CCRM FERTILITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Top Philadelphia, PA egg freezing program: process, costs & more
At CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia, we provide state-of-the-art egg freezing and embryo freezing services to help individuals preserve their fertility options. We understand the importance of family planning and offer comprehensive solutions to empower you on your fertility journey. Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing personalized, state-of-the-art care and support throughout the process.
Why might one consider egg freezing?
Fertility is intimately connected to the age of the woman attempting conception. Age related decline in egg quality is well recognized and difficult to treat.
One of the major recent advances in the field of reproductive medicine is the capability to successfully freeze (cryopreserve) eggs. Cryopreserved eggs maintain the inherent quality reflecting the age at which they were frozen.
Egg freezing is beneficial for women wishing to preserve their fertility in a number of circumstances. One of the most common reasons women do so is to delay childbearing. This allows us to address the most intractable cause of difficulty conceiving, namely the age-related decline in egg quality.
The likelihood of infertility increases with age because of a decline in egg quality. Egg quality is at its peak at age 26, and a measurable decline begins thereafter. This decline becomes steeper at age 35 and above. The change in egg quality not only makes getting pregnant more difficult, but also raises the chances of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities.
Freezing, or cryopreserving, eggs maintains the age and quality of the eggs at the time they are frozen.
Who freezes their eggs?
Some examples of women we see who choose to freeze their eggs are:
- Women in the midst of achieving educational and career goals who wish to delay conception. Generally these accomplishments occur during the years when we know eggs are most fertile. Freezing eggs at an early age provides a greater chance of conception in the future.
- Women who are not in a relationship or need more time for the relationship they are in to develop before considering or attempting conception.
- Women with a family history of early menopause. The average age of menopause is 52. Having a close relative (e.g. mother, aunt) with an age of menopause earlier than 52 increases an individual’s chances of having the same experience. In other words, it is a risk factor for a shorter reproductive lifespan than in the general population.
- Women who have had or about to have treatments such as ovarian surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, each of which can lead to a decrease or total loss of eggs. CCRM Fertility is a proud member of LIVESTRONG’s Fertility Program. As a participating center, we work with LIVESTRONG to increase access to fertility preservation services for cancer patients. To apply or for more information, please visit www.livestrong.org. In addition, we offer steep discounts on fertility preservation cycles under these circumstances and work with our pharmaceutical partners to obtain free medicine.
- Transgender individuals prior to beginning hormones or having surgery during the transition period.
- Women with endometriosis, which is known to hasten a decline in ovarian reserve compared to women without endometriosis.
What is involved in the egg freezing process?
Egg freezing is made up of the first two phases of an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle, ovulation induction and egg retrieval. It takes approximately 4 weeks to complete the egg freezing process. Most commonly, during the first 7 to 14 days, one takes birth control pills to suppress the ovaries. Then, in the phase we call ovulation induction, we use medications over approximately 10 days to stimulate multiple eggs to develop. The response to these medications is carefully monitored using blood work and ultrasound tests and requires approximately 4 to 6 visits to the office.
Once the eggs are determined to be at a mature state an egg retrieval procedure is performed. The procedure lasts about 15-20 minutes and occurs under IV sedation. The mature eggs are immediately frozen and stored in the IVF laboratory, where they can stay frozen for an indefinite period of time. If later on you are unable to conceive naturally and need to use these eggs to get pregnant, we will thaw and fertilize the eggs and place a resulting embryo into the uterus in a procedure called an embryo transfer.
Are there ways to assess my fertility?
In order to determine whether egg freezing is right for you, it’s important to assess your current fertility. Age is the most important and most accurate factor in predicting one’s fertility. We can also perform diagnostic tests to provide some additional insight into the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries and their quality. The diagnostic tests involve blood work and ultrasound.
The cost of egg freezing in Philadelphia, PA
At CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia, we believe the cost of egg freezing should not prevent patients from exploring fertility preservation. Costs vary depending on your treatment plan, medications, number of cycles, and storage needs.
Our team can help you understand available insurance benefits and financing options so you can make an informed decision about treatment.
Egg freezing & insurance coverage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not require all health insurance plans to cover egg freezing, and fertility benefits vary significantly by insurer and plan. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department reports that coverage for infertility services, including ovum retrieval and services related to assisted reproductive treatment, differs across plans and may be subject to prior authorization, benefit limits, and cost-sharing.
Does insurance cover egg freezing in Philadelphia?
It may, depending on your plan. Some fertility plans may provide benefits for services associated with egg freezing, such as:
- Egg retrieval
- Fertility medications
- Cryopreservation-related services
- Other fertility treatment services
Because these benefits are not uniformly required across Pennsylvania health plans, patients should verify exactly what their policy covers before beginning treatment.
Is elective egg freezing covered?
Elective egg freezing is not guaranteed to be covered in Pennsylvania. Coverage depends on the specific insurance or employer-sponsored fertility benefits available to you. Contact your insurer or benefits administrator to confirm whether egg freezing, medications, and storage are included in your plan.
CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia fertility insurance program
CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia participates with numerous insurance and fertility benefit providers. Our team is committed to helping our patients understand their insurance coverage and identify any potential gaps in coverage that may exist. We also partner with Future Family to offer financing options and offer multi-cycle packages to help make treatment more affordable.
Fully in-network insurance plans for Philadelphia
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans/Highmark
- Cigna
- Maven
- Progyny
- Tricare
- United Healthcare/Optum
- WIN Fertility
We know that IVF and other fertility treatment costs can be a major source of stress during the fertility treatment process. We work to keep you informed about your insurance coverage and other financing options.
If your insurance carrier or plan is out-of-network with us, payment is expected at the time of service. If you wish to submit services to an out-of-network insurance or secondary insurance, we will be happy to supply you with an itemized receipt for you to submit to your insurance company.
Why choose CCRM in Philadelphia for egg freezing?
When it comes to choosing a fertility center for egg freezing and embryo freezing, CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia stands out as a trusted and renowned institution. Here’s why you should consider us:
Leading expertise: Our team of fertility specialists in Philadelphia consists of highly trained and experienced professionals who are at the forefront of reproductive medicine. We bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure the highest quality care.
State-of-the-art facilities: Our clinic is equipped with advanced technologies and cutting-edge laboratory facilities to provide you with the best possible outcomes. We continuously invest in the latest advancements in fertility treatment to deliver exceptional results.
Personalized approach: We understand that every individual’s fertility journey is unique. At CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia, we take a personalized approach, tailoring our treatments to meet your specific needs and goals. We believe in open communication and collaborative decision-making throughout the process.
Supportive care: Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and guidance throughout your egg-freezing journey. We are committed to your emotional well-being and strive to create a nurturing environment where you feel heard, valued, and supported.
CCRM Fertility of Philadelphia
822 Pine St, Suite 4B
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 829-8110
Fax: (215) 829-8119
Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 4:30pm