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Intended Parents

Shipping Frozen Sperm

Depending on where your sperm bank is located, shipping frozen sperm may be a part of your journey to becoming a parent.

Knowing what goes into the process can help give you peace of mind that the sperm will be viable for use when it arrives.

Contact us online for more free information about surrogacy with donated sperm. Surrogacy gives you the opportunity to become a parent no matter what reason donated sperm is needed to create embryos.

From how it’s done safely and securely to what it costs, this article comprehensively covers shipping frozen sperm.

Can You Ship Frozen Sperm?

Yes, you can ship frozen sperm.

Frozen sperm is transported in special containers called “dry shipper” tanks. These tanks store the straws with the sperm, preserving its viability, while the tank is filled with in absorbent material that takes on liquid nitrogen to keep the sperm straws frozen.

You can ship your donor sperm to your home or your fertility clinic. If you’re shipping frozen sperm to your fertility clinic, you’ll need to coordinate with your clinic and the sperm bank you’re acquiring your donor sperm from.

Shipping frozen sperm is not only made possible by specialized containers, but a tight schedule to ensure the viability of the sperm for creating an embryo.

There are various cryopreservation professionals that can ship your frozen sperm domestically or internationally depending on your circumstances and sperm banks typically have courier services they work with that provide these services.

Depending on what your circumstances are, it’s important to check a courier’s practices and requirements to ensure they fit your needs and you meet those requirements. 

Fill out our online contact form to get connected to a fertility clinic near you.

How Long Does Frozen Sperm Last When Shipped?

This depends on the professional you work with for shipping frozen sperm and the materials they work with.

Larger dry shipper tanks can keep sperm frozen for 12 days starting when it’s shipped. Smaller dry shipper tanks may only maintain the necessary temperature for five days.

How Long Does Sperm Last if Frozen?

If stored correctly and properly at -196 degree Celsius, sperm can last indefinitely if frozen. Whenever the owner is ready to use it, it’s carefully thawed in a lab until it reaches room temperature. Once analyzed for motility, it can be used to fertilize an egg.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Frozen Sperm?

There is no set cost for shipping frozen sperm.

Different professionals will give you different figures. Cryos sets their rates at $50-$370 and ReproTech charges $375 just as a couple of examples.

The cost ultimately comes down to where it needs to go, the size of the dry shipper tank and the professional you work with.

Here’s an example of the list of prices given by Cryos:

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