Egg Freezing in Canada: One Woman’s $17,000 Journey for Future Options
At 37, Megan Robinson isn’t sure if she wants children—but she wanted to keep her options open. So the Vancouver documentary producer decided to freeze her eggs, a growing trend among Canadian women seeking reproductive flexibility. Her six-week journey, documented by the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB), reveals both the physical toll and financial burden behind a procedure often marketed as “fertility insurance.”
A Contingency Plan with High Stakes
Robinson viewed egg freezing as a backup plan in case natural conception with a partner doesn’t happen later in life. While the process is becoming more common in Canada, it’s neither simple nor guaranteed. According to the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, only 25% of embryos created from frozen eggs and transferred into women’s uteruses result in a live birth.
“I think the risk is worth it,” Robinson told the IJB, despite knowing the odds.
The Process: From Hormones to Needles
Her journey began two months before the retrieval with a baseline ultrasound showing 10 follicles—fluid-filled sacs containing immature eggs. That’s below the average of 16 for women of childbearing age, and her doctor warned not all would mature.
Over 43 days, Robinson followed a strict medication regimen:
- Days 1–26: Estrogen tablets and topical testosterone each morning to support follicle growth.
- Day 20 onward: Added a progesterone pill at night.
- Days 27–29: Stopped estrogen and testosterone, causing what she called a “hormone crash” with severe headaches and vomiting.
- Days 30–38: Four daily injections—morning doses of Rekovelle and Cetrotide, plus evening shots of Menopur and Saizen. She mixed powdered medications herself and described the larger needles as “rejected” by her body, leaving her abdomen bruised.
Side effects included fatigue, mood swings, headaches, nausea, and cramps—common but rarely discussed openly, she noted.
Disappointing Numbers, Then Hope
On day 39, an ultrasound revealed only one mature follicle out of the original 10. Her doctor increased her dosage, adding $1,400 to her drug costs. By day 43, three eggs were fully mature and a fourth was developing. A final “trigger shot” prepared her for retrieval.
The egg retrieval itself took just 15 minutes under local anesthesia and low-dose fentanyl. “I didn’t feel anything,” she said. The clinic successfully froze four mature eggs—fewer than the 7–10 she’d hoped for, but still a possibility.
Her clinic’s online calculator estimated a 26% chance of a live birth from about five frozen eggs. With four, her odds are likely lower.
The Real Cost: More Than Money
Robinson’s total expenses came to $17,282:
- Medications: $7,632 (her employer covered $7,026.50; she paid $605.50 out of pocket)
- Procedure & storage: $9,650 (fully out-of-pocket), including $3,000 for setup/monitoring, $5,900 for the egg retrieval and lab work, and $750 for the first year of storage
All 42 known Canadian fertility clinics offering egg freezing require clients to keep their eggs on-site, though annual storage fees continue indefinitely.
Recovery also took longer than expected. Three weeks post-procedure, Robinson—an ultra-trail runner—was still experiencing hair loss, sluggishness, and fatigue. “The procedure itself was a breeze,” she said. “But the cessation of hormones was a challenge.”
Breaking the Silence Around Fertility
Robinson encourages other women considering egg freezing to talk to friends and family. “When you start going through this, it’s really scary and you can feel like an island,” she said. “But you’re not. So many women in our lives have gone through this process.”
She was surprised by how many people in her circle had undergone fertility treatments—and how willing they were to share their experiences once asked.
Despite the pain, cost, and uncertainty, Robinson has no regrets. “It’s been a roller coaster ride. Absolutely, it’s a gamble,” she said. “But I’m so glad I did it… It gives me an option.”
This article is part of Fertility Inc., a multi-part series by the Investigative Journalism Bureau examining the booming but loosely regulated egg-freezing industry in Canada.
