How many egg freezing cycles do you actually need? Realistic multi-cycle budgeting
A realistic budget for your age, state, and number of cycles
Combines the ASRM-derived eggs-per-cycle yield model with the FertilityIQ / Cofertility / GoodRx 2026 cost ranges and a 5/10/15-year storage horizon. Outputs cycles, eggs stored, cumulative live-birth probability, and the all-in lifecycle cost.
2 cycles, 10-year storage, one use-side attempt
| Line item | Low | Mid | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 retrieval cycles Mid-tier metro (Boston, Chicago, Seattle), all-in (procedure, meds, year-1 storage) | $24,000 | $30,000 | $36,000 | FertilityIQ |
Storage (9 paid years) Year one included in cycle. Annual fee $500 to $1000. | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | FertilityIQ |
Thaw, ICSI, transfer, monitoring (one attempt) Use-side cost paid only if and when the eggs are used. | $5,800 | $8,800 | $11,800 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Lifecycle total | $34,300 | $45,550 | $56,800 |
| Cycles | Eggs stored | P(one live birth) | Cumulative cycle cost (mid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 14 | 66% | $15,000 |
| 2 cycles | 28 | 89% | $30,000 |
| 3 cycles | 42 | 96% | $45,000 |
Probability is based on Bernoulli math from per-egg success rates: 1 − (1 − p)^N where p varies with age at freeze. The 2021 Fertility & Sterility cohort observed a 38.1% return-to-use rate, so the probability above is conditional on returning to use the eggs.[7] [5]
This calculator is an informational planning aid, not a personalised quote and not medical advice. Egg-freezing outcomes vary with AMH, antral follicle count, prior cycle response, clinic protocol, and individual biology. Confirm pricing in writing with the clinic and confirm coverage with your insurer and HR before treatment. Discuss protocol and number of cycles with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist.
Why one cycle is rarely enough after 35
The eggs-needed-by-age framework comes from ASRM evidence-based outcomes data and from the Goldman et al. 2017 counseling tool. To hit a 70% chance of one live birth, the model says you need roughly 9 to 14 mature eggs at age 30 to 34, around 15 at 35 to 37, and 26 or more at 38 to 40.[4][5] Average yield per cycle drops with age too: 12 to 18 mature eggs at 30 to 34, 8 to 14 at 35 to 37, 6 to 10 at 38 to 40.[17] Combine the two and most women under 35 hit target in a single cycle, most 35 to 37 need one to two, and most 38 to 40 need two to three.
Eggs needed for ~70% chance of one live birth, by age
| Age | Mature eggs needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 | 9 to 14 mature | for ~70% chance of one live birth |
| 35 to 37 | around 15 mature | for ~70% chance of one live birth |
| 38 to 40 | 26+ mature | for ~70% chance of one live birth |
| 41 plus | uncertain | per-egg success drops; counsel individually |
Source: ASRM 2021 evidence-based outcomes guideline,[4] Goldman et al. 2017 counseling tool.[5]
Average mature eggs per cycle, by age
| Age | Yield per cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 | 12 to 18 mature eggs / cycle | subject to AMH and antral follicle count |
| 35 to 37 | 8 to 14 mature eggs / cycle | subject to AMH and antral follicle count |
| 38 to 40 | 6 to 10 mature eggs / cycle | subject to AMH and antral follicle count |
| 41 plus | 4 to 7 mature eggs / cycle | high variance; some cycles cancelled |
Source: Extend Fertility published cohort,[17] Cobo et al. vitrification cohort data.[6]
Realistic total budget by number of cycles
Per-cycle costs are the FertilityIQ / GoodRx / Cofertility 2026 consensus range.[1] Storage adds the per-year fee for as many years as the eggs are kept (year one is often included in the cycle price; the table below counts subsequent years only).
| Profile | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cycle | $12,000 | $16,000 | $20,000 |
| 2 cycles | $24,000 | $32,000 | $40,000 |
| 3 cycles | $36,000 | $48,000 | $60,000 |
| Add storage 5 years | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Add storage 10 years | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 |
| Add storage 15 years | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,000 |
Why a second cycle sometimes costs less than the first
Some clinics offer multi-cycle packages with a discount on the second and third cycle. If your AMH is high and the first cycle yields well, the protocol on a second cycle may use a lower medication dose. Monitoring frequency may be reduced if your response pattern is now known. The published clinic packages worth asking about include CCRM, Shady Grove, Kindbody, and Inception. Confirm pricing in writing before paying for the first cycle.
What changes between cycles
- Protocol adjustment (antagonist vs long agonist vs mini-stim) based on cycle 1 response
- Dose change in gonadotropins, often higher if first cycle yielded fewer eggs than expected
- Adjusted trigger timing if the first cycle had a premature LH surge or asynchronous follicle growth
- In rare cases, a switch to dual stimulation or the addition of priming protocols
Decisions on protocol, dose, and number of cycles should be made with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist who has reviewed your AMH, antral follicle count, and prior cycle response if any. This page is informational only.
Diminishing returns after 38
The FertilityIQ data is honest about it: for women over 38, third cycles often add little to the cumulative live-birth probability because the per-egg success rate drops with age at freezing.[1] The math is most favourable when freezing earlier, even if it means accepting a smaller total egg count. The age-and-cost relationship is the subject of its own page.
Related
- Cost by age, with per-age expected cycles
- Storage fees and the cumulative simulator
- Is it worth it? Utilisation and regret data
- [1] The Costs of Egg Freezing to FertilityIQ, accessed April 2026. https://www.fertilityiq.com/fertilityiq/articles/the-costs-of-egg-freezing
- [4] Evidence-based outcomes after oocyte cryopreservation for donor oocyte in vitro fertilization and planned oocyte cryopreservation: a guideline to ASRM Practice Committee, Fertility and Sterility, 2021. https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/evidence-based-outcomes-after-oocyte-cryopreservation-for-donor-oocyte-in-vitro-fertilization-and-planned-oocyte-cryopreservation-a-guideline/
- [5] Predicting the likelihood of live birth for elective oocyte cryopreservation: a counseling tool for physicians and patients to Goldman et al., Human Reproduction, 2017. https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/32/4/853/3056229
- [17] Egg Freezing Success by Age: Outcomes Data to Extend Fertility, accessed April 2026. https://extendfertility.com/your-fertility/egg-freezing-success-rates/
- [6] Oocyte vitrification as an efficient option for elective fertility preservation to Cobo et al., Fertility and Sterility, 2016. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(15)02157-7/fulltext
- [7] Patterns and outcomes of patients who returned to use cryopreserved oocytes for family building to Fertility and Sterility, 2021. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(21)02220-9/fulltext
- [8] ART Success Rates: National Summary Report to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022 data, published 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/art/reports/2022/national-summary.html
- [3] Comparing Egg Freezing Costs Across the U.S. and Why Location Matters to Cofertility, accessed April 2026. https://www.cofertility.com/freeze-learn/comparing-egg-freezing-costs-across-the-u-s-and-why-location-matters
- [13] SB 729: Health care coverage: infertility and fertility services to California Legislative Information, 2024 (effective Jan 2026). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB729
- [14] HB 94: Insurance coverage for iatrogenic infertility to Georgia General Assembly, 2025 (effective Jan 2026). https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/65404
- [15] CS/HB 677: State Group Insurance Program Coverage of Standard Fertility Preservation Services to Florida Legislature (Chapter 2025-212), became law July 2025; coverage applies to state-group policies issued or renewed on/after January 2026. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/677
- [16] HF 1758: Building Families Act, infertility coverage to Minnesota Legislature, 2025 (effective Jan 2026). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1758&ssn=0&y=2025