Fertility preservation · UK
Egg freezing in the UK, by an HFEA-licensed team.
Social or medical, elective or urgent. A named fertility consultant, an HFEA-licensed clinic, vitrification within hours of retrieval, and storage for up to 55 years — the honest version.
Why patients choose us
- 01
HFEA-licensed clinics only
Every clinic we introduce holds a current Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority licence. No unregulated storage, no shortcuts.
- 02
A consultant, not a coordinator
You meet a named fertility consultant for the plan — AMH, antral follicle count, stim protocol — before any drugs are prescribed.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing. Oncofertility referrals fast-tracked.
Indicative pricing
What egg freezing costs in the UK privately.
Indicative ranges across our HFEA-licensed partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
One cycle including drugs: £5,000–£10,000, then £300–£500 a year to keep them stored.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation with a fertility consultant | £250–£450 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Ovarian reserve testing (AMH, AFC, hormones) | £300–£600 | 30 min | 2–5 days |
| One cycle — stimulation, retrieval, vitrification | £4,000–£8,000 | 2 weeks | Frozen within 24 h |
| Fertility medication (stim drugs) | £1,000–£2,000 | 10–12 days | Included above at some clinics |
| Annual storage fee (per year, per patient) | £300–£500 | — | Billed yearly |
| Oncofertility fast-track (medical, urgent) | Often NHS-funded | 2 weeks or less | Referral within 48 h |
Prices vary by clinic, by which fertility consultant leads the cycle, by the drug protocol, and by whether more than one cycle is needed to reach a realistic egg count. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right clinic, the right protocol, an honest number.
Fertility clinics quote wildly different prices, tuck storage fees into small print, and rarely give a candid view of your realistic yield for your age. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is worth it?
Your AMH and antral follicle count set the realistic yield. We give you the number before you spend a penny on drugs.
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Worried about the cost?
All-in pricing from the start — cycle, drugs, storage, consent renewals. No surprise invoices in year three.
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Cancer diagnosis on the clock?
Oncofertility referrals are fast-tracked — random-start protocols mean stimulation can begin almost any day.
The journey
From enquiry to storage — what happens, in order.
One consultant from first message to storage — and back again when you are ready to use them.
Phase 1 · Before your cycle
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · The cycle itself
About two weeks
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us where you are
A short, confidential form. Age, reason for freezing (social or medical), timelines, and any prior fertility history.
- 02
Before
We come back with a plan
Within one working day: a shortlisted clinic, an indicative egg yield for your age and AMH, and an all-in cost including storage.
- 03
Before
Baseline scan and bloods
AMH, FSH, LH, oestradiol and an antral follicle count on day 2–3 of your cycle. Sets the stim dose and expected yield.
- 04
The cycle
Stimulation — 10 to 12 days
Daily self-administered injections at home. Two or three monitoring scans check follicle growth and hormone levels.
- 05
The cycle
Trigger and egg collection
A trigger injection 36 hours before retrieval. The collection itself is 15–20 minutes under sedation — home the same day.
- 06
After
Vitrification and storage
Mature eggs are flash-frozen (vitrified) within hours and moved to HFEA-licensed long-term storage — up to 55 years.
- 07
After
Consent renewals and thaw plan
A ten-yearly consent renewal keeps storage active. When you are ready to use them, we walk you through the thaw and transfer plan.
Typical end-to-end: 4–6 weeks from enquiry to eggs in storage. Oncofertility fast-track: 2 weeks or less.
When it helps
When egg freezing is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that turns a considered decision into a same-day referral.
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Wanting more time (social)
You are not ready to have children yet and want to preserve fertility while ovarian reserve is still strong — typically before 35.
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Cancer diagnosis (oncofertility)
Chemotherapy, pelvic radiotherapy or hormonal therapy can damage the ovaries — freezing eggs before treatment protects the option of a biological child.
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Endometriosis or planned ovarian surgery
Severe endometriosis and any surgery on the ovaries can reduce reserve — freezing first is often recommended.
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Family history of early menopause
A mother or sister who went through menopause early raises the case for freezing sooner rather than later.
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Gender-affirming care
Trans men and non-binary patients considering testosterone or surgery may want to freeze eggs beforehand.
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Autoimmune or genetic conditions
BRCA carriers considering risk-reducing oophorectomy, or patients on treatments that affect ovarian function.
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Waiting for the right partner
The most common social reason. Age is the single strongest predictor of success — earlier is better.
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Red flag: urgent oncology referral
If chemotherapy starts within two weeks, this is fast-track territory — call us the same day and we escalate the referral.
Protocol options
One cycle isn’t one cycle.
What each protocol option actually involves — and which fits which patient.
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Social (elective) egg freezing
Self-funded, on your timeline. One or more cycles to bank enough eggs for a realistic future chance.
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Medical (oncofertility) freezing
Before cancer treatment, ovarian surgery, or gonadotoxic therapy. May be NHS-funded and always time-critical.
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Antagonist stim protocol
The standard modern approach — shorter, flexible, lower risk of OHSS. Suits most patients including PCOS.
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Long agonist protocol
Older, longer protocol reserved for specific cases — endometriosis, poor responders, or where synchronisation matters.
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Agonist trigger for OHSS prevention
A Buserelin or Lupron trigger instead of hCG in high responders — dramatically reduces the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
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Random-start protocol
For oncofertility patients who cannot wait for a natural cycle — stimulation can begin on any day.
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Duostim (two cycles back-to-back)
Two stimulations in one menstrual cycle to maximise egg yield — useful for poor responders or urgent oncofertility.
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Vitrification (flash-freezing)
The current standard technique. Cools eggs at −23,000 °C per minute, avoiding ice crystals. Thaw survival around 85%.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of HFEA-licensed clinics, we picked them.
Fertility clinics across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Full HFEA licence and inspection record we have read
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On-site embryology lab with vitrification, not shipped-out freezing
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A named fertility consultant on your file from day one
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Transparent all-in pricing including drugs, storage and consent renewals
Safety, outcomes and honest expectations
What to expect — honestly.
Egg freezing is a well-established day-case procedure. The things worth planning are your protocol choice, the OHSS risk if you are a high responder, and a realistic view of your yield.
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Age is the single biggest factor
A 30-year-old typically yields around 15 mature eggs per cycle; a 40-year-old around 7. Egg quality falls sharply after 38. Freeze earlier if you can.
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Vitrification changed the game
Since 2012 vitrification has replaced slow-freezing. Thaw survival is now around 85%, and pregnancy rates from frozen eggs are close to fresh.
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OHSS is the main short-term risk
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is uncommon on modern antagonist protocols with an agonist trigger — but bloating, fluid retention and abdominal pain need reporting.
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Retrieval is a day-case procedure
Fifteen to twenty minutes under sedation, transvaginal ultrasound-guided. Home within a few hours; back to desk work the next day.
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Bruising, spotting and bloating
Injection-site bruising and mild pelvic bloating for a week or two are normal. Heavy bleeding, fever or severe pain are not — call the clinic.
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Storage is now up to 55 years
The Health and Care Act 2022 raised the UK storage limit from 10 years to 55, with consent renewals every ten years. Older stored eggs were rolled over.
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No guarantee — but a realistic chance
Frozen eggs are an insurance policy, not a promise. Cumulative live-birth rates rise with the number of mature eggs banked at a younger age.
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Cost adds up over time
Budget for the cycle (£4–8k), drugs (£1–2k), and storage (£300–500 a year). Multiple cycles are common if the first yield is low.
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Red flags after retrieval
Severe abdominal pain, breathlessness, reduced urine output or a rapidly swelling abdomen — call the clinic or A&E the same day. These can signal OHSS.
Reading your cycle notes
Your cycle summary in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever protocol was used, the summary the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Embryology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the summary before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Cycle summary and protocol used
The protocol you were on (antagonist, long agonist, random-start), your starting AMH and AFC, and total gonadotrophin dose.
- 02 Technique
Retrieval, eggs collected and matured
Number of follicles aspirated, total eggs collected, and — the number that actually matters — how many were mature (MII) and vitrified.
- 03 Findings
Storage details and HFEA consent
Where your eggs are stored, the storage vessel and straw IDs, the HFEA consent forms you signed, and your ten-year renewal date.
- 04 Impression
Realistic outlook and next steps
Read this first: a candid view of your cumulative live-birth chance from the eggs banked, and whether another cycle is worth considering.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for egg freezing varies by insurer and by indication — sometimes funded when medically indicated (oncofertility), self-pay for social freezing. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about egg freezing.
Quick answers on age, cost, storage rules, safety, and what a realistic egg count actually looks like.
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What is egg freezing, and how does it actually work?
Oocyte cryopreservation involves stimulating the ovaries with daily injections for about 10–12 days, retrieving mature eggs under sedation, and flash-freezing them by vitrification within hours. They are stored in HFEA-licensed facilities and thawed for IVF when you are ready to use them.
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What is the best age to freeze my eggs?
Under 35, ideally. Egg yield and quality both fall with age — a 30-year-old typically banks around 15 mature eggs per cycle, a 40-year-old around 7. Quality drops sharply after 38, so earlier freezing means fewer cycles for the same realistic chance.
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How long can I store frozen eggs in the UK?
Up to 55 years, since the Health and Care Act 2022 replaced the previous 10-year limit. You renew consent every ten years to keep storage active. Older eggs frozen under the old rules were automatically rolled onto the new limit.
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How much does egg freezing cost in the UK privately?
A single cycle — stimulation, retrieval and vitrification — is typically £4,000–£8,000. Fertility drugs add £1,000–£2,000. Annual storage runs £300–£500 per year. Many patients need more than one cycle. NHS funding is limited to specific medical indications.
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Can I get egg freezing on the NHS?
Only for medical reasons — the main one being cancer patients about to start gonadotoxic treatment, and some cases of severe endometriosis or planned ovarian surgery. Criteria are tight and vary by ICB. Social (elective) freezing is self-pay across the UK.
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Is egg freezing safe? What about OHSS?
It is a well-established, low-risk day-case procedure. The main short-term risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), now uncommon thanks to antagonist protocols and agonist triggers in high responders. Bruising, bloating and mild pelvic discomfort are normal for a week or two.
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What is vitrification, and why does it matter?
Vitrification is a flash-freezing technique that cools eggs so fast (around −23,000 °C per minute) that ice crystals cannot form. It replaced slow-freezing around 2012 and lifted thaw survival to roughly 85%. Pregnancy rates from vitrified eggs are close to fresh eggs.
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How many eggs do I need to bank for a realistic chance?
Cumulative live-birth rates rise with egg count and fall with age. As a rough guide, most consultants aim for 15–20 mature eggs banked before 35 for a good realistic chance of one live birth — often achievable in one or two cycles at that age, but needing more cycles later.
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I have just been diagnosed with cancer — how quickly can this happen?
Oncofertility freezing is fast-track. Random-start protocols mean stimulation can begin on almost any day of your cycle, and the whole process fits into about two weeks — enough time before most chemotherapy regimens start. Call us the same day.
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When should I get urgent medical advice after retrieval?
Severe abdominal pain, breathlessness, a rapidly swelling abdomen, or a big drop in urine output are red flags for OHSS and need same-day medical review at the clinic or A&E. Fever, heavy vaginal bleeding or spreading pelvic pain are also reasons to call.
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