Egg Freezing in New Jersey | Damien Fertility Partners
Egg freezing in New Jersey has grown sharply in the past decade, and the reasons are not hard to find. According to SART, fertility clinics across the United States performed 39,269 egg-freezing cycles in 2023, a 39.2% increase over the prior year and a 544% increase since SART began tracking the procedure in 2014. The average age at which patients freeze their eggs has dropped from 36.0 in 2014 to 34.9 in 2021, reflecting a shift toward earlier, more proactive preservation.
At Damien Fertility Partners, egg freezing is performed using vitrification in a CAP-accredited lab, with the same physician managing your care from the initial consultation through retrieval. Offices are located in Shrewsbury, Newark, and Jersey City.
Who Freezes Their Eggs and Why
Egg freezing is not limited to one profile. The patients who pursue it generally fall into a few categories, though their reasons are personal and varied.
Some patients are planning ahead. They may be in their late 20s or early 30s, focused on their careers or education, and not yet ready to start a family, but aware that egg quality declines with age. Freezing eggs at a younger age preserves their biological potential for use years later through IVF.
Others face medical circumstances that threaten future fertility. Cancer patients about to begin chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery that could damage the ovaries are candidates for urgent fertility preservation. Damien Fertility Partners connects these patients with the Livestrong Fertility Program and Walgreens Heartbeat Program for additional support.
Some patients freeze their eggs as part of a broader family-building plan. This includes single individuals who want biological children in the future, LGBTQ+ patients building toward parenthood on a longer timeline, and patients who have been diagnosed with conditions like PCOS or endometriosis that may affect their reproductive window.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine removed the “experimental” label from egg freezing in 2013, marking a turning point in clinical acceptance. Since then, the procedure has moved from a niche option to a routine part of reproductive planning.
How Egg Freezing Works
The egg freezing process at Damien Fertility Partners involves ovarian stimulation with injectable medications, followed by egg retrieval under anesthesia and rapid freezing via vitrification.
Ovarian stimulation begins with injectable medications that prompt the ovaries to produce multiple follicles over approximately 10 to 14 days. During this period, monitoring appointments (bloodwork and ultrasound) track follicle development, allowing the care team to adjust medication dosing based on each patient’s response.
Trigger and retrieval. When follicles reach the target size, a trigger shot initiates final egg maturation. About 36 hours later, the egg retrieval takes place. The procedure is roughly 30 minutes, performed under anesthesia using ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration. Patients rest the remainder of the day and typically return to normal activity the following day.
Vitrification. Mature eggs are frozen using vitrification, a rapid freezing technique that prevents ice crystal formation inside the cell. This method has significantly improved post-thaw survival rates compared to older slow-freeze protocols. The eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen at the practice’s lab and remain viable indefinitely.
When the patient is ready to use her eggs, they are thawed and fertilized through IVF. The resulting embryos can then be tested via preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) before transfer.
The Lab That Stores Your Eggs
The lab where your eggs are frozen, stored, and eventually thawed is one of the most important variables in the entire process. Damien Fertility Partners holds accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the FDA, and the NJ State Department of Health, all with zero deficiencies.
The lab uses CHLOE, Fairtility’s AI-powered embryo monitoring system, which continuously tracks embryo development inside the incubator without disturbing the culture environment.
When patients return to use their frozen eggs, the lab’s role becomes central again. Egg thaw survival, fertilization rates, and embryo development all depend on the skill and protocols of the embryology team. In 2023, Damien Fertility Partners reported 660 total ART cycles and a 100% elective single-embryo transfer rate for patients under 35, according to SART data.
Your Doctor Through the Entire Process
Egg freezing is sometimes framed as a simple, standalone procedure. It is not. Ovarian stimulation requires careful monitoring and dosing adjustments. The retrieval is a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia.
And the decision about how many eggs to freeze, whether to pursue a second cycle, and how to plan for future use involves clinical judgment specific to each patient’s age, ovarian reserve, and goals. At Damien Fertility Partners, Dr. Miguel Damien and Dr. Barry Perlman manage each patient’s care from the initial consultation through egg retrieval.
Both physicians are board-certified reproductive endocrinologists with specific clinical experience in fertility preservation. They are supported by Nurse Practitioners Gloria Lopez and Elizabeth Piercy, who manage monitoring appointments and in-office procedures.
Insurance, Cost, and Financial Support
Elective egg freezing is generally not covered by insurance, as most plans classify it as an elective procedure rather than a medical necessity. However, egg freezing for medical reasons, such as prior to cancer treatment, may qualify for coverage under your plan.
New Jersey’s fertility insurance mandate, expanded in 2024, requires qualifying group health plans with 50 or more employees to cover up to four completed IVF cycles per lifetime. Coverage specifics depend on your individual plan and the clinical indication for treatment.
Damien Fertility Partners employs a dedicated bilingual Insurance Verification Specialist who confirms your coverage before treatment begins.
For patients who need financial support, the practice partners with CapexMD for fertility-specific loans from $3,000 to $50,000, with pre-approval within 24 hours. Medication discount programs through EMD Serono’s Compassionate Care Program (25 to 75% savings for eligible self-pay patients) and Merck’s Reuniterx program are also available.
For cancer patients, the Livestrong Fertility Program and Walgreens Heartbeat Program provide additional resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best age to freeze your eggs?
Most reproductive endocrinologists recommend freezing eggs in your late 20s to early 30s, when egg quality and quantity are at their strongest. National data shows the average age at egg freezing has declined from 36 to about 35 in recent years, reflecting a trend toward earlier preservation. That said, the right time depends on each patient’s ovarian reserve, which is assessed through bloodwork and ultrasound at the initial consultation.
How long can frozen eggs be stored?
Frozen eggs stored through vitrification remain viable indefinitely. The freezing process suspends all biological activity, so there is no degradation over time. Eggs frozen five or ten years ago have the same potential as eggs frozen last month.
Does insurance cover egg freezing in New Jersey?
Elective egg freezing is typically not covered by insurance in New Jersey, as it is classified as an elective procedure. Egg freezing for medical reasons, such as before cancer treatment, may be covered depending on your plan.
New Jersey’s fertility mandate covers up to four completed IVF cycles per lifetime for qualifying group plans, but this applies to IVF treatment, not elective egg freezing. A bilingual Insurance Verification Specialist at Damien Fertility Partners will review your specific benefits before treatment begins.
How many eggs should I freeze?
The number depends on your age and ovarian reserve. Younger patients typically produce more eggs per cycle, and most clinicians recommend banking 15 to 20 mature eggs to increase the chance of a future pregnancy. Some patients complete two or more cycles to reach that target. Your physician will discuss expectations based on your diagnostic workup.
What happens when I want to use my frozen eggs?
Your eggs are thawed and fertilized through IVF. The resulting embryos develop in the lab through day 7, at which point they can undergo preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) before transfer. The embryo transfer itself is brief and does not require anesthesia. Your reproductive endocrinologist manages the entire process.
Take the First Step
Egg freezing is one of the few medical decisions that gives you more options in the future rather than fewer. At Damien Fertility Partners, the process is managed by the same physician from consultation through retrieval, in a CAP-accredited lab with vitrification expertise and AI-assisted monitoring, and supported by financing resources that can make the process accessible regardless of insurance coverage.
Request a consultation with Dr. Damien or Dr. Perlman to discuss your timeline and options, or visit damienfertilitypartners.com to schedule your first appointment.