Shady Grove Fertility Center in Washington, D.C.

Initial consultation with a fertility physician to review current fertility, discuss egg freezing options, and schedule ovarian reserve testing.

Use of birth control pills for 2 to 3 weeks to initiate and synchronize the egg freezing cycle.

Daily injectable hormone medications for 10 to 12 days with 6 to 9 monitoring appointments including bloodwork and ultrasound to grow multiple follicles.

Single injection administered to mature eggs and signal the body to release them prior to retrieval.

Transvaginal egg retrieval under anesthesia lasting about 20 to 25 minutes at an ambulatory surgery center.

Flash-freezing mature eggs using vitrification technology and storing them in liquid nitrogen.

Laboratory procedure to fertilize thawed eggs by injecting a single sperm into each egg.

Simple 5-minute procedure to transfer embryos into the uterus without anesthesia.

Consultation with physician and social worker to select and arrange donor sperm through certified sperm banks.

Testing to assess egg supply and ovarian function prior to egg freezing.

Assessment of uterus and fallopian tubes before using frozen eggs.

Evaluation of male partner's sperm count and quality before using frozen eggs.