Why French women choose Spain to freeze their eggs

Every year, thousands of French women travel to Spain for egg freezing. Not because clinics there are better known, but because the French public system can't keep up with demand. Average waiting time in France for egg freezing at a public centre: 12 to 24 months. In Spain, you can start within 4 to 6 weeks of your first consultation.

When you're 32, 34, or 36, a year on a waiting list isn't just an inconvenience — it's a biological cost. Egg quality declines with age, and every month counts after 35.

How egg freezing in Spain works for a French woman

The process is simpler than most women expect. Step 1: an initial consultation — often by video call from France — to review your hormone panel (AMH, AFC) and plan your protocol. Step 2: ovarian stimulation — 10 to 12 days of daily hormone injections, which you do at home. Monitoring ultrasounds can be done at your own gynaecologist in France. Step 3: egg retrieval — the only trip you need to make to Spain. It's a 15-20 minute procedure under light sedation, usually on a Monday or Tuesday so you can return to France by Thursday. Step 4: vitrification — your eggs are frozen using a high-speed technique that preserves quality. They can be stored in Spain for as long as you choose.

Total time on-site in Spain: 2 to 3 days.

What does it cost — and what does French health insurance cover?

A full cycle of egg freezing in Spain — including consultation, monitoring, retrieval, and vitrification — costs between €2,800 and €4,500 depending on the clinic and protocol. Stimulation medication adds €600 to €1,200. Annual storage runs around €200/year.

The good news: if you are between 29 and 37 years old, French social security (CPAM) reimburses up to €1,970 per retrieval cycle, even when performed in Spain — as long as the clinic is in an EU country and you follow the correct administrative steps before starting treatment. After reimbursement, your net cost with WoMA starts from around €800.

Is egg freezing in Spain legally recognised in France?

Yes. Egg freezing for social reasons (autoconservation ovocytaire) has been legal in France since the 2021 bioethics law, for women aged 29 to 37. Cycles performed in Spain under EU regulations are fully recognised in France. Your frozen eggs can remain stored in Spain, or be transferred to a French clinic if needed.

At WoMA, we believe that choosing Spain for egg freezing isn't a compromise — it's often the most informed decision you can make. You get access to world-class clinics, shorter timelines, and a process designed around your real life in France.

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