Frozen Embryo Maintenance cost?

[CanAmFam]

ok, my last thread for now, i promise

i asked our doctor about freezing embryos, and slightly asked about /hinted at costs. she let me know what the office charged to freeze, which was reasonable. she also said that if using frozen, not as much medication would be needed for a Xfer later, so the cost drops. just about "500$ of meds to prepare the uterus" was what she said

i didnt ask about embryo maintenance. after googling, it obviously varies from office to office but im wondering if there is an average cost. im seeing anywhere from 100-500$ every 6 months.

after working out math, using frosties is actually cheaper than a round of injections w/ IUI, so im heading that direction

thanks for sharing if you can! ill be leaving a message with my nurse tonight to get their numbers, but id love to compare.

-natalie

 

[psp2011]

Natalie,
Am I right in understanding that you don't have frosties yet to use? I just had a cycle in Feb that failed and have 1 frosty from that. The office sent me a bill for $500 which included the cryopreservation (freezing) and storage for 1 year. Now, going ahead with one more cycle, we had to decide if we wanted to use the frosty and do FET or go with another fresh cycle. Turns out if we did FET, cost would be $5000 (+meds which would be less then fresh, but mine are covered so no diff there) with only 25% chance of it working (in my case). The frosty still has to survive the thaw (which my FS said was 50% chance) So of course you pay for thaw (like $2500, included in original price) and then if it doesn't make it, you have the bill and nothing to show. (plus having prepared, taken and paid for meds) If it does make it, you go on with the transfer and incur those costs. Now a fresh is normally $10,000 (I'm getting repeat customer discount of $8400) with over $50% chance of success in my case. (meds being more, but equal for me since ins covered)
So having said all that, if you have the frosties already, only a bit cheaper. If not, you still have to go through with stims and retrieval etc. Also gotta way the chance of success with each.
That led us to one more fresh try!
Hope I made sense!

 

[elizabethb24]

The cost of freezing and storage was included for us. We ended up having 3 blasts that have been frozen and they will stay frozen until we decide to use them at no cost to us.

 

[CanAmFam]

thanks for the replies. i didnt realize that the thaw rate was low honestly. im leaving a message with the office right now and ill ask for them to try to give that info to me.

thanks for sharing. im guessing the price she gave me for freezing included the maint. but who knows!

 

[islandnyc]

My office charges me $1000.00 per year for "storage" and the cost for the actual cryopreservation was $785.00.

 

[CanAmFam]

thanks again for sharing.

it seems the office im at is fairly average.
they charge 750 for freezing and one year maint. then 200 for 6 months thereafter. we are definitely investing int hat if they find ones good enough to freeze!

 

[RosieCheeks]

I pay 100.00 per month and I have 7 frosties. We got pregnant naturally after losing 120 pounds so I really don't know what to do with them now.

 

[psp2011]

I pay 100.00 per month and I have 7 frosties. We got pregnant naturally after losing 120 pounds so I really don't know what to do with them now.

Most likely we won't use our one either. The nurse at the office said if you don't plan to use it, they can destroy it. (Sounds so bad though!) I suppose you could donate if you were inclined to do so, but that's a personal matter. If I were you and paying $100/mos and not going to use them, that doesn't make sense to keep on. Mine being paid up for the first year, we will probably wait to decide after that.

 

[psp2011]

Rosie, forgot to say congrats on the weight loss! That's spectacular!

 

[RosieCheeks]

I pay 100.00 per month and I have 7 frosties. We got pregnant naturally after losing 120 pounds so I really don't know what to do with them now.

Most likely we won't use our one either. The nurse at the office said if you don't plan to use it, they can destroy it. (Sounds so bad though!) I suppose you could donate if you were inclined to do so, but that's a personal matter. If I were you and paying $100/mos and not going to use them, that doesn't make sense to keep on. Mine being paid up for the first year, we will probably wait to decide after that.

I figured that once I have this baby and she is healthy, I would have them discarded. I know it sounds horrible but the idea of having DH's and my fertilized embryo's in someone else freaks me out.

Rosie, forgot to say congrats on the weight loss! That's spectacular!

Thank you very much. I can't wait to be on the losing side again. I have gained 22 pounds so far in this pregnancy and so I am hoping that once she is here, I can focus more on eating better.