Freezing your eggs in Greece: what you need to know before booking a flight

Demand for egg freezing for personal use has skyrocketed in France: over 20,000 applications in 2025, a figure that has been rising steadily since the Bioethics Act came into force. Centres have kept pace, with around twenty new services opening, but the average waiting time for treatment remains close to 12 months – and even longer in the Île-de-France region, which accounts for more than half of all requests. For a 36-year-old woman, a one-year wait is no small matter.

The French framework at a glance

In France, egg freezing for non-medical reasons is permitted between the ages of 29 and 37. The eggs can be used up to the age of 45. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval are reimbursed, but not the annual storage costs. Only public or private non-profit clinics are authorised to carry out the procedure, which largely explains the waiting list.

The Greek framework

The 2022 Greek reform explicitly authorised the freezing of eggs for non-medical, or ‘social’, reasons, without requiring a specific reason or a spouse’s consent. There is no fixed age limit for the freezing process itself: the decision rests with the doctor, based on ovarian reserve. Subsequent use of the eggs is possible up to the legal age limit of 54 for women. Accredited private clinics are authorised to carry out this procedure, which is why there are no waiting lists.

The key question is: how many eggs, and at what age?

This is the point I ask all patients to discuss seriously with their doctor, because the marketing surrounding egg freezing can sometimes be misleading. Published data suggest that around 15 to 20 mature eggs should be targeted to have a high probability of at least one live birth, provided freezing takes place before the age of 35. After the age of 38, the number required increases and the probability per egg drops significantly. In practical terms, this may mean two stimulation cycles rather than one.

A reputable clinic will provide you with a personalised estimate following an AMH test and an antral follicle count, and will advise you whether, at your age, freezing still offers any real benefit.

The practical process from France

1. Initial assessment in France: AMH test, ultrasound scan with follicle count, serological tests.
2. Video conference with the Greek doctor: estimate of the number of cycles, protocol, timetable.
3. Stimulation: ten to twelve days of injections, which can be carried out at home with local ultrasound monitoring. The results are sent to the clinic.
4. Stay in Greece: three to five days clinicd around the egg retrieval procedure, under light sedation. You can return home the very next day.
5. Vitrification and storage: the eggs are stored at the clinic under an annual contract.

Cost

As a guide, an egg freezing cycle in Greece costs between 2,300 and 3,500 euros, excluding medication (allow an additional 800 to 1,500 euros depending on the protocol). Annual storage generally costs between 300 and 500 euros. On top of this, you’ll need to factor in travel and accommodation costs. The French French health insurance system does not cover the cost of any procedure carried out abroad without a medical reason.

And what about later?

There are three possible scenarios: using the eggs in Greece, at the same clinic, for IVF when the time comes; transferring them to another country, which requires an agreement between the two clinics and specialised transport; or never using them, which is the most common outcome in all studies. It is important to consider the written consent from the outset: what happens to the eggs in the event of a separation, death, or cessation of payment for storage. The Greek contract covers this, and I would ask you to read it line by line before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Source: https://fertilitegrece.com/en/blog/egg-freezing-greece/ — Triada Baloukoudis, IVF patient coordination in Greece. General information, not medical or legal advice. Printed on