Ask the CryoStork^®: Safe Shipping for Embryos

Welcome to Ask the CryoStork, where we answer questions from patients just like you. Whether you’re navigating fertility preservation, preparing for IVF, planning for surrogacy, or exploring long-term storage, we know the decisions ahead of you are deeply personal and sometimes overwhelming. That’s why we’re here. To offer clarity and confidence as you protect what matters most.  

If you don’t see your question answered, please contact us! We’re here to help. We’ll answer your question directly, and it may even be featured (anonymously) in a future Ask the Cryostork to help others just like you!  

Ask the CryoStork: Is it really safe to ship something as important as my embryos? 

We hear this question often, and we understand exactly why! When you’ve worked so hard to reach this point in your fertility journey, the idea of handing over your embryos to be shipped can feel risky, even overwhelming. These are more than cells, they represent your plans for the future.  

Shipping reproductive materials like embryos, eggs, or sperm is not just safe, it’s our specialty and it’s what we’ve built our entire service around. With decades of experience in cryogenic logistics and nearly a million successful shipments globally, Cryoport Systems combines technical excellence with a deep respect for what’s being carried.  

Specialized equipment designed for safety 

Every shipment is transported in a scientifically validated cryogenic shipping system that is engineered to maintain the required ultra-low temperatures (below -150°C!) for extended periods of time. These systems are engineered specifically for transporting highly sensitive biological materials, adhere to the most rigorous compliance standards, and are rigorously tested for performance before every trip.  

Inside, your embryos are securely housed in protective packaging designed specifically for this kind of transport. We don’t use polystyrene and cardboard packaging, we use clinically tested systems that meet and exceed industry standards.  

Trust also comes from knowing where your materials are and how they’re protected. From pickup to delivery, Cryoport Sytems maintains continuous condition monitoring, with metrics like temperature, orientation, location, shock, and more collected throughout the entire journey. And behind the scenes, our logistics specialists are monitoring your shipment, ready to intervene or adjust if anything out of the ordinary is detected.  

All shipments adhere to our proprietary Chain of Compliance® standard for the industry’s most robust quality measures at every step.  

Specialized couriers and partnerships 

Cryoport Systems has decades of experience and a track record of success in specialized transport of the most sensitive materials, even arranging for safe, authorized transport that leverages third parties like FedEx.  

While FedEx’s standard terms and conditions generally prohibit the shipment of human embryos, Cryoport Systems is expressly authorized to transport human reproductive materials, including embryos, oocytes/eggs, and sperm under our existing contractual arrangement with FedEx.  

The strength of our quality systems from validated packaging and continuous monitoring to regulatory compliance, rigorous risk mitigation protocols, and proven commitment to the highest standards of handling and care are designed to protect what matters most.  

So yes, it is safe to ship your embryos. 

And with Cryoport Systems, it’s not just safe – it’s planned. Protected. And personally managed with the highest standard of care.  

If you’re considering transporting your reproductive materials, we’re here to talk you through the process, answer your questions, and give you the peace of mind you deserve. Because we understand that what’s at stake is so much more than arranging a shipment, it’s about safeguarding your future.