Who is egg freezing for?

Egg freezing is about protecting options. It lets you store eggs from today for use in a future that fits better with your timing, partnership, health, or career. It is not a guarantee of pregnancy. It is a way to improve the odds that you will have usable eggs later, especially if you are likely to try at an older age.

Who egg freezing can help

You plan to try later and want a safety net that reflects today’s egg quality.

You are between partners or not planning children right now but want to keep future choices open.

You are preparing for medical treatments that may affect fertility, like chemotherapy or pelvic radiation.

You have conditions that can impact ovarian reserve over time, for example some endometriosis cases, or a strong family history of earlier menopause.

You are considering solo parenthood or want more control over timing.

You are beginning gender-affirming care and want to preserve gametes before hormones or surgery.

You are planning IVF and prefer to bank eggs first, then decide later about fertilization and embryo testing.

Age at retrieval is a key driver. Freezing in your early to mid 30s usually provides a stronger safety net than freezing late in your 30s or 40s, although many people still choose to freeze later because it aligns with their goals and feels empowering.

When egg freezing may not be the best fit

If you are actively trying to conceive now, it may make more sense to continue trying or to speak with a clinician about next steps rather than pausing for a freeze cycle. If ultrasound and labs suggest very low ovarian reserve, a clinic may advise moving directly to IVF or discussing donor options instead of investing in egg freezing. The right choice depends on your goals and what your data shows.

How to decide

Start with information, not pressure. A clinic will look at your age, ovarian reserve labs, and an antral follicle count to estimate how many eggs you may retrieve per cycle and how many cycles you might need to reach a target. Online calculators can provide ballpark ranges, but your plan should reflect your own numbers and how you respond to medication. Costs, time for monitoring, and your support system during the process are practical pieces to weigh as well.

Where Strawberry helps

Before you choose when to freeze or how aggressively to plan, it helps to understand your starting point. Strawberry’s at-home panels make that easy and private. Collection is simple with our virtually painless upper-arm device, and every result is reviewed by clinicians and explained in plain English. Day 3 testing is especially convenient because you collect at home, not at a lab when you are tired and menstruating. Every member also receives a Personalized Fertility Timeline that turns results into next steps and suggests when to recheck.

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

Egg freezing is for anyone who wants more control over timing and a realistic way to keep options open. If having a younger batch of eggs on ice would lower your stress or better fit your plans, it is worth exploring. Start with your baseline, review your Personalized Fertility Timeline, and take a few clear questions to a clinic. With a data-informed plan, you can choose the path that fits your life today and your goals for tomorrow.