Few fertility programs in the United States carry the academic weight and clinical depth of the NYU Langone Fertility Center in New York City. Operating under NYU Langone Health and in partnership with Prelude Fertility, the center has been caring for patients since 1992 — the same year its founding director performed the first embryo biopsy leading to a live birth in the country. Today the program spans three locations across Manhattan and Westchester, has helped bring more than 17,000 babies into the world, and holds a Google rating of 4.4 stars across 284+ patient reviews. For New Yorkers navigating infertility, it represents one of the most comprehensive and research-driven options available.
Physicians and Clinical Team
The Fertility Center is led by James A. Grifo, MD, PhD, who serves as both Program Director and head of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Grifo earned his MD and PhD from Case Western Reserve University, completed his OB/GYN residency at Cornell Medical Center, and finished a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Yale University School of Medicine. He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology — in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1991) and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (1994). Among his landmark contributions: he developed the NYU Vitrification Method for egg freezing beginning in 2004 and performed the first PGD embryo biopsy resulting in a live birth in the US. He has been recognized with the SART Prize and RESOLVE's President's Award.
Supporting Dr. Grifo is a deep bench of fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologists:
- Jennifer K. Blakemore, MD — Associate Director of the REI Fellowship Program
- Elizabeth (Mary Elizabeth) Fino, MD — Director of the REI Fellowship Program; fellowship trained in reproductive endocrinology
- Alan S. Berkeley, MD — long-tenured faculty with expertise in IVF and surgical care
- Shannon M. DeVore, MD — board-certified REI specialist
- Frederick L. Licciardi, MD — known for work in male factor infertility and IUI
- Jacquelyn M. Shaw, MD — REI specialist with clinical focus on fertility preservation
- Brooke Hodes-Wertz, MD, MPH — subspecialty focus in preimplantation genetic testing
- Lisa M. Kump, MD — REI faculty and clinician
- Bobby B. Najari, MD — male reproductive medicine specialist, Department of Urology
- Caroline McCaffrey, PhD — embryology and laboratory science
The division's three-year ACGME-accredited REI fellowship trains the next generation of reproductive endocrinologists and places all graduates on a pathway to board certification through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Services and Treatments
The NYU Langone Fertility Center offers a full spectrum of assisted reproductive technologies and fertility-related care:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) — conventional and mini-IVF protocols
- Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) — using the proprietary NYU Vitrification Method; more than 3,000 cycles performed
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A and PGT-M) — chromosomal screening and single-gene disorder testing
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- Egg donation — donor recruitment, screening, and matching
- Gestational carrier / surrogacy programs
- Fertility preservation for cancer patients — coordinated through the Perlmutter Cancer Center
- Male infertility evaluation and treatment — in collaboration with the Department of Urology
- Reproductive surgery — laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, fibroid and endometriosis management
- Fertility testing and evaluation — hormonal panels, semen analysis, genetic screening, uterine assessment
- LGBTQ+ family building — reciprocal IVF, known donor insemination, co-parenting support
- Second-opinion consultations
The center also runs an active research program and has been instrumental in advancing blastocyst culture techniques and IVF optimization for women over 40.
Laboratory and Success Rates
The NYU Langone embryology laboratory is the backbone of the program's clinical outcomes. The lab employs continuous quality monitoring, strict chain-of-custody protocols, and maintains a dedicated team of PhD-level embryologists and laboratory scientists. The center has performed more than 3,000 egg freezing cycles with over 200 documented live births from vitrified oocytes, and the cumulative clinical experience spans tens of thousands of patients since the program's 1992 founding.
The program reports outcomes annually to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). Because live birth data requires a full gestational period to compile, SART figures are typically published 12–18 months after cycles occur. Prospective patients can review the most current verified outcome statistics directly through the SART Clinic Summary Report for NYU Langone Fertility Center (Clinic ID 1895), or through the CDC's ART Success Rates database. The center notes that its high utilization of PGT-A and elective single-embryo transfer may lower per-cycle live birth rates relative to programs that routinely transfer multiple embryos — but this approach reflects a safety-first philosophy that minimizes multiple gestations. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine has recognized the center's nursing staff with a Center of Excellence designation, and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association awarded the program its Hope Award.
Patient Experience
Reviewers consistently praise the clinical expertise available at NYU Langone Fertility Center. Patients frequently mention the depth of physician knowledge, access to cutting-edge technologies like PGT-A, and the reassurance of being treated within a major academic medical system that has the resources to handle complex cases — including those involving cancer diagnosis, severe male factor infertility, and recurrent pregnancy loss. The coordination with Perlmutter Cancer Center for oncofertility patients is a notable differentiator.
As an academic medical center, the program does carry some trade-offs that patients should weigh. Wait times for initial consultations can run longer than at boutique private clinics. Some patients note that care involves rotating through multiple physicians and fellows rather than a single consistent provider, which can feel impersonal during a high-stakes process. The midtown Manhattan and NoMad locations are convenient for most New York commuters, but the clinic volume means the waiting rooms can be busy during peak morning monitoring hours. Patients who prioritize access to research-grade care and broad subspecialty support tend to report the highest satisfaction. For a broader look at your options, see our guide to fertility clinics in New York.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.
At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.
If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
New York State has some of the strongest fertility insurance mandates in the country. Since January 2020, large-group insurance plans covering more than 100 employees must include diagnosis and treatment of infertility — including up to three IVF cycles using fresh or frozen embryo transfer. This mandate has made NYU Langone Fertility Center accessible to a significant portion of New York City patients who might otherwise face out-of-pocket costs exceeding $20,000 per cycle. Self-insured employers and small-group plans are exempt, so patients should verify their specific benefits with HR before assuming coverage applies.
For patients without insurance coverage, the center publishes transparent self-pay pricing. A conventional IVF cycle starts at approximately $12,650 for autologous eggs; an IVF cycle with preimplantation genetic testing starts at approximately $16,300. Medication costs are separate and typically add $3,000–$6,000 per retrieval cycle. Financing options include:
- LendingClub — loan amounts from $2,000 to $50,000 with flexible repayment terms
- BUNDL multi-cycle packages — bundles multiple treatment cycles into a single upfront cost with optional risk protection
- Employer fertility benefits — partnerships with Progyny, Maven Clinic, and Carrot Fertility
- Service to Veterans Program — 25% discount on self-pay rates for egg freezing and IVF
Financial counselors on staff help patients understand their insurance benefits, prior authorization requirements, and financing pathways before treatment begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes NYU Langone Fertility Center different from private fertility clinics in NYC? NYU Langone is an academic medical center with an integrated research division, an ACGME-accredited REI fellowship, and subspecialty resources — including urology, oncology, and genetics — under one roof. Patients with complex diagnoses or prior treatment failures often find the depth of the program valuable. The trade-off is a higher-volume environment compared to smaller boutique practices.
Does NYU Langone accept my insurance for IVF? The center accepts most major insurance plans and has dedicated financial counselors to verify benefits. New York's infertility insurance mandate requires many large-group employers to cover up to three IVF cycles, but coverage varies by plan type and employer. Calling the center's billing team before your first appointment is the best way to confirm what is covered.
What IVF treatment protocols does NYU Langone use? The center offers both conventional stimulated IVF and minimal-stimulation protocols tailored to each patient's ovarian reserve, age, and medical history. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A) is routinely available for patients who wish to screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. Single-embryo transfer is standard practice to minimize multiple pregnancy risks.
How do I get started with NYU Langone Fertility Center? New patients can schedule a consultation by calling 646-929-7800 or through MyChart on the NYU Langone website. The center recommends bringing any prior fertility workup records, semen analysis results, and insurance information to the first appointment. Wait times for initial consultations vary but same-day scheduling is sometimes available for urgent fertility preservation needs, particularly for oncology patients.