Freeze and Share Program Review – Is It Worth It?
When I first came across the Freeze and Share program at London Egg Bank, I felt I had found my answer to my low AMH. Egg freezing is hella expensive — upwards of £5,000–£7,000 in London. This program seemed to offer a win-win: donate half your eggs and freeze the other half at a significantly reduced cost. Easy right?
Well, not so much. I contacted the clinic via email to get more details. The response I received quickly deflated my aspirations.
It’s not quite as accessible as it sounds. Below is what this program actually involves, who qualifies, and whether it's a good option — or a narrow path disguised as a wide door.
What is the Freeze and Share Program?
The Freeze and Share program allows you to freeze your own eggs at a lower cost in exchange for donating half of them to someone undergoing fertility treatment.
In theory, this sounds empowering — you protect your own fertility and support someone else (if that’s your thing). But there are strict medical and regulatory requirements you have to meet to qualify, and they rule out a lot of people (including me).
Who Can Apply?
Anyone 18–34 years old
You must have no personal or family history of inheritable or transmissible diseases
Be non-smokers (yup, this rules out vapers)
Not be pregnant or breastfeeding (well, duh)
Have a BMI between 18–30
Not have untreated polycystic ovarian syndrome (I was left wondering what this meant given there’s no “treatment” for PCOS, which is another topic in itself…)
Have both ovaries in place
Have no history of poor response to ovarian stimulation
And — most crucially — have AMH levels above 18 pmol/L
My Experience
When I enquired, I found out pretty quickly that I didn’t meet the criteria. My AMH (which reflects ovarian reserve - read about it here) was under 18, which disqualified me from participating. That alone knocked me out — despite being healthy and under 35.
In fairness, these requirements are in place to ensure that:
You’ll likely produce enough eggs to share (i.e. freeze a reasonable number for yourself while donating an equal amount),
The eggs you donate have a high chance of success for the recipient.
Still, the process felt a little binary — you’re either a perfect candidate or you’re not.
nb✅ Pros of the Freeze and Share Program
Significant cost savings: If accepted, you could freeze eggs at a fraction of the usual price, which is cool.
Support for others: You help someone who may not be able to conceive otherwise.
Professional support: The London Egg Bank is highly regulated, so that’s generally promising.
⚠️ Downsides
1. Very selective
Even slightly low AMH, minor health issues, or being outside the BMI range could exclude you.
2. You lose half your eggs
This isn’t a surprise — it’s the whole point of the program — but it’s important to fully consider. If you only retrieve 10–12 eggs (common), you may end up with just 5 or 6 for yourself. For some women, this could reduce your future fertility chances — particularly if you’re older or your egg quality is lower. And, considering it likely takes more frozen eggs to reach a live birth, 5-6 eggs is hardly the insurance plan a lot of women seek. Sure, you could maybe do more rounds, but do you want to?
3. Emotional implications
Sharing your eggs is not just a financial or medical decision — it’s also a very real emotional one. The London Egg Bank handles donations anonymously, but let’s be honest - many of might feel a bit weird about possibly having a child out in the universe who we will never know, despite massively helping someone else. It’s just one to think about.
Who Is This Program Best For?
You might consider Freeze and Share if:
You’re in your early 20s to early 30s
You have a high AMH and strong ovarian reserve
You want to reduce the cost of freezing but are comfortable donating
You’re already passionate about egg donation and want to preserve your own fertility at the same time
It may not be ideal if:
Your egg quality or number is limited
You want the maximum number of eggs for yourself
You’re unsure about the emotional implications of donating
You don’t meet all the strict eligibility requirements
Final Thoughts
The Freeze and Share program is a thoughtful initiative — but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It offers a rare opportunity for qualified women to access discounted egg freezing while supporting another family’s dream of having a child.
But the criteria are strict, the donation commitment is real, and not everyone will walk away feeling empowered — especially if you're excluded based on test results.
If you’re interested in egg freezing and don’t meet the criteria for Freeze and Share, you might still want to contact the London Egg Bank (or a clinic you trust) to explore self-funded freezing. While it may be more expensive, it gives you full control over your eggs and your future.
Have you looked into egg freezing or considered donation?
Leave a comment below or message me @klialondon on Instagram — I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences.
