Why Freeze Eggs Abroad?
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) has become the most powerful tool available for women who want to preserve their fertility for the future. Whether you are focusing on your career, have not found the right partner, are facing a medical condition that may affect your fertility, or simply want the peace of mind that comes with having a biological safety net, egg freezing gives you the option to have children later using eggs frozen at your current biological age.
The challenge is cost. In the United States, a single egg freezing cycle costs $6,000-$12,000 — and most fertility specialists recommend freezing eggs over 2-3 cycles to bank enough eggs for a reasonable chance of future pregnancy (typically 15-20 eggs for women under 35). When medications ($3,000-$7,000 per cycle) and annual storage fees ($500-$1,000) are factored in, the total cost of comprehensive fertility preservation in the US can reach $25,000-$50,000.
Egg freezing abroad offers the same advanced vitrification technology at a fraction of the cost. In Turkey, leading fertility clinics like Bahçeci IVF Centre — which was the first clinic in Turkey to achieve pregnancies from vitrified eggs — offer egg freezing cycles for $2,000-$3,500, with medications costing just $600-$1,200. This means you can freeze your eggs abroad for approximately $2,600-$4,700 per cycle — a savings of 70-80% compared to the US cost.
Cost Comparison
Egg Freezing Cost Comparison 2025
| Country | Cycle Cost | Medications | Annual Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $6,000 - $12,000 | $3,000 - $7,000 | $500 - $1,000 |
| UK | £3,500 - £5,000 | £800 - £1,500 | £200 - £400 |
| Turkey | $2,000 - $3,500 | $600 - $1,200 | $200 - $400 |
| Spain | $3,000 - $5,000 | $800 - $1,500 | $300 - $500 |
| Czech Republic | $2,500 - $4,000 | $700 - $1,300 | $200 - $400 |
| Greece | $2,500 - $3,500 | $700 - $1,200 | $200 - $350 |
Cycle cost includes consultation, monitoring, egg retrieval, and vitrification. First year of storage is often included. Subsequent annual storage fees apply. Total cost including medications: Turkey $2,600-$4,700 vs. USA $9,000-$19,000.
The Egg Freezing Process
The egg freezing process is identical to the first half of an IVF cycle — ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval — without the fertilization step. The entire process takes 10-14 days and can be managed with minimal disruption to your work schedule, as most monitoring appointments take only 30-45 minutes.
- Day 1-2: Baseline blood work (AMH, FSH, E2) and ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve and antral follicle count. Begin daily subcutaneous injections of gonadotropins to stimulate multiple egg development.
- Day 3-10: Continue daily injections with monitoring every 2-3 days (blood work and ultrasound) to track follicle growth and hormone levels. Medication dosage adjusted based on response.
- Day 10-12: Trigger injection (hCG or GnRH agonist) when lead follicles reach 18-20mm. This triggers final egg maturation.
- Day 12-14: Egg retrieval performed 36 hours after trigger under light sedation (10-20 minutes). Eggs assessed for maturity and vitrified (flash-frozen) within hours of retrieval.
- Recovery: Most women resume normal activities within 24-48 hours. Mild bloating and discomfort are normal for 3-5 days.
The quality of vitrification is critical for egg freezing success. Modern vitrification techniques achieve survival rates of 90-97% when eggs are later thawed for IVF — a dramatic improvement over older slow-freezing methods that achieved only 50-60% survival. At Jinepol IVF Clinic in Istanbul, dedicated embryology teams perform vitrification using the latest Cryotop® method, achieving consistently high survival and fertilization rates.
How Many Eggs Do You Need?
The number of eggs you should freeze depends primarily on your age at the time of freezing. Younger eggs have higher quality and a greater chance of resulting in a viable embryo and ultimately a live birth. Fertility specialists generally recommend the following targets: Under 35: 15-20 eggs (80-90% chance of at least one live birth); 35-37: 20-25 eggs (70-80% chance); 38-40: 25-30 eggs (60-70% chance); Over 40: 30+ eggs (40-50% chance, and fewer may be retrievable per cycle). Most women under 35 retrieve 10-15 eggs per cycle, meaning 1-2 cycles may be sufficient. Women over 37 may need 2-3 cycles to bank enough eggs.
Best Destinations
Turkey is an excellent choice for egg freezing abroad, particularly for women who want the highest quality vitrification at the most affordable price. Bahçeci IVF Centre pioneered egg freezing in Turkey and maintains some of the country's highest egg survival rates after thawing. The Adem & Havva Center offers dedicated egg freezing packages for international patients, including round-trip airport transfers, hotel accommodation, and a personal coordinator.
Spain, Czech Republic, and Greece are also popular egg freezing destinations for European patients, offering modern facilities, experienced teams, and storage facilities within the EU regulatory framework. These destinations are particularly attractive for women who may eventually need donor sperm to use their frozen eggs, as gamete donation is readily available in these countries.
Storage & Logistics
One of the most common concerns about egg freezing abroad is the logistics of storage. Your frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely at the overseas clinic (in Turkey, there is no legal time limit on egg storage), or they can be shipped to a fertility clinic in your home country or to any other clinic worldwide. International egg transport is managed by specialized biomedical courier companies (such as World Courier, Cryoport, or ARKCryo) who maintain continuous cold chain monitoring during transport. The cost of international egg shipment is typically $2,000-$5,000, and transport can be arranged at any time in the future when you decide to use your eggs.
Thinking about freezing your eggs abroad? Get personalized quotes from top fertility clinics with proven vitrification expertise.
Compare Egg Freezing ClinicsAt 33, I knew I wanted to preserve my fertility but couldn't justify the $15,000+ cost in New York. I flew to Istanbul and froze 18 eggs in a single cycle for $4,200 total — including flights and a week in a beautiful hotel on the Bosphorus. The clinic was immaculate, and my doctor made me feel completely at ease.
Lauren P., egg freezing in Turkey
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can frozen eggs be stored?
Frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely with no degradation in quality. Vitrified eggs maintain their quality for decades — babies have been born from eggs stored for 14+ years. In Turkey, there is no legal time limit on egg storage. Annual storage fees typically range from $200-$400 abroad vs. $500-$1,000 in the US.
What is the best age to freeze eggs?
The ideal age for egg freezing is in your late 20s to early 30s, when egg quality and quantity are optimal. Freezing before age 35 gives the highest chance of future success. However, freezing at any age is better than not freezing — even women at 37-39 can benefit significantly from fertility preservation.
Can I ship my frozen eggs back to my home country?
Yes. Specialized biomedical courier companies transport frozen eggs internationally in liquid nitrogen dewars with continuous temperature monitoring. The cost is typically $2,000-$5,000, and transport can be arranged at any time. Your overseas and home clinic will coordinate the transfer paperwork and receiving process.
Is egg freezing painful?
The daily injections are subcutaneous (small needle, similar to insulin injections) and cause minimal discomfort. The egg retrieval procedure is performed under light sedation and is generally painless. Most women experience mild bloating and pelvic discomfort for 3-5 days after retrieval, manageable with over-the-counter pain medication.