Egg Freezing in London – Safeguard Your Fertility

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation technique. It involves collecting a woman’s eggs, then freezing and storing them so they can be used later when she’s ready to try for a baby. This allows more control over timing of pregnancy.

Women may consider egg freezing for social reasons (e.g. delaying pregnancy for career, not yet meeting partner) or medical reasons (e.g. prior to radiotherapy/chemotherapy, or medical conditions like endometriosis).

The earlier the better. The younger the woman at the time of egg collection, the higher the chance of good quality eggs and successful pregnancy later. While there's no fixed “best age,” freezing before the early 30s is often recommended. After about 35, fertility declines more steeply, which can lower success rates.

• Assessment & Consultation: Hormone tests, ultrasound scans, medical history review to determine ovarian reserve.
• Ovarian Stimulation: Daily hormone injections over ~10-14 days to stimulate multiple eggs.
• Monitoring: Via blood tests and ultrasound.
• Egg Retrieval: Minor outpatient procedure under sedation; eggs collected using a fine needle.
• Freezing (vitrification): Mature eggs are rapidly frozen to preserve quality.

Storage: Eggs kept in secure, temperature-controlled environment until you decide to use them.

Success depends on several factors, especially age at freezing and number of eggs retrieved / stored. For example, egg survival after thawing is high (≈ 95%) for those who freeze before age 36, but declines thereafter. Live birth rates vary: younger age at freezing gives higher probability.

Most risks are mild. Possible side effects include hormonal changes, bloating, soreness at injection sites. During egg retrieval: grogginess, mild bleeding, abdominal cramping. Serious risks are rare, such as infection or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The clinic generally takes steps to minimize risk.

You might be eligible for NHS-funded egg freezing if undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy that could harm fertility. But for “social” reasons (i.e. not yet ready for pregnancy for personal/career reasons), NHS does not typically cover egg freezing — most social egg freezing treatments in the UK are self-funded.

Costs vary depending on location, clinic, how many cycles of stimulation are needed, storage duration, etc. IVF Matters offers transparent pricing and payment plans (“buy now pay later” options, instalments) to make treatment more accessible.

Frozen eggs can be stored for many years without significant loss of quality. There is no known upper age limit for storage, though the woman’s age at retrieval (not thawing) is what most influences outcomes.

When you’re ready: the eggs are thawed, fertilised (often using ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection), then embryos are cultured in the lab, and one or more embryos are transferred into the uterus. Success depends on egg quality, sperm quality, and other health factors.

Under UK law, eggs can usually be stored for up to 55 years, provided consent forms are updated every 10 years. This allows long-term fertility preservation while ensuring compliance with HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) regulations.

Yes. Before freezing eggs in the UK, you must complete HFEA consent forms. These cover how long eggs are stored, what happens if something happens to you, and whether eggs can be used in donation or research.

If you change your mind, you can choose to donate eggs to another person or for research, provided you gave prior written consent through HFEA forms. Egg donation is strictly regulated in the UK.

Yes, anyone who is medically fit can undergo egg freezing. However, access to NHS funding is usually limited to those facing fertility-threatening medical treatments. For “social egg freezing,” the process is self-funded at most UK clinics.

The number varies with age. Generally, freezing 15–20 mature eggs before the mid-30s is recommended to maximise the chance of one live birth. Older women may need more eggs to achieve similar success rates.

Yes. Egg retrieval does not usually affect your natural fertility or reduce the number of eggs you release each month. Risks are minimal when performed at a licensed UK fertility clinic.

Advances in vitrification (fast-freezing technology) mean frozen eggs now have very high survival rates when thawed — almost comparable to fresh eggs. However, outcomes depend on your age at freezing.

All treatments are carried out under strict HFEA confidentiality rules. Your personal and medical information is secure, and consent is required for any use beyond your own fertility treatment.

At IVF Matters and other UK clinics, you will be supported by a dedicated care team, including fertility specialists, nurses, and counsellors. Counselling is offered to ensure you feel fully informed before starting.

Yes, in many cases. Eggs can be transported internationally, but it involves strict logistics, legal paperwork, and coordination between licensed UK clinics and overseas centres.