Yes, American Surrogacy routinely works with embryos shipped from fertility clinics across the United States and internationally.
This support eliminates one of the biggest concerns intended parents face when moving from IVF to surrogacy. You don’t need to start over, create new embryos, or abandon the investment you’ve already made in your fertility journey.
Get the support you need for your embryo shipping process. Contact us today to speak with a surrogacy specialist about coordinating your existing embryos with a qualified surrogate.
Why You May Not Even Need to Ship Your Frozen Embryos
Before diving into the shipping process, it’s worth noting that many intended parents can avoid embryo shipping altogether.
Most surrogates working with American Surrogacy are willing and able to travel to your fertility clinic for the embryo transfer procedure.
Benefits of Surrogate Travel to Your Clinic
This approach often proves easier, safer, and less stressful than shipping frozen embryos. When your surrogate travels to your clinic, you eliminate logistical concerns about temperature control, transit time, and coordinating between multiple facilities.
Your embryos stay exactly where they are, in the storage facility you already trust.
Travel arrangements are typically coordinated by our team, and many intended parents find this creates a meaningful bonding opportunity with their surrogate. The transfer takes place in familiar surroundings with your established medical team, providing additional peace of mind during this crucial step.
When Embryo Shipping Becomes Necessary
However, we understand that surrogate travel isn’t always practical due to medical protocols, clinic preferences, or other circumstances.
When shipping becomes necessary, we have extensive experience coordinating successful embryo transfers using shipped embryos through our comprehensive embryo shipping guides.
Do I Need to Create New Embryos for Surrogacy? Or Can I Use the Ones I Have?
You can absolutely use your existing frozen embryos for surrogacy. This is one of the most common questions we hear from intended parents, and the answer provides significant relief both emotionally and financially.
Many of our intended parents come to surrogacy after experiencing multiple IVF failures or pregnancy complications. The embryos you’ve already created represent a substantial investment of time, money, and emotional energy.
Surrogacy embryo transfer success rates range from 60-70% per transfer, compared to traditional IVF rates of 40-50% for women under 35, declining to just 10-15% for women over 40.
Surrogacy’s higher success comes from rigorous surrogate screening that ensures optimal uterine health, proven pregnancy history, and carefully controlled hormonal environments.
Timeline Benefits of Using Existing Embryos
Using existing embryos can also accelerate your surrogacy timeline. Instead of beginning with ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and fertilization, you can move directly to matching with a surrogate and preparing for transfer. This can potentially cut months off your journey to parenthood.
Research shows that women with three embryos have a 95% chance of pregnancy, making your existing embryos a valuable asset for your surrogacy journey.
What Your Clinic Needs to Provide
Your fertility clinic will need to release your embryos along with detailed documentation, including:
- Embryo quality grades and development stages
- Genetic testing results (if applicable)
- Storage requirements and freezing protocols
- Complete medical history and lab work
Our team coordinates with both your original clinic and your surrogate’s clinic to ensure all documentation and medical records are properly transferred along with your embryos.
Is Embryo Shipping Safe?
Embryo shipping has an excellent safety record when performed by specialized cryogenic transport companies. Your embryos are stored in specialized tanks called cryoshippers or dry shippers that maintain consistent ultra-low temperatures without requiring external power sources.
How Embryos Stay Protected During Transport
These specialized containers offer multiple layers of protection:
- Liquid nitrogen maintains temperatures at -196°C (-320°F) throughout transport
- Containers maintain temperature for 7-10 days, providing significant safety margins
- Professional companies provide detailed chain of custody documentation
- Real-time temperature monitoring and tracking systems ensure constant oversight
- Insurance coverage specifically protects reproductive tissue during transport
Properly shipped embryos maintain the same survival rates as those that never leave their original storage facility. Your embryos are treated as critical medical cargo throughout transport, with freezing and thawing having far more impact on viability than shipping.
We always recommend discussing the shipping process with your fertility clinic and reproductive endocrinologist for guidance specific to your embryos’ characteristics.
If you’re considering how many embryos to use for surrogacy or exploring surrogacy with only one embryo left, our specialists can help you develop the best strategy.
From Clinic to Surrogate: How the Embryo Shipping Process Works
The embryo shipping process involves careful coordination between multiple parties, but at American Surrogacy, we manage these logistics so you don’t have to navigate them alone.
Step 1: Documentation and Release
Your original fertility clinic prepares release forms and detailed embryo information, including quality grades, genetic testing results, and storage requirements. You’ll sign consent forms authorizing the transfer and release of your embryos.
Step 2: Receiving Clinic Coordination
Your surrogate’s fertility clinic provides specific shipping instructions, including preferred shipping companies, arrival timing, and any special requirements. We coordinate between both clinics to ensure compatibility and proper preparation.
Step 3: Professional Shipping Arrangement
A specialized reproductive tissue transport company picks up your embryos in a temperature-controlled cryogenic container. These companies are specifically licensed and insured for embryo transport, not general medical courier services.
Step 4: Real-Time Tracking
Throughout transport, the shipping company provides tracking information and temperature monitoring. Many services offer real-time alerts and updates so all parties know exactly where embryos are located.
Step 5: Safe Arrival and Verification
The receiving clinic confirms embryo arrival, verifies the integrity of the shipment, and places embryos in their storage facility. Both clinics document the successful transfer for your records.
This entire process typically takes 1-3 days for domestic shipments and 2-10 days for international transport, depending on the origin and destination countries. Our coordination team manages communications between all parties and keeps you informed throughout the process.
Embryo Shipping Costs and Logistics: What Intended Parents Should Expect
Embryo shipping costs typically range from $1,000 to $3,000 for domestic shipments within the United States, depending on distance, urgency, and specific transport requirements.
International shipping costs are significantly higher, generally ranging from $3,000-$8,000 or more depending on the origin country and service level.
For more detailed information about embryo shipping costs, our specialists can provide specific estimates based on your situation.
These costs cover specialized cryogenic containers, professional handling, insurance coverage, and documentation services.
While it represents an additional expense, most intended parents find the cost manageable compared to creating new embryos or repeating IVF cycles.
Additional Fees to Consider
Beyond shipping costs, you may encounter:
- Documentation fees from your original clinic (typically $200-500)
- Receiving fees from your surrogate’s clinic (usually $300-600)
- Storage fees if embryos arrive before your surrogate is ready for transfer
- Rush shipping surcharges for expedited services
Timing coordination is essential for cost management. Rush shipping or expedited services significantly increase expenses, so planning ahead when possible helps control costs.
Our team works with you to identify the optimal shipping window based on your surrogate’s cycle and clinic availability.
Financial Protection AvailableThrough our Programs
Many intended parents find it helpful to factor shipping costs into their overall surrogacy budget. We offer three comprehensive program options to fit different needs and financial situations:
- Foundation Program: If your journey ends without a baby and you have no embryos left, some fees will be refunded.
- Limited Risk Program: In addition to available refunds if a journey doesn’t work out, you also have access to comprehensive services, including unlimited matching at no extra cost.
For those seeking additional financing support, companies like Sunfish offer fertility loans that can cover embryo shipping and related expenses as part of comprehensive surrogacy financing packages.
How American Surrogacy Supports Intended Parents Through This Process
We bring years of experience coordinating embryo shipments for intended parents from around the world.
Our team understands the emotional weight of entrusting your embryos to a shipping process and provides comprehensive support throughout, including our detailed guide to shipping frozen embryos.
Clinic Coordination Expertise
We maintain relationships with fertility clinics nationwide and understand their specific requirements for embryo receipt and storage.
This experience helps us identify potential logistical issues early and resolve them before they impact your timeline.
Vendor Network Management
Our team works with proven embryo shipping companies and can recommend services based on your specific needs, location, and budget.
You won’t need to research and vet shipping companies yourself because we handle all vendor coordination.
Communication Bridge
Throughout the shipping process, we serve as a central communication hub between you, your original clinic, your surrogate’s clinic, and the shipping company. You’ll receive regular updates without needing to manage multiple points of contact.
If Unexpected Issues Come Up
If unexpected issues arise during shipping, our team provides immediate problem-solving support. Weather delays, documentation problems, clinic scheduling conflicts—we’ve handled various shipping challenges and know how to resolve them quickly.
Beyond logistics, we understand the anxiety many intended parents feel about shipping embryos. Our team provides emotional support and reassurance throughout the process, helping you feel confident in your decision.
Program Options and Financial Protection
Our programs include full-service support and independent program options with embryo shipping coordination as part of our comprehensive services.
Whichever program you select, we’ll manage all embryo shipping logistics so you can focus on your approaching parenthood. Our financial protection programs safeguard your investment from the moment your embryos leave storage until they arrive at your surrogate’s clinic.
Contact us today to discuss your shipping coordination needs and take the next step toward your journey to parenthood.
Your existing embryos represent the foundation of your future family, and we’re here to ensure they reach your surrogate safely and efficiently.