When shall I consider egg freezing?

The right time is when freezing eggs meaningfully lowers uncertainty for you. For some that is early to mid 30s. For others it is the late 20s because study, training, or travel will push family plans far into the future. Many people in their late 30s and early 40s also choose to freeze because it fits their goals and gives them a concrete plan. Age shapes outcomes, but your timeline, health, and values matter just as much.

Signals it is worth exploring now

You expect a long gap before trying for a first or next child, including graduate programs, residencies, deployments, long-term travel, or start-up life.

Partnership is uncertain or you plan solo parenthood and want more control over timing.

You have a diagnosis that can affect ovarian reserve or egg quality over time, such as some endometriosis cases, prior ovarian surgery, or a strong family history of earlier menopause.

You are preparing for medical treatment that may impact fertility, including chemotherapy or pelvic radiation.

You are in your late 20s and already know you want children much later, and you want today’s egg quality stored as a safety net.

You are in your late 30s or early 40s and want to preserve what is available now, understanding you may need more than one cycle or to discuss embryo freezing with your team.

You want more than one child and prefer to bank toward your family size goal.

How to sense-check timing without guesswork

Start with information rather than pressure. Two data points give useful clarity. First, a focused hormone baseline that includes AMH with early-cycle FSH and estradiol shows where you are starting. Second, a clinic can add an antral follicle count ultrasound to estimate how many mature eggs you might retrieve in a cycle. With those in hand, you and your doctor can decide whether one cycle is enough or whether a small series makes sense for your goals. Budget, time for monitoring, and your day-to-day support also matter. Online calculators can offer ballpark ranges for eggs needed, but your plan should reflect your own numbers and how you respond to medication.

If you are in your 20s, remember that egg freezing is not a requirement. It is an option. Some will feel confident waiting and simply rechecking data each year. Others will feel calmer banking now because their plans clearly point to later pregnancy. If you are in your late 30s or early 40s, options still exist. Your team may talk about doing more than one cycle or consider embryo freezing if that better serves your goals.

What changes if you freeze

An egg-freezing cycle usually takes a few weeks, mirrors the first part of IVF, and ends with mature eggs stored for later use. Side effects are generally short lived. You may reach your target in one cycle or decide to bank across two or more. Freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy, but it can shorten the path to a transfer later by giving you younger eggs to work with.

Where Strawberry helps

Every fertility timeline is personal. Strawberry’s at-home panels give you your own baseline so timing decisions match your reality. Collection is simple with our virtually painless upper-arm device, and results are reviewed by clinicians and explained clearly. Day 3 testing is 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

Consider egg freezing when it would make the next few years feel clearer, whether that is in your 20s, 30s, or early 40s. With your own data and a personalized timeline, you can choose a plan that feels calm, informed, and right for you.