---
title: The big business of egg freezing
description: Egg freezing is on the rise as the pandemic and social changes have pushed back marriage and children.
---

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# [The big business of egg freezing](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/02172022-egg-freezing)

 Written by [Julia Janks](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/julia-janks) | Feb 17, 2022 10:54:25 AM

The [1st baby](https://www.uclahealth.org/obgyn/egg-freezing#:~:text=The%20first%20human%20birth%20from,American%20Society%20for%20Reproductive%20Medicine.) born from a frozen egg would be in their mid-30s now.

And what was [once considered](https://qz.com/2122021/preserving-fertility-the-growing-popularity-of-egg-freezing/) an experimental procedure recommended for women with medical issues that might impact fertility — such as cancer requiring chemotherapy or ovarian disease — is on the rise.

Per *Quartz*, there was a [1k%+](https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/2125986/) increase in the number of US women who froze their eggs between 2009 and 2016.

#### **What is it, exactly?**

The process involves injecting hormones that stimulate egg production, then retrieving those eggs — ideally 10-15 per cycle — via surgery and freezing them at [-196°F](https://viosfertility.com/infertility-treatments/advanced-infertility-treatments/egg-freezing/) for future use.

#### **Why are so many people doing it?**

Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and they [decline](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/freezing-eggs-worth-130013518.html) in quality over time.

Freezing eggs gives patients time to focus on their careers and other goals. There are other reasons, too:

- The pandemic [stalled](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/egg-freezing-has-boomed-during-pandemic-women-opt-wait-out-n1264211) dating and weddings
- Transgender men are [freezing](https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-men-eager-have-biological-kids-are-freezing-their-eggs-n975331) their eggs before beginning hormone replacement therapy
- [Buying time](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40504076) to find the right partner

#### **But it’s expensive**

In the US, it can cost [$11k+](https://www.fertilityiq.com/egg-freezing/the-costs-of-egg-freezing#breaking-down-the-likely-costs) for a single cycle, plus $5k for medication and $500 in annual storage fees. And many women complete multiple cycles, as the chances of a live birth increase with the number of available eggs.

As of [2020](https://resolve.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-Fertility-Survey-Report-Final.pdf), ~11% of US employers with 500+ workers, and ~19% of employers with 20k+, covered egg freezing, [including](https://www.businessinsider.com/egg-freezing-at-facebook-apple-google-hot-new-perk-2017-9#:~:text=Companies%20like%20Apple%2C%20Facebook%2C%20and,is%20more%20important%20than%20family.) Facebook, Google, and Apple.

#### **Meanwhile, startups are popping up**

- [Boutique agencies](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/features/egg-freezing-startups-have-wall-street-talking-traditional-fertility-doctors-n978526) like Trellis Fertility Studio, Kindbody, and Extend Fertility
- [Carrot](https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/14/fertility-startup-carrot-raises-3-6-million-to-make-ivf-and-egg-freezing-more-affordable/), which works with employers to offer fertility care benefits
- [Mate Fertility](https://matefertility.com/), founded to offer [inclusive](https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/09/mate-fertility-is-aiming-to-create-a-franchise-of-fertility-clinics-open-to-everyone/), more affordable family planning services

Some traditional doctors are wary of the new crop of startups and their Instagram-aesthetic advertising, reminding patients that frozen eggs are not a guarantee of a future baby.

But the market doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/02172022-egg-freezing)

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