The $6,984.78 Cost of Traveling Abroad to Freeze Your Eggs

Welcome to Show the Receipts, a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: egg freezing abroad.

Whitney Sankovsky was coming up on her 36th birthday when she ordered an at-home fertility test. She knew for certain that she wanted a family, but she hadn't found "the one" yet and was ready to weigh her options. When the test results came back, Sankovsky learned that she had a lower than average AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) level, which can be a marker of your ovarian reserve or the number of eggs you have left. "Since I wasn't getting any younger, I decided to explore the option to freeze my eggs," she tells PS.

But she knew that freezing her eggs at home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania would be a costly endeavor. After all, fertility centers across the US quote around $5,000 to upwards of $20,000 for just a single cycle of egg freezing. Moreover, many clinics recommend at least two cycles or more, depending on factors like age, ovarian reserve and future family goals. Meanwhile, the medication to facilitate each cycle is an additional $4,000 to $6,000, more or less. And, from there, the cost to keep those extracted eggs stored safely in a cryostorage space is about another $1,000 or more per year, which often includes — but doesn't always include — consolidated cycles. So if you're not planning to use the eggs for another few years, go ahead and multiply that number.

Then tack on the necessary extra expenses like fertility consultations, labwork for all your blood tests (hello, hormones), ultrasounds, anesthesia and pain relievers before and after the procedure, any doctor's office facility fees and transportation to and from appointments — plus the potential price of taking time off work — and it all adds up quite quickly and rather significantly.

"I knew that financially, it would be a large investment to go ahead with just one round of egg freezing, let alone multiple rounds, if needed within the US," Sankovsky says. She didn't have insurance at the time, so after some research about the out-of-pocket costs, she decided that pursuing egg freezing in the US wasn't going to be feasible. Her first thought: try it abroad. "I love traveling. I've lived abroad and worked abroad previously — so I figured, why not freeze my eggs abroad? I had heard about other women doing it via blog articles and social media posts. I thought, I'll take this opportunity to explore a new city and freeze my eggs at the same time," Sankovsky says.

Of course, there are potential downsides to freezing your eggs overseas, like language barriers that can complicate communication with healthcare providers and the need to travel back to the storage facility to retrieve (and, often, to use) the eggs. But for Sankovsky, doing ample research to find an affordable option through a clinic she trusted in a country she looked forward to visiting was worth it.

Here's the full breakdown.

Task: Freezing eggs abroad

Number of cycles: 1

Location: Panama

Timeline: 15 days

The Receipts

Flights: $557 (Newark International Airport to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama roundtrip — but comped with United Airline points)

Accommodation in Panama): $959.78 (From May 20th to June 4th, including 13 nights in a small Airbnb studio and two nights at Marriott, one of which was comped with Marriott Bonvoy travel points, but would have been an additional $165).

Groceries and dining during stay: $380

Fertility consultation: $140

Infectious disease screening and hormone levels bloodwork (including AMH, FSH, LH, Estradiol): $294

Cycle Package: $2,250 (Including unlimited hormone blood tests and ultrasound scans during the cycle, anesthesia, egg collection, one egg vitrification, one egg devitrification and five years of storage)

Ovarian stimulation drugs (including 20 boxes of Pergoveris and six boxes of Cetrotide): $2,118

Trigger shot (the final injection before retrieval): $67

Annual storage fee: $615 per year after the five-year mark (omitted from the total cost)

Transportation and parking: $50 (For a few Ubers)

Post-retrieval pain medication: $4

Total cost: $6,984.78 (all costs included, except annual storage fee which isn't due for five years)

How I Did It

PS: How did you ultimately decide on where to freeze your eggs?

I joined an egg freezing support group on Facebook and read through the women's stories. I saw that many women were freezing their eggs in Spain, which was actually the first place I was considering. While researching clinics in Spain, I kept seeing IVI Fertility pop up and, when I went to their website, I saw that they had 34 clinics in seven different countries. The clinic looked professional and well-established, and I liked the fact that they had an international presence. When I saw they had a clinic in Panama, which was a shorter travel distance than Spain, I ultimately decided to pursue that option. Funnily enough, I had never been to Panama before my retrieval!

PS: How did you evaluate the medical standards and safety of freezing your eggs in Panama?

WS: After I decided I wanted to freeze my eggs in Panama, I went back into the Facebook group to connect with women who had done the same. I even found a few that used my specific clinic, and they all had a positive experience. Hearing testimonials from real women was all I needed to go ahead, and I sent the clinic an email to get the ball rolling.

PS: How long did you have to stay in Panama for the full process, and did you need multiple trips?

WS: I stayed in Panama for a total of 15 days. I did not need multiple trips, but I did have to get some pre-testing done, which I could do locally. I just shared the results with them via their patient portal before I went. (However, it's worth noting that my case was pretty clear cut. I have no underlying health conditions with a regular predictable cycle. This definitely helped make things easier for me.)

PS: How did you handle lifestyle logistics like your accommodation and local transportation while undergoing treatment?

WS: First, I found the clinic on a map and looked at surrounding cities. Then I did a Google deep dive on the top places to see and stay while in Panama City. Through my research, I also found that Ubers and taxis were readily available there, but I primarily relied on Ubers. I ended up staying in Casco Viejo for the duration of my trip, a historic district with colonial architecture and colorful plazas. It's lively and gorgeous.

PS: Did you find any cultural or language barriers while navigating fertility care abroad? If so, how did you navigate these challenges?

WS: The staff responded to my email inquiries in English. Both the anesthesiologist and my doctor at the clinic also spoke English. If there was ever a time that I felt I was not fully understanding, Google translate was a huge help. I am an avid traveler, so I felt prepared to navigate any cultural or language barriers.

PS: Did your insurance — at-home health insurance or a travel plan — cover any of the costs of your care?

WS: I had left my full-time position as an educator to travel and start my business, so I didn't have any insurance at the time. I paid completely out of pocket for every expense. But the clinic provided me with a detailed quote of everything that was included and not included, so there were no surprises.

PS: What was the recovery process like while far away from home?

WS: My recovery was very mild, although this can vary person to person. I woke up from the anesthesia in my own private room with the nurse. She then brought in a tray full of light food and drink options including cheese, fruit cup, crackers, tea, juice and water. It's encouraged to eat and drink soon after surgery because it helps the body recover by providing it with hydration and nutrients and preventing nausea. The nurse also checked my vitals before the doctor returned to inform me of the tentative egg count.

When I was released shortly after, I was able to walk out of the clinic without any discomfort — just a bit of dizziness from the anesthesia. They provided me with aftercare instructions written in English, which included a list of symptoms that might be expected and a list of symptoms that would be of concern. They also included a number if I had any questions and an emergency line that I could reach any time of day. I rested the remainder of the afternoon after the retrieval. The clinic called later that day to check on me and let me know that they were available if I needed anything. Although they did prescribe me some pain medication, I never needed to take it.

PS: Did the clinic explain any legal restrictions or conditions regarding storage or use of the eggs later down the line?

WS: Yes, you can have your eggs shipped internationally outside of the clinic. There is an additional cost to prepare them for transfer and the shipping fee itself. However, if/when I am ready to use my eggs, I envision having all future procedures done there at the clinic in Panama.

PS: Did the clinic explain future costs for when you want to use the eggs, if you choose to do so there, as well? (And was this also a factor in your decision to do it there?)

WS: Yes, they provided all financial information if/when I am ready to use my eggs, including IVF options and donor options, if needed. Overall, it's still more affordable than in the US.

PS: Is there anything you wish you knew before freezing your eggs, or before freezing your eggs in another country?

WS: If I could give one piece of advice to anyone considering egg freezing, it would be this: Take the time to really get to know your body and your cycle. The moment I decided to freeze my eggs, I made it a priority to nurture my body with vitamins, hydration and nutrient-rich foods. I moved my body daily, got plenty of sunlight and focused on creating the healthiest foundation possible for the process.

Beyond the physical preparation, my mindset was everything. Instead of seeing this process as a daunting medical procedure, I chose to view it as an empowering journey — one that gave me more options for my future. And for me, that journey meant thinking outside of the box. At first, traveling for the procedure felt unconventional and maybe even a little overwhelming. But once I embraced it as an adventure rather than just a medical trip, everything changed. The experience turned out to be incredible — so much so that I went back for a second round.

Final Thoughts

Traveling overseas to freeze your eggs might not be for everyone, but for people who are comfortable traveling and can navigate logistics with ease, it can be pretty simple and more affordable. So long as you do your due diligence to find a clinic you trust and carefully plan ahead for your trip, you can have a positive experience. Sankovsky says it can even be an empowering and exciting journey if you have the right mindset and go prepared.

AnnaMarie Houlis has 15 years of writing and editing experience in women's wellness and travel, although she has covered the gamut — from business and technology to fashion and finance. Since kicking off her career at lifestyle magazines in New York City, she has spent the last decade traveling as a nomadic freelancer with thousands of bylines.