you understand your fertility options in both scenarios.
Eggs can be safely stored for many years thanks to modern vitrification techniques, which prevent ice crystals from forming. Current research shows no meaningful decline in egg quality during long-term storage. The factors that influence success are primarily the age and health of the patient at the time the eggs were frozen, not how long they remain frozen. Patients can choose to keep their eggs stored until they are ready to pursue pregnancy.
What Happens When You Want to Use Your Eggs?
When you’re ready to use your eggs, they will be thawed and fertilized with sperm from your partner or a donor. A resulting embryo will then be inserted into your uterus, hopefully leading to a successful pregnancy. If additional embryos are available, they can be frozen and stored for future use.
Egg Freezing Costs
The cost of egg freezing depends on a handful of factors. It’s important to consider that in addition to paying for the egg retrieval and freezing, you’ll have to pay for storage. Unfortunately, many insurance plans in our area don’t cover this process unless your fertility is in jeopardy due to a health condition such as cancer. At KFI, we understand that finances can play a significant role in fertility care. Our billing specialists will help to determine insurance coverage, answer any questions you have, and walk you through your financing options.
Book an Egg Freezing Consultation in Louisville, KY
Egg freezing is a proven solution for individuals looking to preserve their fertility. Whether you have concerns over health issues, career or educational goals, relationship dynamics, or simply want to delay becoming a parent, Kentucky Fertility Institute can help you take control of your timeline and preserve your fertility for years to come. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment with one of our fertility specialists.