Nestled in Bryn Mawr along Philadelphia's storied Main Line corridor, Main Line Fertility (MLF) has served patients across the greater Philadelphia region — and well beyond — for more than 30 years. The practice operates six convenient locations spanning Bryn Mawr, Philadelphia, West Chester, Havertown, Reading, and Fort Washington, making it one of the most accessible fertility networks in southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. A proud member of The Prelude Network, MLF combines the resources of a national fertility organization with a deeply personal, community-focused care model. Patients on Google have rewarded that approach with a 4.3-star rating across more than 224 reviews, frequently praising the responsiveness and warmth of the entire clinical team. Whether you are just beginning to explore your options or arriving after years of treatment elsewhere, this guide covers everything you need to know before your first appointment.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Main Line Fertility fields one of the largest assemblies of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists in the Philadelphia market. Here is a closer look at each physician:
Michael J. Glassner, MD — Founding Partner and Medical Director, Dr. Glassner completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. With more than 25 years in practice, he is a true pioneer: he was involved in the first pregnancy and live birth worldwide using early embryo screening with Next Generation Sequencing. Philadelphia Magazine has named him a Top Doctor for 19 consecutive years (2006–2025), and Castle Connolly has recognized him every year from 2004 through 2026.
Deanna R. Brasile, DO — Dr. Brasile earned her Doctor of Osteopathy from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed her OB/GYN residency at Cooper University Medical Center, and finished her REI fellowship at Drexel University College of Medicine. She directs MLF's Egg Freezing program and is actively involved in Drexel's REI fellowship training. She has published extensively on diminished ovarian reserve and has received the Stein Memorial Research Award.
Allison Bloom, DO, MPH — Dr. Bloom holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Highest Honors) and a Master of Public Health, also from Nova Southeastern. She completed her OB/GYN residency and REI fellowship at Drexel University College of Medicine and joined MLF as a fellow in 2017. She directs MLF's Third Party and Egg Donor programs and serves as the Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for The Prelude Network. Castle Connolly named her a Top LGBTQ+ Doctor in 2024–2025.
Jenna Kahn, MD — Dr. Kahn is double board-certified in OB/GYN and REI. She earned her medical degree with Distinguished Honors from George Washington University School of Medicine, completed her residency at Pennsylvania Hospital, and her REI fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center / Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her clinical focus includes IVF, PCOS, fertility preservation, reproductive genetics, and the management of poor responders.
Shahab Minassian, MD — A Philadelphia native, Dr. Minassian graduated from Jefferson Medical College and completed both his OB/GYN residency and REI fellowship there. He is a recognized expert in PCOS and its relationship to infertility, and is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of America. Castle Connolly has listed him as a Top Doctor continuously since 2015.
Ben Gocial, MD — Dr. Gocial holds more than 30 years of experience in reproductive medicine. He completed medical school at Temple University School of Medicine and his REI fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he is credited with establishing the institution's first IVF program. He is a co-founder and past president of the Philadelphia Area Reproductive Endocrine Society (PARES) and a past chair of the SART registry committee, reflecting his deep investment in national data quality.
Shannon Alexa, DO — Dr. Alexa earned her DO from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at Inspira Health Network. She is a member of ASRM, the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Osteopathic Association. Her clinical focus includes IVF, IUI, PCOS, fertility preservation, and LGBTQ+ family building.
The physician team is supported by a robust group of advanced-practice clinicians: Gina Menarde, MSN, CRNP; Allison Tomack, PA-C, MPAS; Rachel Bruner, NP-C; Katie Gavern, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC; and Sydney Gocial, WHNP-BC. This depth of mid-level support means patients can reach a knowledgeable clinical contact quickly, even during high-volume cycle monitoring periods.
Services and Treatments
Main Line Fertility offers a comprehensive menu of reproductive services under one roof:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — including standard and mini-stimulation protocols
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- Egg Freezing (Elective and Medical) — directed by Dr. Brasile
- Sperm Freezing and Embryo Freezing
- Oncofertility — fertility preservation for patients facing cancer treatment
- Genetic Testing — Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) and Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic disorders (PGT-M)
- Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA)
- Receptivadx — endometrial microbiome testing
- Zymot Sperm Separation Device — advanced sperm selection
- Donor Egg IVF — MLF runs an active egg donor program; patients can also become donors
- Donor Sperm
- Gestational Surrogacy
- LGBTQ+ Family Building — inclusive care for same-sex couples, single parents, and transgender individuals
- Fertility Care for Patients 40+
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Treatment
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Management
- InVocell (IVC) — intravaginal culture device
- Timed Intercourse Cycles with Monitoring
- Fertility Testing — AMH, AFC, semen analysis, hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and more
- NUTRABLOOM Supplements — MLF-curated fertility supplement line
- Mind-Body Wellness — support groups, counseling, nutrition, and acupuncture referrals
- BUNDL Financial Plans — multi-cycle packages with a 100% IVF refund option
- Clinical Research Trials — including the active GRACE Study for eligible IVF patients
For patients considering IVF treatment, MLF's team can walk you through protocol options during a consultation and tailor the approach to your specific diagnosis and ovarian reserve.
Laboratory and Success Rates
The on-site embryology laboratory at the Bryn Mawr flagship is a critical component of MLF's outcomes. Having a high-complexity lab under the same roof as clinical operations reduces logistics-related risks, maintains chain of custody, and allows embryologists and physicians to consult in real time. The lab supports blastocyst culture, vitrification (glass-state flash-freezing), preimplantation genetic testing, and the Zymot microfluidic chip for sperm selection.
Main Line Fertility reports its IVF outcomes annually to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Independent success-rate data, broken down by age group and diagnosis, can be verified directly through the CDC ART National Summary Report. Because cycle volumes and patient demographics shift year to year, prospective patients should review the most current reporting cycle when comparing clinics. MLF's physicians — particularly Dr. Gocial, who has chaired SART's registry committee — have a long track record of transparent data reporting, which is a meaningful differentiator in a marketplace where not all clinics participate in voluntary disclosure.
Patient Experience
The 4.3-star Google rating across 224-plus reviews reflects several consistent themes. Patients frequently cite personalized communication: nurses and coordinators are described as quick to return calls and genuinely invested in outcomes rather than treating patients as case numbers. The multi-location model earns repeated praise for reducing commute burden, particularly for early-morning monitoring appointments that can otherwise require long drives to a single flagship.
Reviewers also highlight the emotional intelligence of the clinical team. Dr. Glassner's ability to explain complex protocols clearly, Dr. Brasile's openly cheerleading energy during difficult cycles, and Dr. Bloom's firsthand experience navigating infertility as a patient herself all surface in patient narratives. The practice's active support groups, onsite counseling resources, and acupuncture referral network extend care well beyond the clinical exam room.
LGBTQ+ patients represent a meaningful segment of MLF's patient base, and many reviews from same-sex couples specifically note feeling welcomed and affirmed from the first intake form onward. Dr. Bloom's role as Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for The Prelude Network and MLF's Castle Connolly Top LGBTQ+ Doctors designation (2024) underscore that this inclusivity is structural, not merely aspirational.
For patients traveling from outside southeastern Pennsylvania, MLF maintains an international and travel program with resources to coordinate remote monitoring and consultations before in-person retrieval cycles.
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
Pennsylvania does not have a statewide mandate requiring insurers to cover IVF or most fertility treatments. This means that coverage at MLF depends heavily on your individual or employer-sponsored plan, and patients should verify their benefits in writing before commencing treatment.
MLF's dedicated financial counselors will contact your insurer directly, review your eligibility, and outline expected out-of-pocket costs prior to your first cycle. Participating insurance providers include Optum Fertility Solutions / Optum COE, among others; the list changes periodically and may vary by physician or location, so calling ahead to confirm is advisable.
For patients without IVF coverage, a single cycle at MLF typically ranges from $14,250 to $20,000, encompassing monitoring, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer, and follow-up visits. Medications, anesthesia, and optional genetic testing are typically billed separately.
MLF offers several financing pathways to help bridge the gap:
- BUNDL Multi-Cycle Plans — discounted bundles that include a 100% refund guarantee if a live birth is not achieved
- Fertility Financing — third-party financing options
- Discount Programs — targeted cost-reduction programs for qualifying patients
- Prescription Assistance — help navigating pharmaceutical discount and co-pay programs
Patients researching coverage should also explore Pennsylvania's insurance landscape as part of a broader comparison of fertility clinics in Pennsylvania, since benefit mandates, employer self-insurance carve-outs, and state marketplace plans all affect what is ultimately covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many locations does Main Line Fertility have, and which is the main office? MLF operates six locations: Bryn Mawr (the flagship), Philadelphia, West Chester, Havertown, Reading, and Fort Washington. The Bryn Mawr office houses the primary embryology laboratory and surgical suite, while the satellite offices handle consultations and monitoring cycles, allowing patients to minimize travel.
Does Main Line Fertility accept patients from outside the Philadelphia area? Yes. MLF has a dedicated international and travel program, and its website notes that patients travel from across Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and even internationally for treatment. The practice can coordinate with referring physicians to complete preliminary testing closer to home before the patient arrives for their retrieval cycle.
What is the GRACE Study mentioned on MLF's website? The GRACE Study is an active clinical research trial open to eligible IVF patients at MLF. Participation in studies like this gives the practice access to cutting-edge protocols and can sometimes reduce treatment costs for qualifying individuals. Prospective participants should ask a care coordinator for current eligibility criteria during their consultation.
How does Main Line Fertility approach LGBTQ+ family building? MLF has built LGBTQ+ inclusivity into its clinical and administrative infrastructure. Dr. Allison Bloom serves as the Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for The Prelude Network, and the practice has received Castle Connolly's Top LGBTQ+ Doctors recognition. Services for same-sex male couples (donor egg plus gestational carrier), same-sex female couples (reciprocal IVF, donor sperm IUI), transgender patients, and single individuals by choice are all explicitly offered and staffed by physicians with direct personal and professional experience in this area.