Your Ultimate Egg Freezing Survival Guide

Get the Full StoryNearly three years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the landscape of women's reproductive care in the United States has become increasingly byzantine and dangerous to navigate. Abortion bans have caused the preventable deaths of women in states like Texas and Indiana. In 2024, according to the Associated Press, the Alabama State Supreme Court ruled that embryos formed through the process of IVF in vitro fertilization are children, and their destruction counts as wrongful death. Many couples hoping to conceive through IVF have been forced to put their plans on hold as they navigate this new legal reality.

But a silver lining exists in this storm of confusion, loss, and uncertainty. According to Mercer, an HR consulting firm, more employers than ever are offering coverage for procedures like IVF and elective egg freezing, with 20 percent of large firms 20,000 or more employees including the latter in their healthcare plans, per Mercer research.

That means more people can build families on their own terms, whatever that may look like. Knowing what egg freezing entails is crucial if you're interested. You might have already started your research on Google, entering "egg freezing patient tips Reddit" into the search bar and combing through testimonials. However, insight from an actual medical professional is typically lacking in those threads.

You deserve to have both in one place. We tapped fertility doctor Anate Brauer, MD, and two egg-freezing patients Amanda Mitchell, 33, and Michelle Smith , 40 to disclose their intimate experiences and takeaways from start to finish.

Expert Featured in This Article

Anate Brauer, MD, is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York.

How Does Egg Freezing Work?

Dr. Brauer: The goal of egg freezing is to stimulate multiple eggs from a monthly potential pool to grow, mature, be retrieved, and then freeze. The first step is ovarian stimulation, which involves 10-14 days of injecting FSH the egg-maturing hormone at higher quantities than your brain normally produces, to recruit and grow multiple eggs.

Growth is monitored with ultrasound and bloodwork every two to four days and culminates with one final injection called a "trigger shot," which leads to the final maturation of the eggs. The eggs are retrieved 35 to 36 hours later in a 15-20 minute procedure under anesthesia, whereby a transvaginal ultrasound with a needle guide is used to suction out fluid from the follicles which house the eggs . The embryology lab then examines the eggs under a microscope and freezes the mature eggs.

How Should I Prepare For Egg Freezing?

Dr. Brauer: The first step is consulting with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist to discuss medical history, family-building goals, and timelines, and to be tested for 'ovarian reserve,' or egg count. Once protocols and timelines are established, optimizing healthy habits such as maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding smoking and drug use is essential. Occasional use of alcohol and moderate use of caffeine is appropriate in most cases.

Emotional preparation is also imperative, as the process can be physically and mentally taxing. Support from close friends or family members during the treatment cycle can assist in managing stress and emotions. Lastly, be sure to understand the financial implications and potential insurance benefits. Speak with your employer about the possibility of insurance coverage fertility benefits.

Amanda Mitchell: I stayed hydrated beyond belief - I should own stock in Pedialyte. I started a round of prenatal vitamins with CoQ10, as that's good for fertility. I tried to be really kind to myself because it all happened very quickly for me.

Michelle Smith: Beyond doctor visits and taking the meds, I didn't do much to prepare. I froze my eggs after a fairly dramatic breakup and during COVID. I didn't have the energy to change my lifestyle. In hindsight, I wish I had done more to improve my egg health.

Now, I know that while we're born with all the eggs we'll ever have, the three months they mature before ovulation is critical to ensure the eggs are as healthy as possible. I would have taken advantage of that time frame to adjust my lifestyle, prepare mentally and psychologically, and eat as healthily as possible.

How Often Do I Need Injections Before Egg Freezing?

AM: I had to go in every other morning between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. to get my blood drawn, so I became a very, very early riser. I had to buy a shot kit because I had to inject myself at the Renaissance tour in the bathroom at MetLife stadium.

The fatigue was significant - they're not joking when they say those injections zap your energy. But the best thing for me, a chronic Irish exiter, was having a reason to leave places: "Sorry, gotta jab myself" is a perfect excuse.

If you're nervous about shots, recognize that the needle isn't that big. The biggest needle I used was for my trigger shot on the final day. Don't be afraid to talk to your friends and family - I did my first shot on FaceTime with a friend who had previously frozen her eggs. I did the last one over FaceTime with my best friend, who does monthly medication injections.

You likely have more people in your life who have experienced doing their own shots than you know. Accept getting "poked out." By day eight or nine, I was so irritated by the blood draws and the bidaily pokes that the nurse doing my blood draw that morning was my number one enemy. But you've hurt yourself more walking into a doorknob than any of the shots do.

MS: The shots were pretty easy for me - the needles are so small! If you hate getting shots, having someone inject you makes a huge difference. My first shots were administered by a friend who did multiple rounds of IVF and was really skilled at it. Also, there's a fun tool called the Buzzy that really helps alleviate the pain.

What Happens After a Successful Egg Retrieval?

Dr. Brauer: Most patients recover from egg retrieval relatively quickly and are back to normal day-to-day activities one to three days post-retrieval. Bloating, cramping, and fatigue can be normal, but contact your doctor if they persist.

Most patients will get a period seven to 10 days after a retrieval, which signifies the hormones are all back to baseline. At this point, all activities, including exercise, are usually OK to resume. We always recommend a follow-up with your doctor to discuss the results and any next steps. If the eggs are successfully frozen, you can decide when to use them based on your future family planning needs.

AM: I mostly returned to my regular routine. I should have taken more than two days off work because it took a while to recover emotionally and get past the exhaustion. The post-hormone acne was the worst.

MS: I adjusted back to my routine almost immediately. Fortunately, I had routine, uneventful retrievals and felt surprisingly good after them. I hardcore rested the day of the retrieval and was back to work and everyday life afterward. The bloating took a while to subside, so I wore looser-fitting clothing for about a week.

What Else Should I Know About Egg Freezing?

Dr. Brauer: Many patients are surprised by the emotional rollercoaster accompanying egg freezing. While it's an empowering process for many, it can be daunting and time-consuming. It is also important to note that while quantity matters, quality is often even more significant and cannot be tested in eggs until fertilized and later transformed into embryos. While egg freezing is an excellent option and the only way to autonomously preserve your fertility, it is not a guarantee of a future baby.

AM: If you're single, it's a big mirror to your independence, whether good or bad. I also learned that sharing how many eggs you retrieved is rather gauche. Comparison is a natural emotion; you don't want it in such an emotional experience.

The biggest thing for me was accepting this as an insurance policy, not a definitive decision about whether or not I will have kids. In this political day and age, I'd prefer to have one more bit of bodily autonomy if I can.

Also, not everyone's experience is universal - I have friends who hated the experience, while mine was relatively positive. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor anything. Egg freezing is just like NFL Spring Training - but a lot more steroids and all-stars.

MS: Again, I wish I knew how beneficial it is to prepare for at least three months before stimulation and retrieval to optimize egg health. Also, I wish I knew that if you do multiple retrievals, you can adjust the protocol from one to another. I listened to a podcast that said that IVF is both therapeutic and diagnostic. I learned so much after my first retrieval and had an even more successful second one.

Name has been changed at source's request.

Jihan Forbes is a PS contributor.

Share: