Egg Freezing Near Red Bank, NJ | Damien Fertility Partners
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) removed the experimental label from egg freezing in 2012, after a review found that IVF and pregnancy rates with frozen eggs compared favorably to those with fresh eggs. Planned egg freezing has since become a standard option for patients who want to protect the possibility of a biological child later in life.
Damien Fertility Partners has provided fertility care in Monmouth County since 1989, when it began as East Coast IVF, the first successful IVF program in Monmouth and Ocean County.
Our Shrewsbury office is a short drive from downtown Red Bank and houses our on-site embryology lab, so retrieval and freezing take place in the same building.
Our lab holds accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the FDA, and the NJ State Department of Health, all with zero deficiencies. The same physician stays with you from your first consultation through retrieval.
Request a consultation at our Shrewsbury office, or schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Barry Perlman.
Egg Freezing at Our Shrewsbury Office
Our Shrewsbury office at 655 Shrewsbury Avenue is our primary Monmouth County location. It serves patients across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, including Red Bank, Little Silver, Fair Haven, Rumson, and Tinton Falls. The office offers full IVF services, an on-site embryology lab, fertility testing, and in-office procedures.
Proximity matters more for egg freezing than most patients expect. A stimulation cycle typically requires several monitoring visits over roughly two weeks, often scheduled early in the morning. The Shrewsbury office opens at 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, with a parking lot directly adjacent to the building. For Red Bank patients, that usually means a monitoring visit can be completed before the workday starts.
The on-site lab is the second practical advantage. Eggs retrieved in Shrewsbury move directly to our embryology team for assessment and freezing, without transport to an outside facility. The lab that freezes your eggs is the same lab that will later thaw and fertilize them if you return to use them.
The Egg Freezing Process, Step by Step
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) follows the first half of an IVF cycle. Active treatment takes approximately two weeks, and the eggs are frozen rather than fertilized.
Initial evaluation. The process begins with a fertility evaluation. It typically includes bloodwork for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and a transvaginal ultrasound to count antral follicles. These tests estimate how many eggs a cycle is likely to produce, within the limits described in the next section.
Ovarian stimulation. You take injectable medications for approximately 8 to 14 days to stimulate the ovaries to develop multiple follicles at once. Your physician adjusts the dose based on how your body responds.
Monitoring. During stimulation, you return for ultrasounds and bloodwork every one to three days. These visits track follicle growth and hormone levels and determine the timing of the next step.
Trigger shot and egg retrieval. When follicles reach the target size, a trigger shot prompts final egg maturation. Retrieval follows approximately 36 hours later. It is a short procedure performed under sedation, and most patients return to normal activity within a day or two.
Vitrification. Our embryology team identifies the mature eggs (also called MII oocytes) and freezes them by vitrification, a flash-freezing method that prevents ice crystals from forming inside the egg. Only mature eggs can be fertilized later, so the count of mature eggs is the number that matters most.
Storage. Frozen eggs remain in long-term storage until you decide to use them. Storage carries an annual fee, which we review with you at consultation.
AMH Testing and the Limits of Ovarian Reserve Results
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is the most common blood test used before egg freezing. It estimates ovarian reserve, which the American Society for Reproductive Medicine defines as the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries.
Ovarian reserve and egg quality are separate measures. Egg quality refers to the potential of a fertilized egg to result in a live birth, and AMH provides information mainly about quantity. ASRM’s 2020 committee opinion finds that AMH and antral follicle count (AFC) are good predictors of how many eggs a stimulation cycle will produce. Both have only a weak association with egg quality, pregnancy, and live birth.
What AMH tells your physician. A higher AMH generally indicates a larger expected egg yield, and a lower AMH a smaller one. Your physician uses the result, together with AFC, to set your medication dose and estimate whether one cycle is likely to reach your target. AMH can be drawn on any day of the menstrual cycle, though results may be lower in patients currently using hormonal contraceptives.
What AMH cannot tell you. AMH alone cannot predict whether your eggs will fertilize, develop into healthy embryos, or result in a live birth. A low result does not rule out egg freezing. ASRM advises that even extremely low AMH values be used to counsel patients about expected yield, not to refuse treatment.
Why age matters more. ASRM states that age is a much stronger predictor of reproductive success than ovarian reserve. It also advises that ovarian reserve testing should not be used to promote planned egg freezing. Instead, the decision should rest on your reproductive plans and age.
For that reason, we interpret AMH alongside your age, AFC, medical history, and family-building goals. The result helps plan a cycle; it is not a standalone measure of future fertility.
Using Your Frozen Eggs Later
Frozen eggs become useful only when they are thawed and fertilized. When you return, the process continues as an IVF cycle.
Warming and fertilization. Eggs are warmed and fertilized using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which an embryologist injects a single sperm directly into each egg. ICSI is the standard approach for previously frozen eggs.
Embryo development. Fertilized eggs develop in our embryoscope time-lapse incubators. There, CHLOE by Fairtility uses AI to continuously monitor embryo growth without removing the embryos from a stable environment. CHLOE monitors embryos, not frozen eggs, so its role begins after fertilization.
Genetic testing (optional). Some patients choose preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), which screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. Our physicians have written about what PGT-A is and who may benefit. They have also covered what the evidence and ASRM guidelines say about its effect on success rates. More detail is on our genetic testing page.
Frozen embryo transfer. A selected embryo is placed in the uterus during a frozen embryo transfer (FET). Remaining embryos can be frozen for future use.
Age, Egg Count, and Realistic Outcomes
Age at freezing is the strongest predictor of success. The number of mature eggs frozen is the second.
ASRM’s 2021 practice guideline states that there is insufficient evidence to predict live birth rates after planned egg freezing. The same guideline counsels that live birth rates appear to be improved for women who freeze at a younger age. That qualifier matters. The field has strong data on frozen donor eggs and comparatively limited data on patients who froze their own eggs and later returned to use them.
The largest outcome studies give useful benchmarks. A 2025 review in Reproductive BioMedicine Online reports that patients who froze eggs before age 38 had a 51% cumulative live birth rate. That rate rose to 70% among those who froze at least 20 mature eggs. The cumulative live birth rate exceeded 75% for patients who froze 15 or more mature eggs before age 35, and exceeded 70% for patients aged 35 to 37 who froze 20 or more. The authors recommend freezing before age 38 when feasible.
Egg yield also declines with age. A 2023 peer-reviewed overview cites a study of 3,362 patients in which the median number of eggs retrieved in a first cycle fell from 18 in patients under 30 to 8 in patients 44 and older. As a result, some patients over 35 need two or more cycles to reach their target.
These figures are averages from published cohorts, not predictions for any individual. Your physician will estimate your likely yield from your AMH and follicle count and discuss whether one cycle is likely to be enough.
Reasons Patients Freeze Eggs
Patients freeze eggs for medical reasons, personal timing, or both. The cycle itself is largely the same; the urgency and insurance picture differ.
Planned egg freezing. Most patients who freeze eggs do so to preserve options while they finish training, build a career, or wait for the right partner. ASRM’s Ethics Committee opinion on planned egg freezing addresses this use directly. It identifies the main argument in favor of planned freezing as its potential to expand reproductive options and autonomy.
Before cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation can damage the ovaries. Patients facing these treatments are often seen quickly so stimulation can be completed before therapy begins. The Livestrong Fertility Program and the Walgreens Heartbeat Program offer financial support for cancer patients pursuing fertility preservation.
Before surgery or with conditions affecting ovarian reserve. Endometriosis and ovarian surgery can reduce the number of eggs available. Dr. Nina Seigelstein performs minimally invasive gynecologic surgery within our practice, so surgical planning and egg freezing can be coordinated by the same team.
Singles and LGBTQ+ patients. We offer services for singles and dedicated LGBTQ+ family building support, including reciprocal IVF. We place no BMI-based limitations on care.
Insurance Coverage for Egg Freezing in New Jersey
New Jersey’s insurance mandate covers infertility treatment broadly but covers egg freezing only in specific medical circumstances.
The state’s 2001 mandate, expanded in 2024, applies to fully insured group plans covering 50 or more employees. It requires them to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF and four completed egg retrievals per lifetime. According to ASRM’s summary of New Jersey insurance law, cryopreservation is not covered except for patients at risk of iatrogenic infertility.
A separate law, P.L.2019, c.306, requires coverage for standard fertility preservation services when a medically necessary treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. Iatrogenic infertility is impairment of fertility caused by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other medical treatment affecting reproductive organs. Even when freezing itself is covered, standard fertility preservation services do not include the storage of oocytes, so storage fees typically remain out of pocket.
Several further limits apply. Planned egg freezing for age or timing falls outside the mandate. The mandate generally does not apply to self-funded employer plans, though some employers offer egg freezing as a separate benefit. Legislation introduced in 2024 (S2870) would extend preservation coverage to individuals diagnosed with a menstrual disorder that may result in infertility, such as endometriosis or fibroids.
Our bilingual Insurance Verification Specialist checks your specific benefits before treatment begins. Details are on our insurance and financial resources page.
Board-Certified Fertility Specialists in Monmouth County
Both of our reproductive endocrinologists are board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). Board certification is a meaningful distinction, since not every clinician who describes themselves as a fertility specialist holds it.
Dr. Miguel Damien is our Medical Director. Castle Connolly has named him a Top Doctor in the NY Metro Area six times (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2018), and he is fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Barry Perlman completed his OB-GYN residency and his REI fellowship at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. His clinical focus includes fertility preservation, elective egg freezing, and ovarian aging, and he offers both in-person and virtual consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is a procedure in which eggs are retrieved after ovarian stimulation and frozen by vitrification for future use. The eggs can later be thawed, fertilized, and transferred as embryos through IVF.
How long does egg freezing take?
Active treatment takes approximately two weeks, including 8 to 14 days of stimulation injections and a short retrieval procedure. Most patients complete their initial evaluation in the weeks before the cycle begins. Our How to Begin page outlines the first steps.
How many eggs should I freeze?
Published data suggest that freezing 20 or more mature eggs before age 38 is associated with approximately a 70% chance of one live birth. Patients under 35 may need fewer eggs. ASRM notes the evidence remains limited, so your physician will set a target based on your age and test results.
Does insurance cover egg freezing in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires coverage when a medically necessary treatment, such as chemotherapy, may cause infertility. Planned egg freezing is generally not covered, and egg storage is excluded. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment; see our insurance and financial resources page.
How much does egg freezing cost in New Jersey?
Cost varies with medication dosage, the number of cycles, and storage time. CapexMD financing offers pre-approval within 24 hours.
Where can I freeze my eggs near Red Bank, NJ?
Our Shrewsbury office at 655 Shrewsbury Avenue is a short drive from Red Bank and includes an on-site embryology lab. Spanish-language information is available on our fertility preservation page in Spanish.
Egg Freezing Consultations in Monmouth County
We offer egg freezing at three New Jersey offices: Shrewsbury (Monmouth County), Newark (Essex County), and Jersey City (Hudson County). For patients in Red Bank and the surrounding Monmouth and Ocean County towns, our Shrewsbury office provides monitoring, retrieval, and freezing under one roof.
Dr. Miguel Damien and Dr. Barry Perlman manage each egg freezing cycle from evaluation through retrieval, and the same physician remains with you throughout. Virtual consultations are available with Dr. Perlman. More about our approach is on our fertility preservation page.
Request a consultation with Dr. Damien or Dr. Perlman to discuss your options and take the first step in your fertility journey.