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Egg freezing is a short, focused sprint. Most of the work happens in the two weeks before retrieval, but a little planning makes the whole experience calmer. The goal is simple: arrive at your start date with your medical basics, logistics, and support lined up so you can focus on one step at a time.
Start with a simple plan
Begin by sketching your timeline. If you know roughly when you want to cycle, book a clinic consult a few weeks ahead. Your clinician will review your history, medications, and any conditions such as endometriosis or thyroid issues, and will talk through the protocol that fits you. If you have a partner or are using donor sperm but plan to freeze eggs rather than embryos, confirm that choice so the plan reflects it.
Get the medical basics in place
Two inputs make planning easier. First, a focused hormone baseline that includes AMH with early-cycle FSH and estradiol gives context on ovarian reserve and cycle signaling. AMH can be measured any day, while FSH and estradiol are most informative early in the cycle. Second, a clinic ultrasound called an antral follicle count estimates how many mature eggs you might retrieve per cycle and helps set realistic targets. If you have symptoms or risk factors, your clinician may also suggest checks like thyroid function or vitamin D to support overall health during the process.
Line up the practical things
Stimulation involves daily injections and several early morning monitoring visits. Make life easy by clearing your calendar where you can, arranging flexible work starts, and setting reminders for medication times. Pharmacies sometimes need a day or two to fill fertility medications, so place orders as soon as the clinic sends prescriptions and check whether anything needs refrigeration. Set up a sharps container and a small kit with alcohol wipes, bandages, and ice packs. If you live far from the clinic, plan transport for monitoring days and retrieval day, and choose a friend or family member to take you home after the procedure.
A short prep checklist
Order medications and supplies and learn each injection.
Confirm monitoring appointment windows and retrieval week backup plans.
Sort transport and a pickup person for retrieval day.
Set up a sharps container and a small home injection station.
Stock simple meals, electrolytes, and a comfortable outfit for post-retrieval rest.
Support your body in the run-up
Perfect routines are not required. Steady habits help more than extremes. Aim for regular meals with protein, colorful plants, and healthy fats. Keep caffeine in a range that does not disrupt sleep, and avoid smoking or vaping. Gentle movement and short walks are great; save very intense training for after you recover. Protect a consistent sleep window and build a wind-down that actually works for you. If you already take a prenatal with folate or vitamin D on medical advice, continue unless your clinician says otherwise.
Know what the two-week window looks like
Most people take injections for 8 to 12 days with monitoring every few mornings. When follicles are ready, you take a precisely timed trigger shot and have retrieval about 34 to 36 hours later. Expect bloating, mood shifts, and some fatigue. Keep hydration up and plan light evenings. Retrieval is a brief outpatient procedure under light anesthesia. You will need someone to take you home and you will likely want a quiet day or two afterward. Your clinic will update you on how many mature eggs were frozen and arrange storage.
What to bring on retrieval day
Photo ID and clinic paperwork.
Loose clothing and socks.
A water bottle and a light snack for after the procedure.
Lip balm and a phone charger.
Budget and benefits
Costs cluster around the cycle fee and medications, with storage billed yearly and separate fees later to thaw, fertilize, and transfer. If you have employer fertility benefits, check whether egg freezing, medications, and at least one year of storage are included. If your plan requires pre-authorization or a Letter of Medical Necessity, start that paperwork early so it does not delay your start date.
Where Strawberry helps
Starting with your own data keeps decisions clear. Strawberry’s at-home panels measure the hormones that actually inform planning, and every result is reviewed by clinicians and explained in plain English. Day 3 testing is especially easy because you collect at home, not at a lab when you are tired and menstruating. After testing, you receive a Personalized Fertility Timeline that shows how fertility may change with time and when it makes sense to recheck or speak with a clinic.
Quick pick
Fast check on egg quantity: Ovarian Reserve Blood Test (AMH).
Planning timing and targets: Fertility Blood Test (AMH, FSH, estradiol).
Wider hormone picture: Women’s Health Panel.
Bottom line
Preparation is about reducing friction, not perfection. With a clear start date, a small amount of baseline data, and a few practical setups at home, you can move through an egg-freezing cycle with more comfort and less second-guessing. Your plan should fit your life today and the future you want.
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