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Women's health · 난자동결

Egg Freezing at Gangnam Fertility Clinics

About 2 weeks of hormone injections, then a 15 to 20 minute retrieval under sedation. Eggs are vitrified and stored for a yearly fee.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 난자동결
  • Procedure time: Retrieval 15 to 20 minutes; about 2 to 3 hours at the clinic on retrieval day
  • Anesthesia: IV sedation for retrieval
  • Sessions: 1 cycle; many women need 2 or more to bank 10 to 20 mature eggs
  • Downtime: Rest on retrieval day; bloating for 3 to 7 days
  • Results: Egg count known on retrieval day; number of mature eggs frozen confirmed within 1 to 2 days
  • Lasts: Vitrified eggs can be stored for many years; storage is renewed annually
  • Typical price: ₩2,000,000–₩5,000,000 (per stimulation cycle including medication and first-year storage (estimate))

What is Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation)?

Egg freezing collects and vitrifies a woman's eggs so they can be thawed and fertilized later. Gangnam has a dense cluster of fertility clinics, and many patients are single women in their 30s planning ahead.

One stimulation cycle needs you in Seoul for roughly 2 weeks, so foreign patients usually plan around a long stay.

How it works

An AMH blood test and antral follicle count on ultrasound estimate how many eggs a cycle may yield. From day 2 or 3 of your period you inject follicle-stimulating hormones daily for about 10 to 14 days, with 3 to 5 monitoring scans. A trigger shot is given 34 to 36 hours before retrieval. Under IV sedation the doctor collects eggs through the vaginal wall with an ultrasound-guided needle, and the lab freezes mature eggs by vitrification.

Who it suits

  • Women in their early to mid 30s delaying pregnancy
  • Women about to start chemotherapy or ovarian surgery
  • Those with a family history of early menopause
  • Expats with a long stay in Seoul

Who should skip it or wait

  • Women expecting a guaranteed future pregnancy
  • Very low ovarian reserve where yield may be 1 to 3 eggs per cycle
  • Visitors who cannot stay about 2 weeks in Seoul

Side effects and risks

  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (bloating, rapid weight gain; severe cases are rare)
  • Bleeding or infection from the retrieval needle
  • Low egg yield
  • Thawed eggs may not survive, fertilize or implant

Aftercare

  • No driving on retrieval day after sedation
  • Drink fluids with electrolytes and watch for rapid weight gain
  • Avoid intense exercise until your next period
  • Seek care for severe abdominal pain or shortness of breath

Planning around your trip

Ask early how frozen eggs could be moved abroad later, since export needs paperwork and a specialist cryo courier.

Women's Health clinics near Apgujeong

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) price in Apgujeong

₩2,000,000–₩5,000,000
per stimulation cycle including medication and first-year storage (estimate)

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: Tilnote 2026 egg freezing cost summary (citing clinic and press data). Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) questions

How many eggs should I freeze?

Published estimates suggest around 10 to 15 mature eggs under age 35 give a reasonable chance of one live birth, and more are needed with age. Your AMH result helps your doctor estimate how many cycles that takes.

How long do I need to stay in Seoul?

Plan for about 14 to 16 days from the start of injections to retrieval, plus 2 to 3 days of recovery. Some clinics let you start injections at home with prior blood tests.

Can I inject the hormones myself?

Yes. Nurses show you how to use pre-filled pens. You return to the clinic only for scans and blood tests every 2 to 3 days.

What does annual storage cost?

Storage is usually billed yearly, often around KRW 200,000 to 800,000 depending on the clinic and term. Ask whether the first year is included.

Can foreigners use the Seoul egg freezing subsidy?

The Seoul subsidy covers residents who meet age, residency and AMH criteria. Short-term visitors are not eligible; long-term registered residents should check the current rules.

Does retrieval hurt?

You are sedated during retrieval. Afterward, most women feel period-like cramps and bloating for a few days.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.