Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs: What Recipient Parents Should Know 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs: How They Are Used in IVF

Before diving into the differences between fresh and frozen donor eggs, it’s helpful to understand how these eggs are used because the IVF journey is similar with fresh and frozen donor eggs. Here is the process step by step:

Step 1: Egg Retrieval 

The egg donor begins by taking fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. When the time is right, she undergoes a short, ultrasound-guided procedure to retrieve mature eggs from her ovaries. 

Step 2: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) 

The retrieved eggs—whether fresh or thawed from frozen—are then fertilized in a laboratory. Over the course of about five days, they develop into blastocysts (early-stage embryos). Fresh eggs are typically fertilized using standard IVF techniques. On the other hand, frozen eggs, due to the vitrification (freezing) process, require intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Vitrification can harden the outer shell of the egg, making fertilization more difficult. ICSI overcomes this potential challenge by injecting a single sperm directly into each egg using a microscopic needle. 

Most labs use ICSI for most procedures. In the absence of male factor infertility, the lab may use conventional insemination, but most physicians want to maximize fertilization and will use ICSI for almost everyone. 

Step 3: Embryo Transfer  

Once a viable blastocyst is selected, it's transferred into the uterus of the recipient parent or a gestational carrier who continues a prescribed medication regimen. Approximately nine days after transfer, the recipient will take a blood test to determine whether implantation was successful. Any remaining viable embryos can be vitrified (frozen) and stored for future family-building plans. 
Though both fresh and frozen donor eggs are used in IVF, the process and timing are handled differently.  

Embryo Transfer With Frozen Donor Eggs

Fresh donor eggs are retrieved and fertilized in real time, which means you and your donor follow a coordinated process from preparation through retrieval. Key points:

The recipient's IVF cycle is synchronized with the donor's.

Eggs are retrieved and fertilized right away.

Recipient parents get all eggs produced in a fresh donation cycle, which may be more than the six provided with a frozen cycle.

This option involves more planning and scheduling than with frozen donor eggs.

Embryo Transfer With Fresh Donor Eggs

Frozen donor eggs have already gone through the egg retrieval and freezing process and are stored safely by an egg bank. These eggs are available on demand, allowing you to start your journey on your terms. Key points:

Eggs are retrieved, frozen, and stored in advance.

The process of IVF with frozen donor eggs is often quicker and more flexible.

Frozen eggs usually come in cohorts of six.

Recipient and donor schedules do not need to be coordinated.

This is a good option if you want to start sooner or simplify logistics.

It's also a good option for those who envision smaller families.

Each method supports successful treatment. Fresh cycles yield a higher number of eggs. Frozen cycles typically begin within shorter timeframes and are easier to manage. Your fertility specialist can help you determine which approach best suits you. 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

Success Rates: Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Success rates are a key factor in determining whether to choose fresh or frozen donor eggs. The good news is that both options are widely used in IVF and can lead to successful outcomes. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), pregnancy rates per embryo transfer are: 

51.9% with fresh donor eggs

45.6% with frozen donor eggs

(Source: ASRM Practice Committee, 2021) 

A separate study analyzing more than 11,000 donor egg cycles found the following live birth rates: 

51.1% for fresh eggs

39.7% for frozen eggs

(Source: JAMA, 2021) 

These differences reflect several factors, such as: 

The number of eggs retrieved during a fresh cycle

The impact of the freezing and thawing process

Individual health or medical considerations

Advancements in technology, particularly vitrification, have greatly increased the reliability of frozen donor egg success rates. However, in many clinical settings, fresh donor egg success rates tend to be a little higher. 

If you're navigating fresh vs. frozen IVF over age 40, your doctor may recommend the best approach based on your personal health history, timeline, or embryo development goals. 

Both paths are viable. What matters most is what fits your life and leads you to the family you are building. 

Have questions about how success rates may apply to you? Let's talk. If you're ready to start your journey, find a donor.

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

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Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Many intended parents consider using fresh eggs instead of frozen eggs for IVF because of the unique advantages fresh cycles offer. For some, fresh donor eggs provide more opportunities to create embryos. 

Fresh cycles often result in a higher number of eggs retrieved during a single procedure. In addition, you receive all the eggs in the donation cycle with the following benefits:

Increases your chances of successful egg fertilization

Provides more embryos to work with

Potentially leads to subsequent transfers in the future.

Because fresh eggs do not require thawing, this option removes concerns about the impact of cryopreservation on egg quality or the risk of losing eggs during the thaw. In some clinics, early-stage embryo development shows stronger outcomes when fertilization happens immediately after retrieval—a possible benefit when considering egg implantation and long-term success. 

Although retrieving fresh donor eggs is a longer process, the chances of bringing home a baby are statistically higher. 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

We can help you explore both options to find your best fit. 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

For many intended parents, the frozen donor egg IVF process offers a more flexible, streamlined path to parenthood. This option is often chosen by those who are ready to move forward quickly or want a simpler process. 

Since the eggs are already retrieved and vitrified, you can begin treatment when the time is right for you, which can reduce delays and help ease the emotional uncertainty that sometimes comes with waiting. 

The logistics of frozen cycles are often easier to manage. With fewer required appointments and less coordination, the frozen donor egg cost is typically lower than that of a fresh cycle, making the process more accessible while still maintaining high standards of care. However, frozen eggs usually come in cohorts of six. 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

Important Considerations for Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing between a fresh donor cycle or frozen eggs is an important decision. Both paths come with advantages depending on your specific family building goals. Here are a few   details to consider when choosing your path.  

With fresh cycles, your IVF must align with the donor’s timeline, requiring simultaneous preparation. This real-time coordination allows immediate fertilization but may extend the process and require flexible scheduling.

With frozen eggs, timing is more flexible to create embryos as the eggs are already ready for fertilization. Typically, this process takes about half the time that a fresh donation requires.  

Timing and Coordination 

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Where we stand out from typical agencies is in our encouragement of disclosed donations and mutual matching. At Everie, we allow our donors and recipient parents to choose from four different types of egg donations: Known, Semi-Known, ID Release, and De-Identified. While we will always advocate for our donors to express themselves and their comfortability by choosing the type of donation they feel best suits them and their needs, we caution those who want to choose De-Identified Donations with the expectation of never being located. In today’s world, we just cannot guarantee anonymity. In fact, anonymity, as it once was, no longer exists. Because of online DNA databases – such as 23 and Me – and the vast interconnectedness proffered by social media, donors can no longer remain anonymous. We’d like you to know that you have options beyond an anonymous donation, and we’ll support you in your discovery and choice, no matter what you select.

The cost of using fresh donor eggs may be higher than that of frozen egg options. Clinic visits, medical monitoring, and potential travel or accommodation for the donor add to the cost. In addition, fresh cycles require compensation to the donor.  A fresh donor egg agency can help manage these logistics while keeping you informed.  

Frozen egg matches are often less expensive as the eggs are already retrieved, and the donor has already been compensated. You eliminate the variable costs associated with a fresh donation cycle. There may also be opportunities for insurance and/or employer benefits that can be applied to frozen cohort purchases. 

Cost Factors 

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Something you may not have yet considered when deciding whether or not to become an egg donor, is that there will be a child(ren) in the world who shares your DNA, who potentially looks like you or sounds like you, and might even have some of your personality traits. Our donors are remarkable women, who recognize their ability to powerfully impact other people’s lives and change them for the better. They also understand that their part in this journey is not a one-time transaction but a life-long connection. Our donors understand that the donor-conceived children may become curious about their origins and have a right to know from where and who they come, fostering a strong sense of identity, and providing access to genetic information and biological medical history.

It may take time to find the right donor, especially if you have specific preferences for traits, background, or openness in a donor match. At Everie, you can find both fresh and frozen donor options, providing the most choice and opportunity to find the best match for your family. 

These factors are part of the journey, but most intended parents find the benefits of using an egg donor worth it. Ultimately, the right path is the one that aligns with your values, timeline, and vision for your family. 

3. Egg Donors Have a Choice in Who They Match With

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This is how Everie is different from every other egg program. Our process of mutual matching allows our donors to choose the recipient parents of their egg donation. It is important to us that our donors have a say in the process. We want them to be in control of their own narrative. Recipient parents select the donor(s) from the database that best match their preferences. We will then reach out to the donor selected and inform them that the recipient parents are interested in using their eggs. Mutual matching ensures you get to make the final decision. Your eggs will only be used if you agree to have them go to the interested recipient parents. We will be your sounding board, your confidant, and your greatest advocate. Donors’ voices deserve to be heard, and we, at Everie, will make sure of that. While there are other egg donor agencies out there, the Everie difference is that we believe in the power of your voice. In addition to being compensated monetarily for your contribution, we want our donors to feel emotionally appreciated and valued as well. Without women like you, so many others would miss out on the opportunity to grow their families.

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Egg banks offer a wide selection of donor profiles. You can explore profiles, choose an egg donor, and begin preparing for your cycle without added wait times. At Everie, we use an egg donor matching platform called The Exchange, designed to foster genuine connections by helping intended parents find egg donors through detailed filters like ethnicity, donation type, and identity preferences. It supports both fresh and frozen donations and offers disclosure options for Open ID, Semi-Open, and ID Release arrangements.  

Our Mutual Matching™ is a two-way process that ensures both intended parents and donors feel confident and connected in their decision to move forward together. Intended parents share a personal profile that reflects who they are, and donors have time to consider whether it feels like the right fit. Open and Semi-Open matches involve a video conversation that offers space to build connection and clarity. This mutual approach fosters transparency, trust, and meaningful alignment for everyone involved, including the child. With advances in vitrification, frozen donor eggs offer strong, reliable outcomes, giving families more flexibility and confidence on their path to parenthood. 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

There is no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to choosing between fresh or frozen donor eggs, and that’s okay. Choosing between options in donor egg IVF is a deeply personal step in your journey. 

Frozen eggs, typically offered in cohorts of six, provide flexibility and convenience for many intended parents. On the other hand, with a fresh donation cycle, intended parents receive all the eggs in the cycle, potentially resulting in a greater number of eggs and a higher success rate. Both are proven, trusted paths. 

Understanding the fresh versus frozen egg donor experience helps you make an informed choice that aligns with your goals, timeline, and vision for your family. At Everie, we are here to offer insight, guidance, and support every step of the way. 

 Still weighing your options? We are here to help you navigate your journey. 

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 

Choosing the Best Path Forward 

FAQs About Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs 

It depends on what matters most to you. Fresh donor eggs may offer more embryos and slightly higher success rates, especially in certain age groups or medical scenarios. Frozen donor eggs offer a faster timeline, more flexibility, and lower costs. Learn more about the differences. 
Frozen embryos have already been fertilized, which gives clinics more information about development. But frozen eggs are also a safe and trusted option. Review the differences between frozen eggs and frozen embryos.  
Yes. Everie supports intended parents in finding the right donor match. We offer both fresh donors and frozen donor options through our curated matching platform, The Exchange. When intended parents begin their journey, they start by exploring the database to find an egg donor who feels like the right fit. Explore how egg donor matching works.

Fresh and Frozen Eggs:

How They Are Used in IVF 

Success Rates:

Fresh vs. Frozen Eggs

Why Choose Fresh Eggs 

Why Choose Frozen Eggs  

Important Considerations for

Choosing Your Best Path

Choosing an Egg Donor 