Keeping Your Options Open: When to Consider Freezing Your Eggs & What You Should Know

You don’t have to decide everything now—but if you’re curious about egg freezing we can start with timing, testing, cost, and the emotional factors to consider.

By JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT // Published April 14, 2025

flowers in ice — *Virginia fertility & IVF*

Somewhere around 30—whether you’ve dreamed of kids your whole life or really don’t think it’s for you—every woman has the same thought creep in: is time running out, should I be doing something about my fertility? Being around this age makes that internal biological conversation harder to ignore. And with it, egg freezing has become one of the modern woman’s biggest “should I?” moments.

How do you know if it’s the right time to look into it? What if PCOS or Endometriosis is shortening that window of opportunity for you? What if you’re not ready for babies, but also not ready to take the option off the table?

“Whether you want kids someday, aren’t sure, or just don’t want the decision made for you by time, that internal biological conversation gets harder to ignore.”

We’re born with all the eggs we’ll ever have—around one to two million. But that number steadily declines over time. By age 25, egg quantity and quality start to dip, and by your mid-30s, that decline becomes more noticeable. Around age 35, the drop-off becomes sharper, and by 40, fertility odds are significantly lower for most women. It’s not meant to scare you, just to help you understand the timeline your body may be working with.

When is it Time to Explore the Option?

No one hands you a brochure that says, “Now’s the time to freeze your eggs.” It’s not like getting a driver’s license or renewing your passport. It’s quieter, more personal. But there are a few signs that might be nudging you toward checking it out.

Maybe you’re in your late 20s or 30s and kids aren’t on the horizon, but you also know you don’t want the pressure of a biological clock breathing down your neck. Maybe you’re single and focused on building your career, or in a relationship but not quite ready for parenthood. Or maybe there’s something deeper—like a family history of early menopause or fertility struggles that makes you wonder if now is your best chance to give future-you some options.

In her interview with She MD, Gracie Norton talked openly about the fear that PCOS might make this decision even harder. Dr. Thaïs Alabadi, or Dr. A, breaks down such great information surrounding fertility and PCOS. Things like key hormone tests like AMH and FSH which can give you insight into your ovarian reserve, she prefers for her PCOS patients to consider freezing their eggs in their late 20s. This kind of proactive testing can be especially helpful since traditional fertility markers don’t always tell the full story for women with hormone imbalances. Knowing your numbers early—for all women—can be a powerful way to get ahead of the unknown.

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): Measures your ovarian reserve—basically how many eggs you have left.
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): Taken on day 3 of your cycle; high levels can signal diminished ovarian function.
Estradiol: Also taken early in your cycle, this helps interpret your FSH levels more accurately.
AFC (Antral Follicle Count): An ultrasound to count the visible follicles on your ovaries—another marker of ovarian reserve.
LH and Testosterone: Especially useful if you have PCOS or irregular cycles, to better understand your hormone profile.

Even if you’re not ready to make any moves, having this info is like checking your bank account before making a big purchase. It doesn’t lock you into anything, it just gives you the facts.

What Freezing Your Eggs Actually Involves

Okay, so let’s say you get the testing done and decide you want to move forward. What now? Freezing your eggs might sound intense (and to be fair, it’s not exactly a casual wellness treatment) but it’s much more manageable than most people expect once you break it down.

Here’s what the process typically looks like:

Consultation: You meet with a fertility specialist to go over your hormone levels, cycle history, and whether egg freezing is a good option for you.
Prep and Birth Control (sometimes): Some clinics put you on birth control for a couple of weeks to regulate your cycle and prep your body.
Hormone Injections: For 8–14 days, you give yourself daily hormone shots to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than usual.
Monitoring Appointments: You’ll go in every few days for ultrasounds and bloodwork to track your progress and tweak medication if needed.
Egg Retrieval: Once your eggs are ready, you’ll undergo a short outpatient procedure (under sedation) to retrieve them. It usually takes about 20 minutes.
Freezing: The retrieved eggs are frozen and stored for future use.

The entire process, start to finish, typically takes 2–3 weeks once you begin injections. Most women say the injections are manageable, but the hormone shifts can bring mood swings, bloating, and fatigue temporarily. Most women report being able to continue on with work and daily life throughout the process.

“We’re born with all the eggs we’ll ever have—around one to two million. But that number steadily declines over time.”

What Does It Cost—and Will Insurance Cover It?

Here’s the part no one loves to talk about: the price tag. Freezing your eggs can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000 per cycle, depending on the clinic and your location. That number doesn’t include medication, which can add another $3,000 to $6,000, and you’ll also need to factor in annual storage fees, which usually range from $500 to $1,000 a year.

A lot of women need more than one cycle to bank the number of eggs they feel comfortable with, especially if they’re over 35 so the final number can climb fast. The good news is more insurance plans are starting to cover fertility preservation, especially if it’s tied to medical conditions like cancer or endometriosis. Some employer plans (especially at larger or more progressive companies) will partially or fully cover egg freezing even for non-medical, “elective” reasons—so it’s worth checking your benefits or asking HR directly. Don’t assume it’s out of reach until you’ve looked into all your options.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It?

Like anything big and life-changing, egg freezing isn’t all sunshine and empowerment—it’s also expensive, emotional, and sometimes physically uncomfortable. But it can be a powerful tool, especially if you want more time, more options, or just a little breathing room.

The Pros:

Peace of mind. Just knowing you’ve done something to preserve your options can take the pressure off dating, relationships, or career timing.
More flexibility. Egg freezing gives you the chance to become a mom on your timeline not your ovaries’.
Better outcomes later. Freezing your eggs at 30 could give you a better chance at a healthy pregnancy at 38, compared to using fresh eggs at 38. This is especially true if you deal with PCOS where your egg quality and quantity can fade even faster.

The Cons:

It’s not a guarantee. Egg freezing is not a sure bet. Not all eggs will survive the thawing process, fertilize, or lead to a successful pregnancy.
The emotional rollercoaster. Hormones can be intense. The process might bring up unexpected feelings about motherhood, timelines, and the future.
The financial weight. It’s a major investment—and not always covered by insurance. You have to be honest with yourself about whether it's the right move right now.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Some women freeze and never use their eggs. Some never freeze and later wish they had. The goal isn’t to do what’s “right” it’s to give yourself more options so you’re not forced into decisions you’re not ready to make.

“Egg freezing gives you the chance to become a mom on your timeline—not your ovaries’.”

You Don’t Have to Decide Today

This is a huge decision and the ticking clock doesn’t exactly make it easier. But here’s the truth: You are in control. Even if you’re not ready for kids or to freeze your eggs, you can start gathering information, asking questions, and getting clarity on what your body’s timeline might actually look like.

Start with some research. Schedule a consultation. Get the testing done. Maybe you’ll find that everything looks great and there’s no rush. Or maybe those results will give you the nudge you need to act sooner than you planned. Either way, knowledge is power. And you deserve to have options—on your terms, in your time.

You’re not the only one wondering about this, so many women are quietly asking the same questions, carrying the same quiet worries, and hoping they’re not already behind. Whether you decide to look into freezing your eggs or not, just asking the question means you’re taking control. And that’s always something to be proud of.