Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs

Why Fresh Egg Donation Continues to Shine

When pursuing IVF with donor eggs, intended parents are often presented with two options: fresh or frozen donor eggs. While both paths can lead to successful outcomes, fresh egg donation remains a highly valued and compelling choice for many families due to its personalization, potential yield, and long-standing success in assisted reproduction.

Fresh Donor Eggs: A Personalized, High-Touch Approach

Fresh donor egg cycles are designed specifically around the intended parents. A donor completes ovarian stimulation for a planned retrieval, and her eggs are fertilized immediately after collection. This customized approach often results in a larger number of eggs, giving families the opportunity to create more embryos in a single cycle. For intended parents hoping for siblings or wanting additional embryos for future use, this can be a meaningful advantage.

Fresh egg donation also allows for real-time synchronization between the donor and recipient, offering a sense of connection and intentionality throughout the process. Because the eggs are fertilized immediately, they avoid the freeze-thaw step, which some intended parents find reassuring. Fresh cycles have been used successfully for decades and remain a gold standard in many fertility clinics.

Frozen Donor Eggs: Convenient, but More Fixed

Frozen donor eggs are retrieved and vitrified in advance, then stored until selected. This option offers speed and convenience, as treatment can begin quickly without coordinating donor and recipient cycles. Pricing is often more predictable, and frozen egg banks provide immediate access to available donors.

That said, frozen egg cycles typically include a limited, predetermined number of eggs, which may reduce flexibility for families hoping to create multiple embryos. While freezing technology has advanced greatly, some intended parents prefer the simplicity of working with fresh eggs from retrieval through fertilization without intermediate steps.

Why Many Families Choose Fresh

Fresh egg donation appeals to those seeking a more tailored experience, a potentially higher egg yield, and greater long-term family planning options. The process is collaborative and intentional, often providing peace of mind for families who want to maximize their chances within a single cycle.

Ultimately, both fresh and frozen donor eggs are valid, hopeful options. For many intended parents, however, fresh egg donation stands out as a powerful, personalized approach—one that continues to help build families with confidence, care, and possibility.

Meet the Founder of Cloud9 Conception

Shelby is a two time prior egg donor, IVF advocate, and founder of Cloud9 Conception, LLC. She has worked in the field of fertility for over 7 years, during which time she has dedicated herself to the specialized role of third party reproduction in IVF. Her professional and personal mission is to make Egg Donor IVF more accessible and personal for those building their families.