The Financial Barrier Is Real
A single fertility preservation cycle can exceed almost three years of discretionary income for a woman living on her own.
At ~$12,500 per cycle, this isn't a matter of budgeting better.
It is a fixed barrier that doesn't scale to income, and it falls hardest on the women who are already managing the most on their own.
The Myth
Single women can afford egg freezing on their own.
The Reality
Egg freezing costs ~$12,500 per cycle, and many women need more than one cycle. Even professional incomes often cannot absorb this cost.
Why It Matters
Income and financial ability are not the same. Many women cannot absorb this cost without sacrificing essential needs. This is why community support is essential
SALARY REALITY: SINGLE WOMAN EARNING $100K IN NY
EXPENSES | $ |
|---|---|
Taxes (federal, state, & NYC) | ~$32,000 |
Student Loans (~60k balance) | ~$6,000 |
Rent (~$1,800/month) | ~$21,600 |
Transportation, Car, & Insurance (~$500/month) | ~$6,000 |
Basic Living Expenses (~$2,500/month) | ~$30,000 |
Remaining Discretionary Income | ~$4,400/year |
$12,500
Average cost per egg-freezing cycle
Singles
Left out of most fertility funding
Time
Biology doesn't wait for funding
THE NEED
Why This Funding Gap Exists
A reality of cost, coverage, and time.
The financial reality
Egg freezing averages $12,500 per cycle — and many women need more than one cycle to achieve viable preservation. Most insurance plans offer no coverage, and even professional incomes often cannot absorb this cost. For a single woman earning $100,000 in New York, an average cycle absorbs more than a full year of discretionary income.
The coverage gap
Most fertility-focused nonprofits serve couples, not singles. Most insurance plans exclude egg freezing for women not actively trying to conceive with a partner. Single Jewish women in their late 20s and 30s — those most affected — fall into a gap with virtually no institutional support.
The time dimension
Fertility is biologically time-sensitive. The longer the funding gap goes unfilled, the more women age past the window where preservation is most effective. Every year of inaction compounds — for individuals, and for the future of Jewish families.