New DOD cryopreservation program protects our troops’ fertility

The U.S. Department of Defense has introduced a new, three-year demonstration project that’s great news for members of the U.S. Armed Forces who wish to protect and preserve their fertility for future family-building. Through this DoD cryopreservation program, which launched September 14, 2026, the Pentagon will reimburse eligible members up to $10,000 a year for egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, and up to $500 per year for sperm freezing.

Our Texas fertility preservation specialists are honored to provide peace of mind to members of the armed forces by providing state-of-the-art egg freezing and sperm freezing services at all Texas Fertility Center locations and our partner Ovation® Fertility IVF laboratories. Our TFC Austin facility and physicians have been recognized in the recent past by the Secretary of the Army for providing exceptional service to members of the military, and we are honored to be able to continue to do so.

Who is covered by this new sperm and egg freezing program?

The new DoD cryopreservation program is open to active-duty members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force who meet one of the following criteria.

• Received orders for duty for which they may receive hazardous duty pay, including deployment orders
• Likely to receive such orders within the next 120 days
• Ordered to be geographically separated from a spouse, domestic partner or dating partner for 180 days or longer, including sea duty

To receive reimbursement through the DoD cryopreservation program, troops must request written Command attestation that these conditions were met at the time the covered fertility preservation services were provided.

What is covered by the DoD cryopreservation program?

Eligible armed forces members can access sperm and egg freezing services from any provider they choose, including military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and private fertility centers like Texas Fertility Center. Because services at MTFs are generally first-come, first-serve, and timelines are often tight once orders have been given, our Texas fertility preservation specialists are pleased to expedite these treatments for troops who need them.

Covered services include all parts of the gamete cryopreservation process, including required medications and procedures, as well as laboratory services. Items specifically included are:

• Stimulation medications
• Laboratory evaluation of eggs or sperm
• Ultrasounds
• Gamete retrieval procedures
• Medical testing required for retrieval and cryopreservation
• Cryopreservation of eggs or sperm
• Shipping of eggs or sperm
• Storage of eggs or sperm in an appropriate private storage facility during the demonstration project period

The pilot program covers only cryopreservation of oocytes and sperm, not IVF or the use of the sperm or eggs to create embryos. Those assisted reproductive technologies may later be covered by TRICARE or private commercial insurance, in certain situations.

Individuals who are approved for the cryopreservation program can be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket costs by submitting itemized invoices for covered services within 120 days of the date of service.

Contact us to get started

Texas Fertility Center is proud to partner with the members of our armed forces to protect and preserve their future fertility through the DoD cryopreservation program. To learn more or get started with egg freezing or sperm freezing, contact us today to make an appointment with our Texas fertility preservation specialists.