How Frozen Embryos Are Shipped Between Fertility Clinics

Frozen embryos can be safely shipped between fertility clinics and storage facilities using specialized cryogenic containers. These containers maintain the low temperatures needed to keep embryos frozen throughout transport.

After the time, hope and resources you have invested in creating embryos through IVF, moving them can understandably feel like a big step. Specialized couriers, clinic coordination and careful handling protocols help protect your embryos throughout the process.

At American Surrogacy, we help coordinate fertility clinic logistics when embryo transport becomes part of your surrogacy journey. Our support keeps the medical and logistical steps organized so you can stay focused on growing your family.

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When Do Frozen Embryos Need to Be Shipped?

Shipping frozen embryos may become necessary as your fertility treatment or family-building plans change. The most common situations include:

Continuing IVF at a New Clinic: If you change fertility clinics, your embryos may need to move before your next treatment or transfer.
Moving to Long-Term Storage: Embryos can be transferred from an IVF clinic to a dedicated cryostorage facility for continued storage.
Consolidating Embryo Storage: If you have embryos stored at multiple facilities, you may choose to move them to one location.
Preparing for Surrogacy: Embryos may need to be shipped if a different fertility clinic will perform your gestational surrogate’s transfer.

Gestational surrogacy does not automatically require moving your embryos. Your surrogate may instead travel to the fertility clinic where your embryos are already stored for the transfer.

Whether shipping is necessary depends on your clinic, embryo location and transfer plan. Keeping embryos where they are may sometimes be the simplest option.

The Embryo Transport Process

Shipping frozen embryos requires coordination between the fertility clinics and a specialized cryogenic transport provider. The process generally follows three steps:

Clinic Coordination: The sending and receiving clinics confirm transfer requirements, complete necessary consent forms and exchange medical records. The receiving laboratory typically confirms it can accept the embryos before shipment.
Dry Shipper Preparation: The transport provider prepares a specialized dry shipper that uses liquid nitrogen vapor to maintain the extremely low temperatures required to keep embryos frozen during transit.
Transit and Tracking: The embryos are transported by an experienced cryogenic courier using established chain-of-custody procedures. Depending on the provider, tracking and temperature-monitoring systems may also be used throughout the shipment.

Can Frozen Embryos Thaw During Shipping?

Frozen embryos are designed to remain at cryogenic temperatures throughout transport. Specialized dry shippers can maintain these temperatures for several days, giving shipments a safety window beyond the expected transit time. Reputable transport providers reduce the risk of accidental warming through safeguards such as:

Validated Dry Shippers: Containers are prepared and checked before transport to confirm they can maintain appropriate temperatures.
Shipment Monitoring: Depending on the provider, temperature, location and other conditions may be monitored during transit.
Chain of Custody: Tracking procedures document who handles the shipment from pickup through delivery.
Contingency Planning: Couriers may have procedures for delays, missed flights or other unexpected disruptions.

No transport method is completely risk-free but established cryogenic shipping procedures are designed to keep embryos frozen until they reach the receiving facility.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship Frozen Embryos?

Shipping frozen embryos within the U.S. can cost approximately $1,000 to $3,000+, depending on the distance, transport method and provider. International shipments often cost $2,500 to $8,000+ due to longer distances, customs requirements and additional documentation.

Several factors can affect your final cost:

Cryogenic Shipping Container: Your quote may include preparation or rental of the specialized dry shipper used to keep embryos frozen.
Medical Courier: Costs vary based on distance and whether your embryos travel by ground, air or dedicated hand-carry service.
Clinic Fees: Your sending or receiving clinic may charge administrative, release, handling or intake fees.
Insurance: Some transport providers offer optional coverage for certain losses associated with the shipment.
International Requirements: Cross-border shipments may require customs clearance, permits or additional documentation, increasing the overall cost.

Prices vary significantly between providers and routes, so your actual cost will depend on the specific shipment.

How Long Does Embryo Shipping Take?

Domestic embryo shipments often spend about 1–2 days in transit, but the full process can take several weeks. Most of that time is spent coordinating the shipment before the embryos leave their current facility. Before transport, the process may include:

Records Requests: The sending clinic prepares embryology, cryopreservation and other required medical records.

Laboratory Acceptance: The receiving laboratory reviews the records and confirms it can accept and store the embryos.

Physician Approval: Depending on the clinic, a physician may need to review or approve the transfer.

Consent Forms: Intended parents complete the required release, shipping and storage authorizations.

Scheduling: Both facilities and the transport provider coordinate a shipping window that works with treatment plans and clinic availability.

Receipt Confirmation: Once delivered, the receiving clinic confirms that the shipment arrived and the embryos were placed into storage.

Starting this process early can help prevent embryo transport from delaying a planned frozen embryo transfer or surrogacy timeline.

Do You Have to Ship Embryos for Surrogacy?

You don't always need to transport your embryos to pursue gestational surrogacy. In many surrogacy journeys, it's simpler and safer for the gestational surrogate to travel to your current fertility clinic for her medical screening and embryo transfer.

Leaving your embryos at their current clinic avoids transport fees and eliminates transit logistics entirely. When choosing a fertility clinic for embryo transfer, consider whether your surrogate can comfortably travel for her brief clinic visits.

American Surrogacy coordinates all surrogate travel logistics, including flights, hotel bookings, mileage reimbursements and appointment schedules. Our team handles these details, so you don't have to manage long-distance coordination yourself.

Finding an Embryo Transport Company

Your fertility clinic may already work with specific cryogenic transport providers or have requirements for which companies can handle embryo shipments. Check with both the sending and receiving clinics before choosing a provider. Common reproductive tissue transport providers include:

Cryoport Systems: Provides cryogenic shipping services for embryos and other reproductive materials, with shipment tracking and monitoring options.
IVF Couriers: Specializes in hand-carry transportation of embryos, eggs and sperm between fertility clinics and storage facilities.
CryoFuture: Provides reproductive tissue storage and transportation services using specialized cryogenic shipping equipment.
ARK.CRYO: Coordinates domestic and international transportation of embryos and other reproductive materials, including cross-border logistics.

Before scheduling a shipment, confirm that the provider meets the requirements of both fertility clinics and ask what tracking, monitoring and insurance options are included.

Does FedEx Ship Frozen Embryos?

FedEx does not directly ship frozen embryos as a standard parcel service. Embryo transport requires specialized cryogenic packaging, handling and coordination between fertility clinics.

Some reproductive transport companies may use the FedEx transportation network for part of a shipment. In these cases, the specialized provider manages the cryogenic container, tracking and other requirements rather than treating the embryos as a standard package.

Can Intended Parents Arrange Embryo Shipping Themselves?

No, intended parents cannot transport frozen embryos in their personal vehicles or carry-on luggage. Federal regulations, TSA policies and medical board guidelines require medical tissue transport to follow strict biohazard safety standards, liquid nitrogen handling protocols and chain-of-custody documentation.

How American Surrogacy Helps Coordinate the Process

Embryo shipping is only one part of preparing for surrogacy. While your fertility clinic handles the medical requirements for transporting and receiving your embryos, we help coordinate those steps with the larger surrogacy timeline.

Your dedicated surrogacy specialist works with you, your surrogate, fertility clinic and other professionals to keep medical clearances, legal requirements and embryo transfer planning aligned. Having one point of contact helps keep everyone informed and reduces the risk of logistical delays.

Our support continues throughout the surrogacy process, helping each stage move forward at the right time so you can stay focused on your path to parenthood.

Ready to Begin Your Surrogacy Journey?

The embryos you have already created can be the starting point for your surrogacy journey. Knowing whether they are ready for transfer and how your fertility clinic fits into the process can make planning easier.

Speak with a surrogacy specialist today for a personalized consultation about your embryos, fertility clinic coordination and surrogate matching. We can help you understand how each piece fits into your surrogacy plans and move forward with a clear plan for your family.