Egg freezing timeline planner

Here is the usual timeline from the first injection to collection, and the UK storage rules.

Your details

Egg collection is usually around

14 Nov to 18 Nov

after about 10 to 14 days of injections

Injections start4 Nov
Trigger injectionabout 36 hours before collection
Storageup to 55 years under UK law, renewing consent every 10
At 3535 to 37: chances start to fall with age

Scans during the injections decide the exact day. Success depends mostly on your age when the eggs are frozen; the HFEA publishes clinic results to compare. Ask about total costs, including storage each year.

Pain, bloating or breathlessness during or after stimulation: call your clinic straight away, or 111.

The working

About two weeks

Injections usually run for 10 to 14 days, with scans to check progress. Starting on 4 November puts collection around 14 to 18 November. A trigger injection is given about 36 hours before collection.

Storage rules

Since July 2022

In the UK, frozen eggs can be stored for up to 55 years, with consent renewed every 10 years. The limit is the same whatever your age when the eggs are frozen, as long as you keep renewing.

What affects success

Mostly age

Factor	Effect
Age when frozen	the biggest factor; younger eggs work better
Number of eggs	more eggs, better chances
Clinic	HFEA publishes results to compare
Cost	collection plus yearly storage fees

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Your clinic's planScans set the exact day.
SuccessFrozen eggs do not guarantee a pregnancy later.
OHSSSevere bloating or breathlessness needs urgent care.

Questions

Common questions

How long does egg freezing take?

About 2 weeks of injections, then a short procedure.

How long can eggs be frozen in the UK?

Up to 55 years, renewing consent every 10 years.

What is the best age to freeze eggs?

Success is higher when eggs are frozen younger, ideally before 35.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Support when you need it

Contact your midwife or GP any time you are worried, and call NHS 111 if you cannot reach them. If a date or a result brings up difficult feelings, Tommy's and the Miscarriage Association offer kind, free support.