Cost of Egg Freezing in India

Nowadays, one of the most popular choices among women is egg freezing, or cryopreservation of oocytes. This could be due to a number of factors such as an advancement in their career, health problems, or simply a marriage being pushed back. But the question many people ask themselves is, “How much does it cost to freeze eggs in India?”, which will be answered in the upcoming sections on the costs and relevant factors that come in the egg freezing procedure. Over time, this procedure is rapidly gaining traction in India.

Freezing an egg is simply put, the removal, freezing, and storing of eggs for a prolonged period of time. This preservation is done to make it available to the woman if she decides to go for (IVF) or In-Vitro Fertilization. Women that decide to not have children at an earlier age now have an option to preserve their fertility.

The concept of egg preservation involves the administration of woman’s ovarian stimulating hormone that helps in producing multiple eggs while harvesting and the stunting technique aims at freezing. The eggs have the capability to be thawed and fertilized using sperm under laboratory conditions at a later time to undergo IVF treatment.

Who Should Consider Freezing Eggs?

Women in their late 20’s to early 30’s who want to postpone having a child for a considerable length of time are usually the best candidates. Those about to undergo medical treatments like chemotherapy that have the potential to impair fertility are also able to pursue the option of egg freezing.

Why Do Women Choose to Freeze Eggs?

Some key reasons for women deciding to freeze their eggs include:

Career Considerations: Women often deal with a career childbearing tradeoff due to increased focus on the career in their 20s or 30s.

Health Issues and Fertility Preservation: Conditions such as endometriosis or other interventions that may impact fertility such as chemotherapy can make egg freezing a likely choice.

Delay in Marriage and Parenthood: Personal choices and cultural shifts means women tend to prefer to postpone childbearing for later on in life.

Cost of Egg Freezing in India

India has a range of prices when it comes to egg freezing and for most clinics, the average cost for a total cycle of egg freezing typically lies anywhere from ₹1,40,000-₹2,00,000. That said, certain locations and clinics can charge higher prices.

Factors that Influence Cost

The following issue will greatly impact the cost of egg freezing in India:

• Age of the Woman: Older women may require more adjunct therapies, increasing their treatment costs.

Breakdown of Costs Involved

Freezing eggs incurs various expenses. These are:

• Prestimulation Workup: It ranges between ₹ 5,000 to ₹ 8,000 for the initial basic investigations.
• Ovarian Stimulation, Medications & Egg Retrieval: This can cost from ₹ 1,40,000 to ₹ 2,00,000 depending on the medications required.
• Storage Fees: These eggs can be stored at a cost of ₹ 6,000 per egg &  ₹ 20,000 per year for maintenance charges.

Egg Freezing Procedure in India: Step by Step

The process of egg freezing is complex, and it involves multiple phases:

• Initial Consultation and Tests: Before proceeding with egg freezing, the woman undergoes medical tests to evaluate the condition of ovaries along with hormone levels.
• Ovarian Stimulation Process: The ovaries are stimulated with hormonal injections with the aim of producing multiple eggs.
• Egg Retrieval: After the eggs have matured, they are surgically extracted via a minor procedure.
• Cryopreservation: The retrieved eggs are frozen and stored until needed.

Price Breakdown by Each Stage

Take a closer look at the possible expenses for each component, as detailed below:

• Prestimulation Workup : ₹5,000 to ₹8,000
• Ovarian Stimulation & Egg Retrieval  : ₹1,40,000 to ₹2,00,000
• Storage Costs: ₹8,000 per egg & ₹20,000  annually for maintenance

Is Egg Freezing Covered by Insurance in India?

Generally, egg freezing is not placed under health insurance provisions in India because it is relatively more of a fertility preservation program and not a surgical procedure. Although, some providers have been known to make exceptions to this rule if it is related to a cancerous illness.

Pros and Cons of Egg Freezing

Advantages:

• Offers women the chance to postpone having children without losing the ability to conceive.
• Helps women achieve their professional and personal ambitions before having a family.

Disadvantages:

• It can be burdensome both physically and emotionally.
• Success rates are not guranteed, especially if the woman is older.
• It is an expensive procedure with ongoing costs for storage.

What are the Success Rates of Egg Freezing?

Success rates vary, but younger women (under 35) typically have higher success rates. The general success rate for egg freezing, and later IVF, is around thirty to forty percent, but it depends heavily on the woman’s age, her egg quality, and the IVF clinic’s know-how.

Alternative Options for Fertility Preservation

Embryo Freezing: This is the process of freezing eggs and sperm with the intention of creating embryos for later use.

Sperm Freezing: Other men’s options include freezing sperm, for later use, especially after surgeries like chemotherapy.

How Long Can Eggs Be Stored?

In India, eggs may be stored for a maximum of ten years depending on the clinic, as is their policy. They might deteriorate in quality after ten years, especially if they are kept for long periods of time.

Egg Freezing and Legal Aspects in India

In India, there are no laws against freezing eggs, although there is a lack of morbid ethics, particularly concerning the age limit to freeze eggs. A lot of clinics only allow women freezing eggs if they are below 40 years old.

Is Egg Freezing Right for You?

A consultation with a fertility expert might contribute to your decision-making process, particularly regarding age, financial capacity, and envisioned life goals.

Final Remarks

The benefits of being able to freeze your eggs are numerous, but one should be mindful of their deeper emotional implications and, more importantly, the monetary costs. In India, it can cost anywhere from ₹1,40,000 to ₹2,00,000, depending on many variables, to preserve eggs. The procedure, success rates, and long-term commitments need to be thoroughly understood before taking such steps.