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Using Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs

Introduction

At Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, patients can undergo a donor egg cycle using fresh or frozen eggs. Individuals or couples might choose to use donor eggs for various reasons, such as same-sex male couples wanting to start a family, patients with non-viable eggs due to age or medical conditions, or patients wishing to avoid passing on genetic disorders.

Fresh donor eggs are obtained through a process called egg retrieval. These eggs are fertilized immediately in the lab in a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF). When using frozen donor eggs, eggs are obtained similarly but are frozen through a process called vitrification on the day of egg retrieval without fertilization. Future IVF will be performed on these eggs once thawed.

AFCC has provided fresh donor egg cycles since 1997 and frozen donor egg cycles since 2014.

Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs

Although fresh donor egg cycles are still a popular option for many patients, more and more patients are turning to frozen donor eggs. In 2022, 985 fresh donor egg cycles and 2,817 frozen donor egg cycles were reported in the US. If you are deciding between the use of fresh and frozen eggs during your egg donation cycle, the following are relevant considerations:

1. Success Rates. Fresh donor eggs have a similar success rate to frozen donor eggs. In 2022, fresh donor eggs had a 38.7% live birth rate and frozen donor eggs had a 38.9% live birth rate in the US. At AFCC in 2022, our live birth rates for fresh and frozen donor eggs were 66.70% and 48.8%.
2. Egg Retrieval. If a patient chooses to undergo a fresh donor egg cycle, there may potentially be more eggs available for treatment. At AFCC, our average egg collection from one donor is 17 eggs, ready for immediate fertilization (fresh) or future use (frozen). Recipients may use fresh eggs for current pregnancies or freeze embryos for future pregnancies, possibly allowing several pregnancies from one donation cycle. Frozen eggs are typically provided in batches of 6, and most survive the freeze-thaw process. In 2022, the national live birth rate was 38.9% for frozen donor eggs and 45.8% for frozen embryos from donated eggs¹. At AFCC, it was 48.8% for frozen eggs and 52.5% for frozen embryos².
3. Embryo Creation Opportunity. The more eggs available, the more embryos can be created, increasing the potential for a successful conception and multiple conceptions if desired. Fresh donations generally yield more embryos than frozen, which may benefit recipients planning on having more than one child.
4. Donor Egg Availability & Diversity. A key advantage of using frozen eggs is minimal waiting time. Eggs are often available immediately through AFCC's egg bank or through our partnership with MyEggBank, the largest network of donor egg banks in North America. Synchronization of cycles between the egg donor and recipient is also unnecessary.
5. Cost Per Treatment Cycle. At AFCC, the cost per cycle with frozen eggs is approximately $19,500 compared to fresh eggs at about $30,000.

Whether you choose fresh or frozen donor eggs, both may improve your chances of a successful conception through IVF. To discuss your optimal treatment or for any donor egg questions, reach out to us today to speak with a physician at AFCC!

Key Sources

• SART: Donor Eggs Fresh Or Frozen?
• SART: Who Needs An Egg Donor?
• SART 2022 National Summary Report
• AFCC 2022 Detailed Clinic Summary Report
• MyEggBank

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