Preserve your options for the future.
Egg freezing lets you set aside healthy eggs now and decide about family-building later. At RMA of Michigan, we pair evidence-informed protocols with compassionate support, guiding you through each step at a pace that fits your life.
What is egg freezing? Egg freezing — also called oocyte cryopreservation — is a way to collect and store mature eggs for potential future use. Medication encourages the ovaries to mature several eggs at once, the eggs are retrieved in a short procedure, and the mature ones are rapidly frozen (vitrified) the same day. At RMA of Michigan in Troy, egg freezing is available to anyone looking to preserve their fertility options.
Understanding egg freezing
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, preserves unfertilized eggs for the future. The steps mirror the early part of an IVF cycle: medication helps the ovaries mature several eggs at once, the eggs are retrieved, and the mature ones are frozen and stored until you decide to use them.
Because egg quantity and quality change over time, many people consider egg freezing sooner rather than later — but the right timing is individual. Your physician will review your ovarian reserve, health history, and goals with you before recommending an approach.
Egg freezing connects to other parts of fertility care. When you're ready to use the eggs, they're thawed, combined with sperm in the lab, and transferred as part of an IVF cycle — sometimes alongside genetic testing (PGT-A).
The egg freezing process, step by step
A typical cycle moves through five main phases over roughly two to three weeks. Your exact medications, timing, and number of visits are individualized.
Testing & Assessment
An initial consultation reviews your medical history, with day-three bloodwork and an ultrasound to assess hormone levels and ovarian reserve.
Ovarian Stimulation
Hormone injections help the ovaries mature several eggs at once, usually over 10–14 days, with frequent bloodwork and ultrasound monitoring.
Egg Retrieval
About 36 hours after a trigger injection, eggs are collected during a short outpatient procedure under sedation and ultrasound guidance.
Vitrification
Mature eggs are rapidly frozen — a technique called vitrification — on the same day as your retrieval to preserve them.
Storage & Next Steps
Your eggs are stored until you're ready to use them, and your team confirms how many mature eggs were frozen.
Why people consider egg freezing
People choose to preserve their fertility for many reasons — medical, practical, and personal. Whether egg freezing is a good fit is a decision you'll make together with your physician.
Before cancer treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation can affect future fertility, so freezing eggs beforehand can preserve options. Timing is coordinated with your oncology team.
Before other treatments
Some medical treatments or surgeries can affect the ovaries. Preserving eggs first keeps future family-building options open.
Early ovarian decline
A family history of early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency — when the ovaries stop working earlier than usual — may be a reason to preserve eggs.
Career or education
Focusing on professional or educational goals while keeping the option to build a family later.
Not ready yet
Choosing to wait for the right time, without putting future plans on hold.
Age and egg quality
Egg quantity and quality change over time, so some people choose to preserve eggs while they're younger.
What to keep in mind
Egg freezing preserves options for the future. Setting expectations before you begin can help you plan with confidence.
- Some patients complete more than one cycle to freeze enough mature eggs, depending on age and how the ovaries respond.
- Freezing eggs preserves options — it doesn't ensure a future pregnancy.
- Most people complete one cycle in about two to three weeks.
- Eggs frozen at a younger age are generally higher quality, but the right timing is an individual decision.
A typical egg freezing timeline
Timing varies between patients and even between cycles. This is a general sequence to help you picture the journey.
Consultation & Testing
You'll meet your physician, then come in around day three of your cycle for bloodwork and an ultrasound to check hormone levels and ovarian reserve.
Stimulation Begins
With your period marking cycle day 1, a baseline check confirms you're ready and stimulation injections begin.
Monitoring
Frequent morning bloodwork and ultrasounds track follicle growth, and your team adjusts medication as needed.
Trigger Injection
Once the follicles are mature, you'll take a trigger (hCG) injection at a precise time to set up retrieval.
Egg Retrieval
Eggs are collected under sedation and ultrasound guidance. Plan to arrange a ride home and take the day to rest.
Vitrification
Your mature eggs are rapidly frozen and placed into secure storage the same day they're retrieved.
Recovery & Count
Most people return to normal activity within about a week, and your team confirms how many mature eggs were frozen.
Egg freezing questions, answered
Is there a best age to freeze eggs?
Egg quantity and quality decline with age, with a more noticeable change after the mid-30s, so freezing earlier generally yields higher-quality eggs. That said, it's an individual decision — your physician will review your ovarian reserve and goals with you and help you weigh whether it's worth pursuing at any age.
How long does the process take?
About two to three weeks from the start of stimulation through retrieval. Stimulation itself is usually around 10–14 days, followed by the trigger injection and the retrieval procedure roughly 36 hours later.
Will one cycle be enough?
It depends on your age and how your ovaries respond to stimulation. Some patients complete more than one cycle to reach the number of mature eggs their physician recommends. Your team will talk through what makes sense for your goals.
Does freezing my eggs mean I'll be able to get pregnant later?
Egg freezing preserves options, but it doesn't ensure a future pregnancy. When you're ready, the eggs are thawed, combined with sperm in the lab, and transferred through an IVF cycle. Your physician can talk through what to expect at that stage.
Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?
Retrieval is a short outpatient procedure done under sedation, so you won't feel it while it's happening. Afterward, some cramping or bloating is common, and most people resume normal activity within about a week. You'll want a support person to drive you home.
Can I freeze my eggs for medical reasons, like before cancer treatment?
Yes. Fertility preservation before cancer treatment is an important option for many patients, and the timing is coordinated with your other care team. Reach out as early as possible so your team can plan around your treatment schedule.