Veterans and active service military members face unique issues when it comes to fertility; when placed in the line of duty, soldiers are at risk of sustaining injuries, chemical or mechanical, that could impact their future fertility, making the freezing of eggs or sperm a wise decision. In addition, veterans who have returned from duty may need egg freezing or other fertility services. Below, we will take a look at the cost for a veteran to freeze their eggs, as well as other costs associated with fertility treatment for veterans.

About Egg Cryopreservation for Veterans

Many women choose to freeze their eggs, because a woman's plans for her career and personal life do not always match up with her most fertile years. In addition, women about to undergo medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, that can impact fertility also choose egg freezing. Unfortunately, military members face additional risks when it comes to their fertility. Troops may sustain pelvic injuries that damage their reproductive system, potentially threatening their ability to have children. In addition, exposure to hazardous chemicals can lead to infertility. According to military records, over 1,800 active duty service members have sustained pelvic injuries that led to infertility since 2003. Because of these risks, women serving in the military may choose to freeze their eggs.

How Egg Cryopreservation Works

During egg freezing, a woman's healthy eggs are frozen so that they can be used with IVF in the future, typically years ahead. Ideally, the woman will be able to get pregnant naturally when she is ready to do so, but egg freezing serves as a sort of insurance in case that is not possible. A large number of eggs must be frozen, since some eggs will be lost in the process of freezing and thawing. During an egg freezing cycle, the woman's ovaries are stimulated to produce more egg follicles than usual. Once the doctor determines that the follicles are mature, they are removed during a minimally invasive procedure known as egg retrieval. The eggs are taken to the laboratory and frozen under carefully controlled conditions, then stored at a certified facility. When the woman is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed. Sperm from a partner or a donor is injected into the eggs, producing embryos. The embryos are allowed to mature for several days in the lab. Then, the embryos are transferred to the uterus. If the embryos implant in the uterine lining, pregnancy occurs.

Cost for an Active Duty Military Member to Freeze Their Eggs

Because of the medications and procedures involved in egg cryopreservation, the cost for a veteran to freeze their eggs has the potential to be quite high. IVF1 has long worked with military members and veterans seeking fertility treatment, and we are glad to offer special programs for our local troops and veterans. Active duty military members who would like to preserve their future fertility can enroll in our Soldier Cryo program, which provides free egg freezing or sperm freezing and storage. Service members who are Naperville residents and who are deployed in active duty overseas qualify for this program.

Cost for a Veteran to Freeze Their Eggs

IVF1 also offers discounts for veterans, making the cost for a veteran to freeze their eggs as low as possible. Soldier Care is designed for soldiers and veterans who need fertility services but who do not have insurance coverage that includes IVF or other fertility treatments. By partnering with EMD Serono's Compassionate Corp Program, we are able to provide free fertility medications for certain eligible military members. Beginning on Veteran’s Day, 2014, IVF1 and Naperville Fertility Center launched two new programs: Soldier Cryo™ and Soldier Care™.