Starting the process
I took a step back from my peach fuzz because thinking about my uterus is kind of depressing. The research that I’ve been gathering on the fertility clinics in my area has turned me off. The thought of spending five figures for the entire egg freezing process truly makes me feel so many different things. Here are some adjectives to better help you understand: incapable, inadequate, useless, unfulfilled. I know that I shouldn’t think like that and it’s not a constant thought, it’s more like a reminder. I understand that there are many women dealing with infertility but they’re honestly probably feeling the same way. So let me vent. Seeing all of the women around me get pregnant definitely triggers something in me. It’s an overwhelming bittersweet feeling. I even noticed that I won’t allow myself to fully bond with children because the triggers hurt too much. We usually run from our deepest insecurities, right?
Sorry if I pulled on a few of your strings with my venting. Let’s move on to more informative information. The first and only clinic that I’ve spoken to so far is Extend Fertility. They’re located at 200 West 57th Street and offer egg freezing, embryo freezing, and IVF. They offer financing, a discount program, and accept some insurances. With their egg freezing service you can inquire about your egg count and egg quality.
The process
Fertility assessment which requires a blood test of your anti-mullerian hormone(AMH) to provide the clinic with an understanding of your fertility.
A 1x1 MD consultation with one of their doctors for up to an hour. You’ll discuss medical history and results from the fertility assessment. You’ll also review the science, the process, and personalized expectations of egg freezing.
A logistic class is the next step when ready to move forward. The clinic will teach you everything you need to know for a successful cycle, including how to administer prescribed hormone injections.
The clinic will then monitor your daily hormone injection progress over the next 6-12 days, every other day in short 20-30 minute visits. Yes, you will need to get up and take your ass to the clinic every other day.
Retrieval day is a 15 minute surgical procedure where the doctors remove follicular fluid, containing eggs, from your ovaries. You’ll be under mild sedation, so it won’t hurt. It’s done by needle through your vaginal wall leaving no cuts or stitches. You could probably return to work the office the next day, unless you get to work from home like me.
Vitrification and storage for your eggs is the last step. Your eggs are incubated to allow for as many as possible. The mature eggs that can be fertilized are frozen in liquid nitrogen in their lab. Your eggs will be stored on-site before being transferred to their secure storage facility.
Pricing breakdown
Fertility assessment and consultation-complimentary(gee, thanks)
1st cycle- $6,500
Additional cycles-$5,500
Additional fees
Medication(may be covered by insurance)-$3,00-6,000
Storage per year-$600 for one year, $2,400 for five years, and $4,200 for ten years.
Please note that their discount is only offered to cancer and transgender patients…
Clearly infertility is an expensive problem to have. I’m going to expand my research outside of the city in hopes that the pricing drops a little. Maybe this process will look a little more appealing to me if the price was more manageable, even with financing. But then I feel bad for looking at this like a chess match because it’s ultimately for a baby. You can’t put a price on children, right? I’m still holding out on hope that I won’t even need to go this route but I’ll circle back with the next clinic I harass.
