How Much Does It Cost to Keep Embryos Frozen? [Embryo Options]

Wondering if you should store your embryos? You have options whether you're considering surrogacy, planning for future IVF cycles or looking for other solutions.

Embryo storage at an embryo bank or cryopreservation facility typically costs between $350 to $1,500 per year. These costs can vary based on the length of the contract, the location of the facility, inflation and the level of security provided.

Storing your embryos could be a great option depending on where you are in your family-building journey. By keeping your embryos frozen, you can preserve your options and potentially save money on future in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.

Below, we'll cover various situations and circumstances to help you make the best decision regarding what to do with your embryos. Want to learn more about frozen embryo banking? Our comprehensive guide covers what the process entails, what the benefits are and why people consider this solution.

How Much Does It Cost to Keep Embryos Frozen for Future Use?

The cost to keep embryos frozen is around $350 to $1,000. Freezing embryos for future use is a valuable option for individuals and couples who are not yet ready for embryo transfer or those considering storing leftover embryos for multiple IVF or surrogacy journeys.

By cryopreserving embryos, you can take the time you need to prepare for parenthood, whether that involves career planning, health considerations or personal readiness. You will want to estimate how much embryo storage will cost you based on when you expect to get started.

Additionally, storing surplus embryos from a successful IVF cycle offers the possibility of expanding your family later on without undergoing another complete IVF process. This approach provides flexibility for a smoother path to achieving your family-building goals when the timing is right.

Most fertility clinics recommend waiting at least a year after giving birth before undergoing another embryo transfer, so you will need to store your embryos for at least two years after achieving a pregnancy. This will likely cost you between $650 and $3,000 in total.

Dive deeper into embryo storage costs.

How Much Does It Cost to Keep Embryos Frozen for Surrogacy?

If you want to fast-track your journey to parenthood, our agency can match you with a surrogate in one to six months. This expedited process can reduce the time your embryos need to be frozen, potentially saving you money on storage fees. Some clinics, embryo banks and cryopreservation facilities offer monthly contracts, meaning you could pay as little as $30 to $125 per month.

We can help you plan and budget for gestational surrogacy. Just fill out our online form or call 1-800-875-BABY to speak with an experienced surrogacy specialist. They can ensure you have everything you need to make informed decisions.

I Don’t Want to Cover the Costs of Keeping Embryos Frozen: What Are My Options?

If you have embryos that weren’t used on your IVF or surrogacy journey, you might be wondering about how much it costs to keep embryos frozen indefinitely and the alternatives.

Storing embryos indefinitely may result in additional expenses for the foreseeable future. Aside from keeping your embryos frozen, you have three main options: donate, discard or request a compassionate transfer.

Embryo donation
 

Donating embryos can be a fulfilling choice, offering others the chance to become parents. There may be some requirements for donations, but as long as the embryos are viable, many people would love the opportunity. You could donate your embryos to a fertility clinic or research center for scientific purposes.

Medically discard
 

If you don’t want to donate, you could choose to discard the embryos. You will likely need to sign paperwork and pay your fertility clinic or storage facility a minimal fee to discard embryos. Discarding embryos may not be an option in every state, so you will want to check local laws.

Compassionate transfer
 

Some people opt for a compassionate transfer over discarding their embryos. This involves transferring the embryos to the uterus at a time when pregnancy is highly unlikely, allowing the embryos to pass from the body naturally. A compassionate transfer can cost up to ,500, but it can provide a sense of closure and respect for the potential life the embryos represent.

How Much Does It Cost to Keep an Embryo Frozen if You Donate?

Embryo donation is a generous option that allows your unused embryos to help others achieve their dreams of parenthood. Many clinics have requirements for donation, such as age limits at the time of embryo creation, PGT-A testing and ensuring that donors are not known carriers of inheritable genetic disorders. If you donate to research, you may also need to meet certain criteria.

There is typically no cost associated with donating embryos. However, there are important considerations, such as that another family will raise a child with your genes. You may want to take time to decide if you’d be comfortable knowing a child was born from your donated embryos.

What’s Next?

Storing embryos provides a contingency for future IVF cycles, offering the possibility of expanding your family without undergoing another round of ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.

If you’re curious about how many embryos you should freeze based on your situation, check out this article. If you’re considering freezing embryos for surrogacy, contact us today to get more information about our costs and how they make becoming a parent sooner possible for you.