Course /Freezing Eggs or Embryos
Fertility preservation involves retrieving mature eggs from the ovaries and then:
Freezing eggs directly (vitrification), or
Fertilizing the eggs with sperm first and freezing resulting embryos.
The choice depends on several clinical and personal factors:
Marital or partnership status
Availability of sperm source
Legal and ethical preferences
Desire for flexibility in future family planning
From a reproductive medicine perspective, both options are highly viable, but each carries distinct advantages and limitations.
One of the most significant technical differences between freezing eggs and embryos lies in predictability and visibility.
Eggs (Oocytes)
Oocytes are single cells and cannot be assessed for genetic normality prior to fertilization.
Their true developmental potential remains unknown until fertilization and embryo culture occur later.
As a result, clinicians can estimate success rates only based on quantity and patient age, not egg-specific quality.
Embryos
Embryos, especially at the blastocyst stage (day 5–6), provide measurable developmental data.
Morphology, cell number, and genetic testing (PGT-A) offer insight into viability before freezing.
Clinically, this makes embryos more “visible” and predictable for future use.
In summary: Embryo freezing allows measurable evaluation and selection, while egg freezing prioritizes flexibility and autonomy, especially when no sperm source is defined.
Advancements in vitrification have greatly improved both egg and embryo survival, but subtle differences remain.
| Material Frozen | Survival After Thaw | Fertilization Rate | Developmental Predictability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 85–95% | 70–80% | Variable until fertilized |
| Embryos | 95–99% | Already fertilized | High (can be tested pre-freeze) |
Technical Explanation:
Eggs are large, water-rich single cells; they are more susceptible to intracellular ice formation during freezing and thawing.
Embryos, being multicellular and post-fertilization, tend to survive better through the freeze–thaw process.
Embryo-Freezing Advantages
Higher survival rates
More predictable implantation outcomes
Ability to perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A)
Egg-Freezing Advantages
Avoids legal and ethical complexities around embryo ownership
Allows future choice of sperm source
Ideal when no partner is available or decision on sperm source is deferred
Egg Freezing
Legally and ethically straightforward — eggs belong exclusively to the genetic female.
No third-party consent is required for future use.
Ideal for unmarried patients or those facing uncertain future relationships.
Embryo Freezing
Embryos have joint legal and moral consideration if created using partner or donor sperm.
In many U.S. states, both parties’ consent is required for future use, transfer, or disposal.
Disputes can arise if partners separate, divorce, or differ on future use.
At Surrogacy4All, our legal partners and fertility law experts strongly advise clarity through pre-freeze consent agreements, particularly when embryos are created with a partner.
Cost considerations also influence the decision between egg and embryo freezing.
Typical Cost Components:
Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval: Common to both options
Embryo creation: Adds cost for fertilization (ICSI) and potential PGT-A
Storage fees: Usually identical per cryostorage unit
Future cycle costs: Thaw, fertilization (if eggs), embryo culture, and transfer
| Option | Initial Cost | Future Cost | Overall Predictability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg Freezing | Lower (no ICSI/PGT-A) | Higher (requires fertilization later) | Moderate |
| Embryo Freezing | Higher upfront | Lower later | High |
Clinically, some patients choose embryo freezing for cost efficiency and predictability, while others prefer egg freezing for flexibility and autonomy.
Unused eggs or embryos pose ethical, legal, and logistical considerations.
Eggs
Can be discarded, donated to research, or in select cases, donated to another individual.
Since eggs represent unfertilized cells, most patients find disposition simpler from an ethical standpoint.
Embryos
Embryos carry more complex ethical and emotional considerations, as they are potential life forms.
Decisions on storage, donation, or disposal typically require joint consent and adherence to local state laws.
If one genetic parent withdraws consent, embryos may become legally unusable.
From a fertility ethics standpoint, this makes egg freezing the more flexible and legally cleaner option for patients not in long-term committed partnerships.
For certain individuals, a hybrid preservation strategy offers the best of both worlds.
Combined Approach:
Freeze a portion of retrieved eggs unfertilized
Fertilize remaining eggs with partner or donor sperm and freeze embryos
Benefits:
Balances immediate predictability (embryos) with long-term flexibility (eggs)
Provides backup against future relational or medical uncertainties
Allows genetic testing on embryos while retaining autonomy over unused oocytes
This approach is especially beneficial when there’s a partner available now, but the patient desires independent reproductive control in the future.
Our job is to listen, to connect the dots between your needs, and to determine how we can best help you have your baby. If you’re asking how much does it cost for a surrogate, we’ll walk you through every step of the process to ensure there are no surprises.
To make an appointment with one of our counselors or physicians, please call (212) 661-7673 or email info@surrogacy4all.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Surrogacy4All is a unique international surrogacy service targeted at providing state of the art IVF and surrogacy services to Intended Parents irrespective of age, sex or color, at the lowest possible cost in the world.
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