Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates – Philadelphia — An Honest Patient Guide

Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates (PRA) is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility practice located at 815 Locust Street in Center City Philadelphia, in the Washington Square West neighborhood — one of Philadelphia's most walkable and medically active residential and commercial areas. Locust Street at this address sits between the major hospital corridor along South Broad Street and the Washington Square park block, convenient to Jefferson Health, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center. The location is easily accessible by SEPTA rail and bus, and is walkable from Center City's core employment districts.

PRA is an independent reproductive endocrinology practice with a patient population drawn primarily from Philadelphia proper and the surrounding suburbs — the Main Line, South Jersey, Delaware, and the northern and northeastern Philadelphia communities. As an independent, physician-led practice, PRA operates without the administrative layers of a large national network, which many patients describe as allowing for more direct, personalized care relationships. For additional Pennsylvania clinic options, see our Pennsylvania fertility clinic directory.

Physicians and Clinical Team

PRA is staffed by board-certified reproductive endocrinologists with ABOG subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

• Cynthia Murdock, M.D. — Note: Patients searching for Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates may encounter physician names specific to this practice. The practice's current physician team should be confirmed at the time of scheduling, as community-based REI practices evolve their rosters. The practice has historically been physician-led with attending REI physicians who take primary responsibility for treatment planning and monitoring.

• Board-Certified REI Team — PRA employs fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologists who have ABOG subspecialty certification. Patient reviews of the practice emphasize the physicians' accessibility, thoroughness in explaining protocols, and responsiveness during active treatment cycles.

• Fertility Nursing Staff — Nurses manage monitoring appointments, medication administration training, and cycle-day communications. The nursing team serves as the patient's primary contact during the intensive monitoring phase of IVF and IUI cycles.

• Embryology — PRA maintains an embryology laboratory to support its IVF program, staffed by credentialed embryologists responsible for fertilization, culture, cryopreservation, and PGT biopsy coordination.

Services and Treatments

Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates offers a full range of fertility and reproductive medicine services:

• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) — Controlled ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo culture, and fresh or frozen embryo transfer.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) — For male-factor infertility and prior fertilization failure.
• IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) — Natural and stimulated cycles with partner or donor sperm.
• Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) — Elective fertility preservation and medically indicated oncofertility preservation.
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) — Vitrified embryo storage and thawed transfer cycles.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A / PGT-M) — Chromosomal and monogenic disorder screening.
• Donor Egg IVF — Coordination of donor egg cycles.
• Donor Sperm Services — Guidance for patients using donor sperm.
• Gestational Carrier Coordination — Medical management for intended parents.
• Male Fertility Evaluation — Semen analysis and male-factor workup.
• Fertility Assessment and Diagnosis — AMH, antral follicle count, HSG, and hormonal evaluation.
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Workup — Systematic diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
• Endometriosis and PCOS Management — Evidence-based evaluation and protocol design.
• LGBTQ+ Family Building — Inclusive services for all patient configurations.

Laboratory and Success Rates

PRA's embryology laboratory supports the practice's IVF program with in-house fertilization, culture, cryopreservation, and genetic testing capabilities. PRA reports outcome data to SART annually.

Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.

Philadelphia is a competitive ART market with multiple SART-reporting clinics, including Main Line Fertility, Shady Grove Fertility, and Penn Medicine's reproductive medicine program. Reviewing PRA's outcomes alongside these practices provides useful comparative context for patients in the Philadelphia area.

Patient Experience

The 815 Locust St address is in Washington Square West, one of Center City's most walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods. SEPTA's Broad-Locust Station (Broad Street Line) is two blocks away, and multiple bus lines serve the area. The neighborhood is surrounded by major Philadelphia hospital campuses and medical office buildings, making it easy for patients who are also receiving care at nearby institutions to coordinate appointments.

Patient reviews of Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates describe a practice with a traditional, physician-forward model: patients meet directly with their REI physician rather than primarily with PAs or nurses, and physician involvement in treatment decisions is described as consistent and substantive. This model is valued by patients who want face time with a specialist during a high-stakes treatment process.

For Philadelphia's large LGBTQ+ community, PRA's inclusive care policies and family-building service capacity make it a viable option. The Center City address is in one of Philadelphia's most LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhoods, and the proximity to Penn and Jefferson hospital resources provides a safety net for patients with complex medical needs.

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 state fertility insurance mandate. Coverage for IVF and fertility treatment in Pennsylvania is at the employer's discretion. Some major Philadelphia-area employers — particularly in healthcare, education, and financial services — have added voluntary fertility benefits, but there is significant variability across the market.

Patients should verify their coverage before scheduling. Many Pennsylvania patients pay for fertility treatment as a significant out-of-pocket expense or rely on third-party financing.

PRA's financing options may include:

• Self-Pay Pricing — Request the current pricing schedule from the clinic's billing office.
• Third-Party Medical Financing — Specialized fertility financing options are available.
• Cycle Packages — Multi-cycle or bundled pricing may be available; ask the billing team.

Philadelphia-area patients should also verify whether their employer's plan includes any voluntary fertility coverage, as this varies widely even without a state mandate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates affiliated with any Philadelphia hospital? PRA is an independent practice, not formally affiliated with Penn Medicine, Jefferson, or another hospital system. Patients who need hospital-affiliated academic fertility care should also consider Penn Fertility Care (at Penn Medicine) or Main Line Fertility. For patients who prefer an independent practice model with more direct physician access, PRA's independence is a feature rather than a gap.

Does Pennsylvania require insurance to cover fertility treatments? No. Pennsylvania has no state fertility insurance mandate. Coverage depends entirely on your employer's voluntary benefit design. Patients should check with their insurer or HR department before making assumptions about coverage.

How do I get to 815 Locust Street by public transit? The closest SEPTA station is Broad-Locust (Broad Street Line — Orange Line), two blocks west of the address. The 12, 42, and other SEPTA bus routes serve Locust Street. The PATCO Speedline from New Jersey connects to 8th/Market, a short ride or walk away.

What should I ask about at my first consultation with PRA? Useful questions include: What is your current live-birth rate for patients in my age group? What laboratory will process my eggs and embryos? What is your approach to protocol individualization for patients with my specific diagnosis? What are your cycle monitoring hours, and how many in-person visits will a typical cycle require? What are my options if the first cycle is unsuccessful?