Freezing your eggs

Egg freezing, in medical jargon, is called “oocyte vitrification”. It is an ultra-rapid freezing technique, different from the slow freezing used in the past: the collected eggs are cooled to very low temperatures within a few minutes, which greatly limits the formation of ice crystals that could damage the cell.

A meta-analysis of randomised trials published in Fertility and Sterility confirmed that this technique significantly improves survival, fertilisation and pregnancy rates compared with slow freezing [1]. This is what has made the process genuinely viable in clinical practice.

In practical terms, egg preservation involves collecting a number of mature eggs during an ovarian stimulation cycle, then vitrifying them for storage in liquid nitrogen, sometimes for many years, until possible future use as part of medically assisted reproduction (MAR).

The reasons that may lead a woman to consider freezing her eggs are very varied, and none is more legitimate than another:

• Not having yet met the person with whom to build a parenting plan;
• Wanting to focus on studies or a career without feeling the biological clock weighing on every decision;
• Having an illness or undergoing treatment that could affect fertility (this is referred to as fertility preservation for medical reasons, a framework distinct from the “non-medical reasons” approach);
• Simply wanting to give yourself an additional option, like a safety net, without this meaning you have an immediate pregnancy plan.

However, it is important to keep one thing in mind: preserving your eggs does not guarantee a future pregnancy. It is an option that increases your chances, but is by no means a guarantee of success. Understanding this beforehand helps you approach the process with realistic expectations, without guilt if you ultimately do not use it, and without relying on it entirely to postpone the question of fertility indefinitely.

To better understand how your fertility changes over time, our article on age and fertility explains what is happening at a biological level.

In France, the bioethics law of 2 August 2021 made it possible to freeze your eggs without a medical reason, which was not previously permitted. The implementing decree of 30 December 2021 sets precise age limits for this process of “ self-preservation without a medical indication » [2] :

• Egg retrieval can be carried out from your 29th birthday up to your 37th birthday;
• These limits differ from the framework for fertility preservation for medical reasons (before gonadotoxic treatment, for example), where egg retrieval is still possible up to the 43rd birthday.

In practical terms, this means that it is not possible to freeze your eggs at the age of 40 within the non-medical framework currently defined by French law, except in a particular medical situation assessed by a specialist team. If you are considering this at 38 or 39, the first step is to discuss it with a gynaecologist or an assisted reproduction centre, which can assess your individual situation and guide you, including, where appropriate, towards alternatives such as egg donation.

Fundamentally, the existence of these age limits is not arbitrary: the number and, above all, the quality of eggs decline with age, gradually at first and then more markedly after the ages of 35–38, according to studies [3]. In its 2021 opinion [4], the Advisory Board of the Biomedicine Agency also recommended freezing eggs as early as possible within the permitted age range, as outcomes are generally better for eggs frozen at around 30–33 years of age than at around 37. 

To explore this mechanism further, discover our articles on ovarian reserve and on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), two markers that your doctor will use to assess your reserve before making any decision.

To understand how eggs are frozen in practice, here are the main stages of the process, as they are generally organised in authorised centres: 1. Fertility assessment An initial consultation makes it possible to assess your ovarian reserve (AMH measurement, antral follicle count by ultrasound), your general state of health, and to provide you with precise information about the procedures, risks and limitations involved. This is also when the medical team confirms that you meet the legal age requirements. 2. Ovarian stimulation This involves daily hormone injections for around 10 to 12 days, designed to stimulate the development of several follicles at once rather than the single follicle of a natural cycle. This phase is monitored through regular ultrasounds and blood tests to adjust the dosages. 3. Egg retrieval Once the follicles have matured, the eggs are collected through follicular aspiration, a procedure performed under local or light general anaesthetic, on an outpatient basis. Recovery generally takes place on the same day or the following day. 4. Vitrification and storage Mature eggs are vitrified within an hour of retrieval, then stored in liquid nitrogen at the centre. Depending on the number of eggs obtained and the intended goal, more than one stimulation cycle may be needed to reach a number considered satisfactory by the medical team. The quality of the eggs collected depends partly on several factors that can be addressed beforehand. On this topic, we invite you to discover how to improve egg quality and the impact of nutrition on fertility.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and generally one of the least well explained. Here is what can be said:

• Within the legal framework (aged 29–37, with no medical reason), the medical procedures involved (consultations, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval) are covered at 100% by French Health Insurance, based on the agreed rates.
• The storage of eggs, however, is the patient's responsibility. According to official information from the French Biomedicine Agency and French Health Insurance, this storage fee amounts to a few tens of euros per year. This amount is regularly reviewed and should be confirmed directly with your CPAM or the centre at the time of your treatment journey.
• If you turn to a private clinic abroad (for example in Spain), the total cost is generally your responsibility, with amounts ranging into the thousands of euros depending on the clinics and the number of cycles required.

As for reimbursement abroad, the situation is more complex than it may seem: European coverage rules (S2 form, prior authorisation) mainly concern certain assisted reproduction, fertility treatment pathways and do not automatically apply to a process undertaken outside this framework. Before making any plans abroad, we therefore advise you to speak with your French Health Insurance fund to find out exactly what you are entitled to, rather than relying on estimates found online.

In France, the law restricts non-medical egg freezing to specifically authorised public or non-profit private establishments, amounting to around forty centres when the scheme was launched in 2022. Although the number has gradually increased since then, it has never fully met demand. As a result, in some regions, particularly in Île-de-France where demand is highest, waiting times for an initial appointment and then to begin the process can reach several months, or even more than a year depending on the period.

Given these waiting times, some French women are tempted to freeze their eggs in Spain, a country that has been a pioneer in egg vitrification since the 2000s, where private provision is much more developed and waiting times are often shorter. This choice generally involves higher costs borne by the patient, travel to organise around the egg collection procedure, and coordination with a practitioner in France for monitoring and prescriptions beforehand.

Should you choose France or Spain? 

It is not possible to give a definitive answer. It depends on your age, how much flexibility you have regarding timing, your budget and your tolerance for administrative uncertainty. The best way to choose is to arrange an initial appointment at an authorised centre in France to find out the actual waiting times in your region, while also looking into the private option if it interests you, without ruling either one out of your considerations.

In most cases, clinics focus primarily on the medical protocol, to the detriment of other equally important aspects. This is precisely where food supplements can prove very useful.

Physical wellbeing

The weeks leading up to ovarian stimulation are the ideal time to look after the basics: sufficient sleep, a varied diet rich in antioxidants, moderate and regular physical activity, and reducing tobacco and alcohol. These are not miracle solutions, but several reviews of the scientific literature [5][6] associate this type of lifestyle with reduced oxidative stress and a more favourable follicular environment. Tobacco, in particular, is associated with a more rapid decline in ovarian reserve

From a nutritional perspective, certain nutrients regularly feature in studies on the follicular environment and oocyte maturation [7], such as coenzyme Q10, vitamin D, folate (B9) or zinc. The available data largely come from small-scale trials or studies involving women undergoing assisted reproduction, fertility treatment, which calls for caution regarding the scope of these findings rather than drawing promises of results from them.

It is with this in mind that our Ovo+ complex was formulated, around coenzyme Q10, N-acetylcysteine and L-tryptophan, three active ingredients studied in the scientific literature for their link with the follicular environment and oxidative stress. Ovo+ is intended for the preconception period, before an egg-freezing or conception plan, and is in no way a substitute for medical follow-up or the protocols prescribed by your fertility team.

To find out more about one of its active ingredients, our article Coenzyme Q10 and fertility details the available studies. You can also discover Ovo+ or explore our entire fertility collection.

Emotional wellbeing

Embarking on an egg-freezing journey, with its injections, appointments and waiting, can be emotionally challenging. Allowing yourself to talk about it and seek support (from a specialist psychologist, a support group, or simply trusted loved ones) is just as much a part of the process as the hormonal assessment.