Ova Egg Freezing Specialty Center is located at 401 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1800, in Chicago, Illinois — a prestigious address on the Magnificent Mile along the Chicago River. Ova is a specialty fertility center focused specifically on egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation), distinguishing it from full-service IVF clinics that offer a broader range of treatments. The specialty focus allows the practice to streamline the egg freezing process — from initial consultation through ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and cryopreservation — for patients who wish to preserve their fertility before age-related or medical decline. Illinois has one of the strongest fertility insurance mandates in the country: state law requires most fully-insured employer health plans to cover IVF and related procedures, which may include medically-indicated egg freezing. For a full directory of Illinois fertility resources, visit the Illinois fertility clinics page.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Ova's clinical team includes reproductive endocrinologists and embryologists specializing in oocyte cryopreservation. A specialty egg freezing center is typically staffed by physicians with REI fellowship training who focus their practice on ovarian stimulation protocols and egg retrieval; some specialty centers also partner with a full-service IVF laboratory for embryo creation when patients later return to use their frozen eggs. Confirm physician credentials and board certification directly with Ova.
Services and Treatments
- Fertility preservation via egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation)
- Initial fertility assessment and ovarian reserve testing (AMH, antral follicle count)
- Ovarian stimulation protocol design and monitoring
- Transvaginal ultrasound-guided egg retrieval
- Vitrification (flash-freezing) of mature oocytes
- Long-term cryostorage of frozen eggs
- Fertility preservation counseling for elective and medical indications (cancer, autoimmune disease, gender-affirming care)
- Coordination with IVF clinics for future thaw and fertilization cycles
Laboratory and Success Rates
Ova's laboratory focus is on oocyte vitrification — the technique of rapidly freezing eggs to prevent ice crystal formation and preserve cellular integrity. Post-thaw egg survival rates with modern vitrification exceed 80–90% in experienced hands. However, not every thawed egg will fertilize, reach blastocyst stage, pass PGT (if used), or result in a live birth. The number of eggs retrieved per cycle depends on the patient's ovarian reserve, age at the time of freezing, and stimulation response. Younger patients with good ovarian reserve typically retrieve more eggs and achieve higher per-egg survival and fertilization rates.
Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
The 401 N Michigan Ave address is one of the most accessible locations in Chicago — steps from the Chicago River, the Magnificent Mile, and multiple CTA train and bus lines. The Magnificent Mile/Streeterville area is centrally located for patients from the Gold Coast, Streeterville, River North, Lincoln Park, and the Loop, and is commutable by public transit from across the city and close-in suburbs. An egg freezing specialty center is designed for efficiency: patients who are not managing a current infertility diagnosis or preparing for an embryo transfer can focus solely on the preservation process.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.
At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.
If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
Illinois's fertility insurance mandate (Public Act 92-0887) requires most fully-insured employer health plans to cover IVF. Elective egg freezing for non-medical indications may or may not be covered depending on the specific plan and diagnosis requirements. Medical egg freezing (for cancer patients or others facing medically-induced infertility) is more commonly covered. Illinois law also covers fertility preservation for patients undergoing treatment that may impair fertility. Patients should confirm coverage with their insurer before beginning treatment. Ova may offer financing options; annual storage fees for frozen eggs apply after the initial cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age is egg freezing most effective? Egg freezing outcomes are strongly correlated with age at the time of retrieval. Patients under 35 typically have better ovarian reserve, retrieve more eggs per cycle, and achieve higher post-thaw survival and fertilization rates. Egg freezing in the early 30s is generally considered optimal. Patients over 37 should discuss realistic expectations with a reproductive endocrinologist.
How many eggs should I freeze? Reproductive medicine guidelines suggest that retrieving 10–20 mature eggs gives many patients a reasonable chance at one live birth when eggs are later used. The exact number depends on age, ovarian reserve, and individual embryo development rates. Some patients complete multiple cycles to accumulate a larger bank of eggs.
What happens when I want to use my frozen eggs? When ready to attempt pregnancy, frozen eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm (partner or donor) via ICSI, and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Resulting embryos may undergo PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) before transfer. The embryo transfer is typically done at a full-service IVF clinic; Ova would coordinate with a partner clinic for this phase.
How long can eggs remain frozen? Vitrified eggs can remain stored for many years without significant degradation in quality, based on current evidence. Annual storage fees typically apply. There is no established maximum storage period under current US law, though storage facility policies vary.