What you'll take
Three categories of medication are used in the egg freezing process. Each person uses one from each applicable category — not all options listed. The specific drugs and doses are determined by the physician based on each individual's protocol.
| Category | Types | Purpose | When taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonadotropins FSH + HMG | Gonal-F or Follistim (FSH) + Menopur (HMG) | Stimulate ovaries to grow multiple follicles simultaneously | Daily, evenings — Days 2–12 approximately |
| GnRH Antagonist | Cetrotide or Ganirelix | Prevent premature ovulation by suppressing LH release | Daily, mornings — added mid-cycle around Days 7–9 |
| Trigger shot | Ovidrel (hCG) and/or Lupron (Leuprolide) | Trigger final egg maturation and release for retrieval | Once, at a precise time assigned by nurse — not bought until type is confirmed |
Gonal-F and Follistim are the same medication from different manufacturers — one or the other is prescribed, not both. Same for Cetrotide and Ganirelix. Only one FSH and one antagonist are used per cycle.
Shopping pharmacies — this is worth doing
Medication prices vary significantly between specialty pharmacies — sometimes by thousands of dollars for identical drugs. Calling three to five pharmacies before ordering is the single most impactful thing that can be done to reduce medication costs.
Real quotes from June 2026 for the same protocol: Prima Pharmacy at $3,680, Alto Pharmacy at $5,134. That's a $1,454 difference for the same medications. The research takes an hour. It's worth it.
Questions to ask each pharmacy:
- What is the price for 10–12 300IU pens of Gonal-F or Follistim?
- What is the price for 24 vials of Menopur?
- What is the price for 3–6 boxes of Cetrotide or Ganirelix?
- What is the price for 1–2 Ovidrel and/or 1–4 Lupron trigger kits?
- Do you participate in ReUnite, HEART Rx, or Fertility Instant Savings programs?
- Do you offer a best price guarantee or price matching?
→ View the full pharmacy directory — contact info, phone numbers, and real June 2026 quotes for every pharmacy I called.
What I did
I ordered Follistim and Lupron through Costco (yes, Costco — their specialty pharmacy pricing is genuinely competitive), and Menopur, Ganirelix, and Ovidrel through Prima Pharmacy after comparing multiple quotes. The HEART Tomorrow program for Menopur was applied through Prima. Splitting orders between pharmacies based on where each medication was cheapest is an option — worth asking each pharmacy if they can match prices on specific items.
Discount programs — most people don't know to ask
Several manufacturer programs reduce the cost of specific medications significantly for qualifying patients. These aren't widely advertised and many people don't find out about them until after they've already paid full price.
These programs have eligibility requirements and the rules matter — particularly around insurance reimbursement. Ask specifically before assuming qualification, and check whether using a particular benefits provider affects eligibility.
I called eight pharmacies before ordering. The same exact medications — same drugs, same doses — ranged from $3,680 to over $5,100. Nobody at the clinic told me to do this. It was in the orientation materials in passing, but not framed as "this will save you over a thousand dollars if you spend an hour on the phone." Spend the hour.
The pick-up strategy
Pick up only the first half of the medication order when starting. The second half can be ordered as needed once the cycle is underway and it's clear what will actually be used.
This matters because protocols can change, cycles can be cancelled, and medications cannot be returned once dispensed. Paying for a full protocol upfront and then not using part of it is a common and avoidable expense.
The trigger shot specifically: wait to purchase until the nurse confirms which type is needed — Ovidrel, Lupron, or both. This is usually confirmed a day or two before trigger day. The trigger shot type depends on follicle response and OHSS risk — it can't be known in advance.
If the cycle is cancelled after medications have been dispensed, unused medications generally cannot be returned. Stored properly, most medications can be kept for up to one year if a future cycle is planned.
Medication information sourced from NYU Langone Fertility Center patient materials, verified June 2026. Prices from pharmacy quotes dated June 2026 — subject to change.
What I'd tell a friend
Call pharmacies before you order anything. I know this is in the guide and I'm saying it again here because I almost didn't do it — it felt like a lot of effort for an uncertain reward. The reward was over $1,400 for an hour of calls. Also: Costco. Their specialty pharmacy pricing on Follistim is genuinely competitive and most people don't think to call them.
What surprised me
How much the pharmacy landscape varies between clinics. NYU Langone has a list of approved pharmacies, and the prices between them for identical medications varied enormously. There's no standardization. It's entirely on the patient to do the comparison shopping, and the clinic doesn't proactively tell you the range.
Storage and handling
When medications arrive, open the package immediately and review storage instructions for each item. Some require refrigeration from the moment of delivery; others can be stored at room temperature. Mixing up storage requirements can compromise the medication.
Gonadotropins like Gonal-F and Menopur generally require refrigeration. Once opened, Gonal-F pens are typically stable at room temperature for a defined period — check the specific instructions for the medication received.
If anything seems missing from the order or storage instructions are unclear, contact the pharmacy before using the medication.