ProfessionalAbout donor eggsThe difference between fresh and frozen donor eggs

    The difference between fresh and frozen donor eggs

    Fertility treatment can be done with either fresh or frozen donor eggs. At Cryos International, we offer frozen donor eggs that are retrieved and ready for use. Continue reading to learn more about the difference between fresh and frozen donor eggs and why you should use frozen donor eggs from Cryos for fertility treatment.


      For decades, fresh donor eggs have been used successfully for fertility treatments and in the past, the success rates have been higher than when using frozen donor eggs. This was due to difficulty in successfully freezing and thawing eggs. However, this process has drastically improved in recent years when a technique called vitrification was developed. Vitrification has assisted in significantly increasing survival rate of eggs post warming and therefore improving fertilization and embryo development from frozen eggs. Cryos scientists are experts in the vitrification process and have been successfully using this technique for many years. Today, we are proud of our high pregnancy success rates using frozen donor eggs from Cryos with top performing fertility clinics.

      Cryos donor eggs being examined under a microscope.

      We have a clinical pregnancy rate of over 74% per transfer (compared to other egg banks ranging from 54% to 65%) and exceed the industry standards with a blastocyst rate of 47%. In fact, with our blastocyst rate, anyone purchasing six of our frozen donor eggs will typically have results of one blastocyst or a pregnancy from embryos transferred on day five or six. We also offer a Donor Egg Blastocyst Guarantee which provides reassurance for you and your patients in achieving success with our donor eggs.

      Why use frozen donor eggs?

      There are several advantages to using frozen donor eggs from Cryos:

      • No need to recruit, screen, or approve donors
      • No need to pay donors
      • No regulatory concerns
      • No syncing of menstrual cycles between donor and recipient
      • Ease lab pressure and workload
      • Guaranteed blastocyst transfer
      • Provide a greater selection of donors to patients
      • Immediately available
      • Results are similar to using fresh donor eggs

      Opposite fresh donor eggs, frozen eggs can be used whenever it fits with the cycle of the recipient, meaning that it is not necessary for the egg donor and the recipient to synchronize before starting treatment. This makes the whole process much easier and more effective than with fresh donor eggs. Furthermore, having a ready supply of frozen donor eggs gives the recipient a wider variety of options when choosing which egg donor to use – including choosing between ID Release, Non-ID Release, and donors with a Basic or Extended Profile. Read more about the different types of Cryos egg donors. All donors are thoroughly screened and examined by Cryos before becoming Cryos egg donors.

      Cryos egg donor candidate being examined and interviewed.

      The Cryos egg donors

      Because of our extensive screening process and comprehensive medical examination, only 4% of all applicants are accepted as Cryos egg donors. This means, that Cryos egg donors and the eggs they donate are of the highest quality and that the screening follows EU and FDA guidelines.

      The process of becoming an egg donor with Cryos starts with assessing the medical and family history of the donor. This is followed by lab tests for hormones and sexually transmitted diseases, and a thorough general physical health checkup of the donor. Furthermore, a genetic carrier screening and psychological assessment by an independent counsellor is carried out. Finally, a physical examination is performed by a gynecologist to ultimately decide the approval of the donor candidate.

      Read more about our screening process of egg donors.

      How are the eggs treated and frozen?

      When the eggs have been retrieved from a donor, an embryologist will select the mature eggs of high quality for cryopreservation. The eggs are vitrified which is a process that freezes the eggs at a speed that prevents the formation of ice crystals that could potentially damage the eggs. This freezing process gives a survival and success rate comparable to using fresh donor eggs. The frozen donor eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen until they are to be used for fertility treatment.

      Easy ordering online

      If you are ready to order donor eggs for your clinic or your patients, our web shop is only one click away. Here, you can order high quality Cryos donor eggs in five easy steps. If you have further questions or need for assistance, please contact us  to talk to one of our experienced employees in our Clinic Account Team. If your patients are placing the orders themselves, you can help them by showing them our guide on how to order donor eggs.