Program allows women to donate half their eggs, freeze the rest for free amid rising costs

As egg freezing becomes more popular, many young women are faced with the challenge of paying for the procedure. The average cost to freeze eggs in the United States is about $10,000. Despite these high costs, in 2022, almost 30,000 egg freezing cycles were performed in the US, up from just 7,600 in 2015.

A painful and expensive journey

Ten days of painful hormone injections were part of Angie’s journey to preserve her fertility. The 26-year-old medical student documented her experience in a video diary, sharing the physical and emotional challenges she faced. On the day of egg retrieval, she managed to preserve 34 eggs. Shocked by the number, Angie decided to keep half of the eggs and donate the rest.

Angie would not have been able to freeze her eggs without the help of Cofertility’s “Split” program. This initiative allows women to freeze their eggs for free if they donate half of their mature eggs to a person or couple looking for a donor. Both the donor and intended parent must agree on compatibility. The Intended Parent covers all of the donor’s medical costs and a 10-year storage fee, along with an $8,000 Cofertility fee.

“What was really appealing to me was the chance to have my eggs and freezing covered for free,” she said.

She said she feels good knowing she will be helping someone else and at the same time have her future eggs stored for the day she decides she wants a family.

Lauren Makler is co-founder of Cofertility, which launched in 2022. She said that in the unlikely event that a donor is unable to produce any or many mature eggs, she will not be responsible for any costs. The father-to-be would still cover that.

Cofertility Split Program

According to Cofertility, split donors must be between the ages of 21 and 33 and undergo comprehensive medical screenings based on FDA and American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, as well as psychological and legal counseling.

Makler said the ideal time for women to freeze their eggs is when they are younger, which is often when they can least afford it. She also mentioned that her program offers mutual benefits, as there is a high demand for egg donors today, with many people needing help to expand their families.

When asked if there might be concerns about whether some young women might feel pressured to donate eggs in order to freeze their own, Makler said she doesn’t believe this is the case.

“It’s a great option for some people and not for others,” he added.

For prospective parents seeking fresh donor eggs, Cofertility’s model — where donors are not paid — offers an average savings of about $8,000 compared to traditional egg banks that compensate donors.

Cofertility does not guarantee anonymity, but it does offer couples the option of whether or not they are in contact with each other and any future children.

If a woman goes through screening and finds that she is not eligible to be a donor or chooses not to donate her eggs, Cofertility offers a To maintain program, where a woman can freeze her eggs at a discount.

Real-life impact

While Makler emphasizes his program’s ethical approach compared to traditional egg banks that offer cash compensation, Arthur Caplan, an ethics professor at New York University, advises potential donors to consider the implications of having a biological child that may Don’t know the price of freezing your eggs.

Nicole, a 27-year-old from New York City, had reservations about donating her eggs, but ultimately found peace with her decision. She was initially hesitant about revealing her DNA and questioned whether she was completely comfortable with the idea. It took her about a month and a half to accept this and feel confident in her choice.

“I realized this wasn’t really about me, it was about someone else and their family, and I have the opportunity to create my own family,” she said. “I get really emotional thinking about what I’m doing for someone and it really makes my heart happy.”

Nikole helped Maiko, a single gay man from Miami, achieve his dream of having children. Maiko received 17 eggs from Nikole, and her surrogate is now pregnant with twins due on Valentine’s Day.

“I just started crying. It really became real that this was happening, and just getting this good news, and that it was twins and everything, it was just overwhelming,” Maiko said.