Frozen embryos are often transported between medical laboratories and fertility clinics for various reasons. These include regulatory arbitrage, access to a specific selection of donor gametes or just life changes such as moving cross-country or overseas. Embryo transportation has been proven safe and effective, as pregnancy rates with shipped embryos are comparable to those achieved in clinics. However, it isn’t free.

Distance

The primary cost factor when it comes to shipping embryos is the distance they must travel. Your embryos will travel in a temperature-controlled container (dewar) or high-density foam cooler, typically provided by the service you choose to ship with. These containers are designed to safely transport medical samples and live tissue, so they’re safe for your embryos.

In one study, monkey embryos that were shipped over long distances continued to develop in culture at rates similar to those of non-transported siblings. Your Embryo Care Specialist will work with your clinics to ensure the transport timeline is met, communicate with both labs to speed up the process, handle all logistics and process-related paperwork, and supervise the container personally from its pick-up until it is dropped off at the new lab. Embryo Shipping is useful in some cases when the intended parents need to move their biological material between clinics, find surrogates in distant destinations or if they change their country of residence.

Time

Shipping eggs, sperm, and embryos is an essential part of a booming global fertility industry. The ability to ship these critical components across borders allows tens of thousands of would-be parents to assemble all the elements of their baby-building process in one place, whether they are seeking access to a specific selection of donor gametes or a particular fertility clinic for future treatment cycles.

Embryos are shipped in dewar tanks that contain liquid nitrogen, which freezes them at an extremely cold temperature. Because planes don’t allow liquid nitrogen on board, the tanks are filled with retention foam that keeps some of the nitrogen in vapor form but still enables the shipment to meet regulations. This can add to the cost of the shipment, as does any additional insurance or equipment rental charged by your shipment provider. However, you can often expect your total shipping costs to fall within a standard range comparable to what you might pay for other forms of shipment.

Equipment

In addition to the cost of transporting frozen embryos, eggs, and sperm between clinics, there is also the cost of specialized equipment. Embryo shipping takes the form of cryogenic storage dewars, high-density foam freezers, and dry shippers that are typically used to store medical samples and live tissue but are specially adapted for embryos. These containers must be airtight and maintain a constant temperature. With current technologies Dewar vessels can keep your embryos safe for several days and even weeks depending on the nitrogen storage capacity of the vessel being used. The logistics of shipping embryos require meticulous planning, adherence to protocols, and collaboration with experienced professionals. As sociologist Anika Konig has noted, the elasticity of the reproductive industry’s global supply chains mirrors how clothing brands shift production around the world for favorable labor and investment climates, while leveraging low-cost raw materials.