Egg Freezing: Your Biological Clock Insurance

Egg freezing, a medical procedure where a woman's eggs are collected, frozen, and stored, is becoming increasingly common. This process offers a potential solution for women who wish to delay childbearing while preserving their fertility options for later in life.

Correspondent Lesley Stahl observed the egg retrieval process at a fertility clinic, where eggs are harvested and then cryogenically preserved in liquid nitrogen. These eggs can be thawed and fertilized years later, with the hope of achieving pregnancy, though success is not guaranteed.

Women like Yasmine Higbee, 30, and Kate Sonderegger, who froze her eggs at 22 before medical school, view egg freezing as a way to secure future family-building possibilities. They acknowledge that education and career pursuits may push the timeline for starting a family.

Doctors emphasize that egg freezing does not ensure pregnancy. Factors such as egg survival rates after thawing, fertilization success, and embryo development lead to a significant drop-off in potential outcomes, meaning multiple cycles may be necessary.

The procedure is financially demanding, with an average out-of-pocket cost of $12,000 to $13,000 per cycle. While some employers are beginning to offer coverage, the majority of women must pay for egg freezing themselves.

Advances in biomedical technology are expected to make the process more accessible, leading to its wider adoption. The procedure was originally reported on May 4, 2025.