Egg Freezing may help secure your future fertility options and we’ll support you every step of the way. This timeline helps you understand what to expect before, during, and after your treatment.

About Egg Freezing

Egg freezing allows you to reliably preserve your fertility by freezing your eggs for future use. While it isn’t a guarantee, it can provide you with future options should you happen to face fertility challenges.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

• What is the emotional cost of undergoing egg freezing now vs. taking chances with fertility later?
• How do I cope if I discover I’m infertile and cannot proceed with egg freezing?
• What are the emotional challenges involved in egg freezing and how do I prepare for them?
• Will I have sufficient funds to undergo fertilization and embryo transfer once I’m ready to do so?
• Do I have sufficient emotional support to undergo this process?
• How safe is this technology for my future child? For me?
• What are the legal implications of having eggs frozen if I’m married or in a relationship?
• What if something happens to me? What will happen with my eggs?
• How do I tell future partners about having frozen eggs? When do I tell them?
• How is egg freezing going to potentially affect what may happen in my current relationship? Am I prepared for the possibility that my current partner may not be supportive of egg freezing? What should I do about that?

Here are resources to learn more about Egg Freezing:

• Read Dr. Aimee’s What You Need to Know About Egg Freezing article

• Predict the likelihood of live birth using the BWH Egg Freezing Calculator

• Watch Dr. Aimee’s IVF Class (The egg retrieval process for IVF is the same for egg freezing)

• Read Dr. Aimee’s What Happens When It’s Time for the Big Unfreeze article so you know what you need to consider when it’s time to use your eggs (if you need them)

• Read Dr. Aimee’s recommended book, The Fertility Experts’ Guide to Egg Freezing

Something to consider if you have a partner or plan to use donor sperm:

• If you have a partner (or donor sperm) and plan to have children in the future, freezing embryos instead of eggs might be the right choice. Many patients start with Egg Freezing and then decide to create embryos mid-cycle. Learn more about it here.

As you plan for Egg Freezing, consider budgeting $18,000 plus medication, per cycle.

Preparing for Egg Freezing

Timing is everything in Egg Freezing, so being prepared is crucial. Here’s what you need to do and what our medical team will handle to make sure you’re ready!

What YOU’LL Do

Once you’ve decided to move forward with treatment, you’ll complete the following steps:

Confirm Your Egg Freezing Calendar

Dr. Aimee will email you a personalized calendar once you decide to freeze your eggs. Everything begins with your anticipated period start date. Let’s walk through an example together.

If your period starts on a Tuesday, you’ll visit our San Ramon office on Cycle Day 1 or 2 for a Baseline Appointment (30 mins). This is an important visit where Dr. Aimee will assess your ovaries and give you the green light to start injections. Sometimes, patients might not get the all-clear signal at this appointment. It’s important to stay flexible and trust that your body knows what it’s doing. Your ovaries might have their own schedule, and that’s perfectly okay!

If you get the green light, you’ll come to our office on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday for monitoring ultrasounds and blood tests. Your Retrieval Day might be on Saturday depending on how your body responds to the meds. Because of this, we ask that you keep your schedule flexible, as dates may shift.

Note: This is a sample timeline and may vary based on individual treatment plans and monitoring results.

Order Your Egg Freezing Medications

Dr. Aimee will provide you with a personalized list of medications. Here are some common meds used in the process:

Ovarian Stimulation Medications

These hormones stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, each containing an egg, rather than a single egg that typically develops each month.

• Gonal-F
• Femara
• Menopur
• Follistim

GnRH Agonists and Antagonists

These meds prevent the body from prematurely releasing (ovulating) the eggs before they can be retrieved.

• Lupron
• Ganirelix
• Cetrotide

Trigger Shots

These meds mature the eggs and trigger their final development and readiness for retrieval.

• Ovidrel
• Pregnyl and Novarel
• Lupron

Supportive Medications

These support the overall process and ensure the best conditions for egg retrieval.

• Omnitrope

We recommend Alto Pharmacy if you’re within their courier delivery zone. Other specialty pharmacies that ship nationwide are MDR, Freedom Fertility, and VFP. We work exclusively with these pharmacies, and aren’t able to send prescriptions to non-fertility pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.  

For at-home concierge services, such as daily injection assistance, contact BayPLS. 

Gather Your Fertility Essentials

Egg Freezing can be a very emotional journey. It can be riddled with fear, doubt, and full of periods of waiting and wondering. Dr. Aimee’s curated list of Fertility Essentials might help ease emotional or physical burdens. Be sure to focus on the sections dedicated to self-care, nutrition, and comfort management sections for comfort throughout your treatment.

Tell Us When Your Period Starts

Day 1 of your period (or sometimes Day 2) marks the first day of your Egg Freezing cycle. This is when you’ll come in for your Baseline Appointment and start your medication. We call this Treatment Day 1. 

As soon as your period starts, email Dr. Aimee with the subject line, “Egg Freezing: My period started today!”

If you don’t hear back within two hours, call our office at (925) 277-0600 to schedule your baseline appointment, either for the same day or next. If it’s after office hours and you haven’t heard back, call us in the morning.

What We’ll Do

Labs

We’ll complete all necessary blood draws and tests in our office. If you’re out of town, we’ll arrange for you to complete them at a nearby facility. It’s a crucial step that ensures you’re in optimal health and identifies any potential obstacles before starting Egg Freezing. These tests include:

• Infectious Diseases (ID): Tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab), Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody (HIV Ab), Human T-lymphotropic virus antibody (HTLV), and Treponema antibody to identify any existing infections in both partners.
• Preconception Health: Tests for Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Vitamin D levels, Prolactin levels, Complete Blood Count (CBC), Rh factor, ABO blood type, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella titer (MMR titer), Varicella titer, and Antibody Screen to evaluate overall health and fertility in both partners.
• Ovarian Reserve and Hormonal Levels: Tests for Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (P4), Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to assess ovarian function, ovarian reserve, and hormonal balance.

Genetic Testing

In addition to comprehensive lab tests you’ll complete carrier screening and chromosome analysis at our office.

• Carrier Screening: Identifies genetic mutations that could be passed on to your baby, such as cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, or fragile X syndrome. (learn more here)
• Chromosome Analysis: Detects chromosomal abnormalities such as translocations, inversions, or aneuploidies (e.g., Down syndrome). (learn more here)

BMI

A healthy BMI is required to start Egg Freezing. If your BMI is over 30, we might prescribe medication. Your BMI must be 38 or lower when you start the stimulation phase. Here’s why:

• Optimal Response to Medications: Higher BMI may reduce the response to fertility medications, leading to fewer eggs retrieved or lower-quality embryos.
• Reduced Risk of Complications: Higher BMI is associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. 
• Impact on Ovarian Function: Obesity can affect hormonal balance and ovarian function.
• Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Higher BMI increases risk of developing OHSS, a complication of ovarian stimulation during Egg Freezing.

Treatment Day 1: Baseline Appointment

Welcome to the start of your Egg Freezing treatment. Today is your Baseline Appointment, which is scheduled for the day your period starts or the day after.

What to expect at your Baseline Appointment

• Ultrasound and Blood Work. Dr. Aimee will do an ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts and estimate the number of eggs she may retrieve. She’ll also do a blood draw.
• Egg Freezing Medication Calendar. Dr. Aimee will go over your Baseline Medication Calendar, outlining the meds, dosages, and instructions with you.

Sample Calendar:

Note: This is a sample medication table and may vary based on individual treatment plans and monitoring results.

• Injection Training. Our staff will show you how to mix your medication so you only need to give yourself one injection each night. Record this training with your phone for reference.

• Consent and Payment. You’ll sign your Egg Freezing lab order and consent forms to confirm your treatment plan. This is also when your first payment installment is due. Please check the due dates for your 2nd and 3rd installments. Here are our general Egg Freezing fees, but the invoices sent to you from our Financial Assistant will have the most accurate pricing.

If your treatment protocol involves luteal phase ovarian stimulation, please let us know when your Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK) shows a peak. We recommend the Proov Kit, but any brand will do.

What happens the evening after your appointment

• Take your meds between 6-8pm. This timing ensures that Dr. Aimee is immediately available if you need assistance!

• Your first day of injections typically takes the longest. Plan to spend an extra 30 minutes. Most patients will take medication for 8-14 days.

• It’s okay to use tampons, have sex, and enjoy light alcohol, coffee, and exercise. Just use common sense, and don’t worry — there isn’t anything you could eat or do that will affect your success.

Treatment Days 2-14

You’ll continue taking daily medication and have regular monitoring visits to our office to ensure your follicles are growing healthy eggs.

• Take your daily meds. Continue taking your injections daily as scheduled on your Medication Calendar.

• Go to 3-4 monitoring appointments. You’ll have Follicle Check appointments on Treatment Days 5, 7, 9, and possibly a few more visits as some cycles take a bit longer. Each visit will take no more than 15 minutes. At these appointments, Dr. Aimee will check your follicles’ growth and predict how many mature eggs you might have. She’ll do an ultrasound and blood draw to test your hormone levels. (Refer to our Sparkle Checklist to see what we’re checking during these appointments!) She’ll update your Medication Calendar based on how your body responds to the meds.

• Order your meds. You may need to order more meds. Make sure you have the meds you need for the next two nights.

• Potential symptoms. It’s normal to feel twinges in your ovaries or see egg white cervical mucus. You might also feel tired and nauseous — if so, ask for anti-nausea meds.

• Make payment. Your second installment is due on Treatment Day 7. Please make payment on time to avoid delays in your treatment plan.

Trigger Shot Day

As you near the end of your stimulation phase, you’ll take your trigger shot to prepare for the upcoming Egg Retrieval.

• Take trigger shot ~36 hours before retrieval. The Trigger Shot Day is crucial! It’s when we carefully time the trigger shot to prepare for your upcoming egg retrieval. This shot helps your eggs get ready for ovulation, so it’s crucial that it’s administered ~36 hours before the egg retrieval.

• Follow Dr. Aimee’s trigger instructions. Dr. Aimee will send you an Explainer Email with clear instructions on the trigger shot’s timing and dosage, along with how to prepare for the egg retrieval. She’s spent a lot of time reviewing your history to make sure that the plan is perfect for you!

• Engage in low-impact activities only. Light exercise is okay, just don’t overdo it.

Egg Retrieval Day

All of your injections and appointments have led us to the Egg Retrieval! It’s entirely possible to have the best egg retrieval experience with a little preparation. You’re already on the right track by reading this.

• Follow Dr. Aimee’s Explainer Email. To get ready for your egg retrieval, refer to Dr. Aimee’s detailed Explainer Email and follow her instructions closely. This is the day when Dr. Aimee will collect the eggs from your ovaries.

• BMI Protocol. If your BMI is over 30, you’ll take 1 Pepcid and 1 Reglan (aka Metoclopramide) with a tiny sip of water 3 hours before your procedure time.

• Meet Dr. Aimee at the Lab. This procedure takes place at The Egg Whisperer Lab in San Ramon, California. The email will give you all the details about the location, what to bring, and the timeline.

• Plan to be at the clinic for about 2 hours and 15 minutes. You must arrive at least 45 minutes before the procedure. Upon arrival, you’ll change into a gown and be connected to an IV. The Anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia process with you. Just before we proceed, you’ll empty your bladder. Take this opportunity to receive well wishes from your support person before we enter the procedure room.
  • The procedure is about 30 minutes, during which you’ll be asleep. Using an elaborate system involving test tubes, suction lines, and a foot pedal, Dr. Aimee will perform the retrieval.
  • After the procedure, you’ll be moved gently to a gurney and taken back to where you started for a smooth 45-minute rest and recovery.
  • Before you leave, Dr. Aimee will let you know how many eggs were retrieved.

• Have a responsible driver. Due to the anesthesia, you must have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day.
  • If you don’t have a companion and need a driver, we recommend Miriam Scott from SilverRide LLC. Contact her at (415) 861-7433.
  • The clinic won’t let you leave unless you have a person you know with you. That person can be in the Uber with you but it can’t be an Uber driver.

• No major decision making. For the next 24 hours, avoid making major decisions, refrain from driving, consuming alcohol, operating machinery, or signing legal documents.

Day After Egg Retrieval

The next day, you may feel tired, crampy, bloated, or notice light spotting. This is completely normal and should improve in a few days. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest to help your body recover.

• Comfort Management. Here are some things to watch for and how to manage them:
  • Pain Level: On a scale of 1-10, how’s your pain? You can take Tylenol for relief.
  • Bloating: Rate your bloating from 1-10. It should go down over the next few days.
  • IV Site: What does your IV site look like? Make sure it’s not infected.
  • Nutrition: Are you eating well? Eating a balanced nutrition plan helps with recovery.
  • Peeing: Is everything normal when you go to the bathroom? If not, let us know.
  • Bowel Movements: If you’re constipated, consider using a stool softener like Colace.
  • Spotting: Light spotting is common, but if you notice heavy bleeding or anything unusual, contact us.

Egg Thaw for Embryo Creation (Optional)

If you have a partner and plan to have children in the future, freezing embryos instead of eggs might be the right choice for you. Many patients start with Egg Freezing and then decide to create embryos mid-cycle. 

Here are some reasons why freezing embryos could be beneficial:

• Known Sperm Source: If you’re using a known sperm source (partner or donor), freezing embryos ensures you can use that specific sperm, which might not be available in the future.

• Embryo Viability: Embryos tend to survive the freezing and thawing process better than eggs, which may lead to higher pregnancy success rates.

• Tested Quality: Embryos can be cultured for several days to ensure they are developing properly before being frozen. This allows us to select the most viable ones.

• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): Embryos can be tested for genetic abnormalities before freezing, ensuring healthier embryos for future transfers and reducing the risk of genetic disorders.

• Immediate Use: Embryos can be used immediately if you decide to proceed with IVF later, avoiding the wait for fertilization.

• Avoids Future Procedures: Freezing embryos can eliminate the need for future egg retrievals, which can be physically and emotionally taxing.

• Fertility Preservation: For women undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or those with medical conditions affecting fertility, freezing embryos provides a more immediate option for future pregnancy.

• Age and Egg Quality: For women who are older or those concerned about egg quality, freezing embryos offers a clearer picture of the potential for successful pregnancy.

If you wish to freeze embryos instead of eggs, here are our general fees for Egg Thaw for Embryo Creation.

Egg Storage

Once your eggs are frozen, we recommend contacting CryoFuture for information and pricing on long-term egg storage. They are one of the most reputable long term storage facilities in the country right now.

Additional Resources

Fertility Essentials

Dr. Aimee’s curated list of Fertility Essentials might help ease emotional or physical burdens throughout your treatment. Be sure to focus on the sections dedicated to self-care, nutrition, and comfort management.

Hotel

If you’re traveling out of town or prefer to stay near the Egg Whisperer Lab in San Ramon, our recommendations are Hyatt House or San Ramon Marriott

Acupuncture

The Acupuncturists we recommend are:

East Bay

• Oakland – East Bay Fertility Wellness
• Oakland – East Bay Acupuncture w/ Aimee Ruiz
• Oakland – Integrative Wellness Center w/ Heidi Kao
• Piedmont – The Oldershaw Clinic
• Albany – Rizes Clinic w/ Dashal Moore
• Pleasant Hill – Earth & Air Wellness w/ Maria Ying
• Lafayette – Stillpoint Healing Arts w/ Dr. Mitsuko (Mimi)

San Francisco

• Nest Acupuncture
• Double Happiness Health w/ Megan Geren
• Blue Ova Health

SF Bay Area

• San Ramon, Orinda, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Jose – Nurture Acupuncture

Concierge Injection Services

For at-home concierge services, such as daily injection assistance, contact BayPLS. 

Transportation Service

We recommend Miriam Scott from SilverRide LLC if you don’t have a companion and need a driver. You can contact her at (415) 861-7433.