Egg Freezing Cost in the UK: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

Key Takeaways

A single egg freezing cycle costs £3,500–£5,000 for the clinic procedure, plus £800–£1,500 for medication — total of £4,300–£6,500 per cycle
Annual storage costs £200–£400 per year (the first year is sometimes included)
Many women need 2–3 cycles to bank enough eggs for a reasonable chance of a future pregnancy — realistic total budget: £9,000–£18,000
The ideal age to freeze eggs is under 35 — both for egg quality and because you'll likely need fewer cycles
NHS egg freezing is available only in limited medical cases (e.g. cancer treatment that will affect fertility). Elective/social egg freezing is almost never NHS-funded — see our dedicated NHS egg freezing eligibility guide for the criteria
Some employers now offer egg freezing as a workplace benefit — check your company's fertility policy

What Egg Freezing Costs: Full Breakdown

Egg freezing uses the same stimulation and egg collection process as IVF — the difference is that your eggs are frozen and stored instead of being fertilised immediately.

Cost Component	Typical Range	Notes
Clinic procedure fee	£3,500–£5,000	Includes monitoring, scans, egg collection under sedation, and vitrification (freezing)
Fertility medication	£800–£1,500	Stimulation drugs to produce multiple eggs. Dosage depends on age and ovarian reserve
Initial consultations	£200–£350	First appointment + AMH/blood tests to assess ovarian reserve
Anaesthesia	£0–£500	Sometimes included in procedure fee; some clinics charge separately
First year storage	£0–£400	Often included in the procedure fee for the first year
Ongoing annual storage	£200–£400/year	Charged every year until you use or discard the eggs
Total per cycle	£4,300–£6,500	Before ongoing storage costs

The ongoing cost most people forget

Storage fees add up. If you freeze eggs at 32 and use them at 40, that's 8 years of storage at £200–£400/year = £1,600–£3,200 in storage fees alone. Factor this into your overall budget.

Some clinics offer multi-year storage packages at a discount. For example, 10 years of storage for a one-off payment of £1,500–£2,500 rather than paying annually.

How Many Cycles Will You Need?

This is where the costs can multiply. A single egg freezing cycle collects on average 8–15 eggs, depending on your age and ovarian reserve.

But not all frozen eggs will survive thawing, fertilisation, and development into embryos. The rough maths:

Your Age at Freezing	Eggs Needed for ~75% Chance of 1 Live Birth	Avg Eggs Per Cycle	Likely Cycles Needed
Under 35	15–20 eggs	10–15	1–2 cycles
35–37	20–25 eggs	8–12	2–3 cycles
38–40	25–30+ eggs	6–10	3–4+ cycles
Over 40	30+ eggs	4–8	4+ cycles (diminishing returns)

*Estimates based on published studies on egg survival, fertilisation, and live birth rates from vitrified eggs. Individual results vary significantly.*

This means the real cost question isn't "how much is one cycle?" — it's "how many cycles do I need to bank enough eggs?"

Scenario	Estimated Total Cost
1 cycle, age under 35	£4,300–£6,500
2 cycles, age 33–36	£8,600–£13,000
3 cycles, age 37–39	£12,900–£19,500
Storage for 10 years	Add £2,000–£4,000

What Happens When You Want to Use Your Frozen Eggs

When you're ready to try for a pregnancy, your frozen eggs need to be thawed, fertilised (via ICSI), and the resulting embryos transferred. This is essentially an IVF cycle without the stimulation and egg collection steps.

Step	Cost
Egg thawing	£500–£1,000
ICSI fertilisation	£1,000–£1,500
Embryo culture	Often included
Embryo transfer	£800–£1,500
Total to use frozen eggs	£2,500–£4,000

Add this to your overall budget. Egg freezing is an investment in future optionality, but using those eggs isn't free.

Where to Freeze Eggs: Price Comparison by Clinic Type

Clinic Type	Cycle Fee Range	Includes Storage?	Notes
Premium London (Lister, ARGC, London Egg Bank)	£4,500–£5,500	Usually first year	Highest footfall for egg freezing; some have dedicated egg freezing programmes
Mid-range private (CARE, CREATE, regional clinics)	£3,500–£4,800	Varies	Good option outside London
Egg freezing specialists (dedicated programmes)	£3,500–£5,000	Often multi-year packages	Some clinics now have egg freezing-specific pricing and packages
NHS hospitals with private wings	£3,000–£4,500	First year usually	Can be slightly cheaper; same medical teams as NHS

London clinics dominate the egg freezing market — over half of all UK egg freezing cycles happen in London. But clinics across the country offer the service, and you don't need to be in London to get good results.

Find clinics that offer egg freezing →

Can You Get Egg Freezing on the NHS?

In very limited circumstances:

Medical egg freezing is NHS-funded when you're about to undergo treatment that could affect your fertility — typically cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery affecting the ovaries). If your oncologist refers you, egg freezing is usually funded and fast-tracked.
Elective (social) egg freezing is almost never NHS-funded. This is the "freezing because you haven't found the right partner yet" or "career timing" category. You'll need to self-fund.

If you're facing cancer treatment or another medical condition that threatens your fertility, speak to your medical team urgently — NHS-funded egg freezing can be arranged quickly, sometimes within days.

Full guide: Egg Freezing on the NHS — Can You Get It? →

Employer Egg Freezing Benefits

A growing number of UK employers now offer egg freezing as part of their employee benefits package. Companies including some in tech, finance, law, and consulting have introduced fertility benefits that cover or subsidise egg freezing.

If your employer offers this, it can cover £5,000–£20,000 of fertility treatment — potentially the full cost of 1–3 cycles. Check with your HR department or benefits platform.

Companies that have publicly announced UK fertility benefits include firms across sectors — it's worth asking even if you're not sure. The worst they can say is no.

How to Reduce Egg Freezing Costs

1. Freeze younger. This is the single biggest cost lever. Freezing at 30 likely requires 1–2 cycles; at 38, it may take 3–4. The per-cycle cost is the same, but the total investment could be half.

2. Buy medication independently. As with IVF, you can ask your clinic for a prescription and purchase fertility drugs from independent pharmacies at 20–40% less than clinic prices.

3. Look at multi-cycle packages. Some clinics offer discounted rates for 2–3 cycles booked together. If your AMH test suggests you'll need multiple cycles, this can save 10–20%.

4. Compare storage plans. A 10-year prepaid storage plan at £1,500–£2,500 can save hundreds compared to paying annually at £300–£400/year.

5. Consider clinics outside London. Cycle fees are typically £500–£1,000 less outside central London.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to freeze your eggs in the UK?

A single egg freezing cycle costs £4,300–£6,500 total (clinic fee + medication). Many women need 2–3 cycles to bank enough eggs, bringing the total to £9,000–£18,000. Annual storage costs £200–£400/year on top.

What age should I freeze my eggs?

The ideal age is under 35, when egg quality is highest and you'll likely need fewer cycles. Freezing at 35–38 is still worthwhile but may require more cycles. After 40, the cost-effectiveness drops significantly because egg quality declines and more cycles are needed.

How long can eggs be stored?

UK law changed in 2022 — eggs can now be stored for up to 55 years (previously 10 years). This removed the previous pressure to use eggs within a decade of freezing.

Is egg freezing covered by insurance?

Most UK private health insurance policies don't cover egg freezing. Some employer benefit schemes do — check with your HR department.

What's the success rate of using frozen eggs?

For eggs frozen under 35, the chance of a live birth per egg thawed is approximately 5–8%. This means you need roughly 15–20 eggs frozen for a ~75% chance of one live birth. Success rates decrease with the age at which eggs were frozen.

Is egg freezing painful?

The stimulation phase involves daily injections for 10–14 days — most women find these manageable after the first couple of days. The egg collection is done under sedation and takes 15–20 minutes. You may feel bloated and crampy for a few days afterward. Most women take 1–2 days off work.

Next Steps

*Last updated April 2026. Costs sourced from HFEA-licensed clinic websites. Success rate data from HFEA and published studies on oocyte vitrification outcomes. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.*