The Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM) is located at 2591 Baglyos Circle in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — in the Lehigh Valley, one of Pennsylvania's most populous and economically active metropolitan regions. Baglyos Circle is a professional and medical office park address in the southern Bethlehem area, accessible from Route 378 and Route 412 near the Hellertown corridor, and convenient to the greater Lehigh Valley highway network including US-22 and I-78. Bethlehem, as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton MSA, is the second-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania, making it a natural location for a dedicated fertility center serving a large suburban and semi-rural regional population. For a broader view of fertility clinics in Pennsylvania, see the state directory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
SIRM is a nationally branded fertility network with a history rooted in the work of Dr. Geoffrey Sher, one of the early pioneers of IVF in the United States. The Sher Institute has operated across multiple states and is associated with an evidence-based, immunology-informed approach to fertility treatment — particularly with respect to implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss, areas where Dr. Sher and the SIRM clinical model developed distinctive protocols.
The Bethlehem SIRM location is staffed by board-certified reproductive endocrinologists with REI subspecialty training. The SIRM network model has included physician partners at individual locations who operate under the SIRM brand while contributing to the network's shared clinical knowledge base. The SIRM website (haveababy.com) is one of the more recognizable fertility clinic web addresses, reflecting the network's long digital presence and patient-facing brand positioning.
Services and Treatments
SIRM Bethlehem provides:
- IVF (in vitro fertilization), including ovarian stimulation, monitoring, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer
- IUI (intrauterine insemination) with partner or donor sperm
- Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) for elective preservation and medical indications
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Preimplantation genetic testing — PGT-A and PGT-M
- Donor egg IVF
- Donor sperm IUI and IVF
- Gestational carrier (surrogacy) coordination
- Male infertility evaluation: semen analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation testing, and urologic referral
- PCOS diagnosis and ovulation induction
- Endometriosis-related fertility assessment and treatment
- Recurrent pregnancy loss workup with immunologic, genetic, and anatomic assessment
- Uterine factor evaluation: sonohysterogram and hysteroscopy
- Oncofertility consultation and fertility preservation before cancer treatment
- Immune-based implantation failure evaluation (a SIRM specialty area)
- LGBTQ+-inclusive family building services
Laboratory and Success Rates
SIRM operates embryology laboratory infrastructure at its locations, supporting ICSI, extended blastocyst culture, embryo biopsy for PGT, vitrification, and embryo thaw. The SIRM clinical approach has historically incorporated specific laboratory and treatment protocols designed around minimizing implantation failure — including endometrial receptivity assessment and immunologic preparation. Patients with a history of recurrent IVF failure may find this protocol emphasis relevant to their clinical situation.
Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
Bethlehem's position at the heart of the Lehigh Valley makes SIRM's Baglyos Circle location the most specialized fertility option for a regional population of more than 800,000 people. Patients from Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, Quakertown, Stroudsburg, and surrounding Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe counties can access this practice without the roughly 50-mile drive to Philadelphia or the similar distance to northeastern New Jersey fertility centers.
The Lehigh Valley has a diverse economy including healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and growing technology sectors. St. Luke's University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network are the region's two dominant health systems, and SIRM Bethlehem operates as an independent fertility practice drawing from the region's patient base.
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 IVF insurance mandate. Patients in the Lehigh Valley pay for IVF out of pocket unless their specific employer plan voluntarily includes fertility coverage. The regional employer base — including major healthcare systems, manufacturing companies, and distribution operations — varies considerably in the fertility benefits offered.
SIRM has historically provided transparent pricing for IVF cycles and worked with patients to understand the full cost of treatment, including medications. Patients should ask about bundled pricing, what is included in the base cycle fee, and what is charged separately (PGT, ICSI, cryopreservation, transfer). Financing through third-party fertility lenders is typically available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SIRM's approach to implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss? SIRM has historically emphasized immunologic factors in implantation failure — evaluating immune responses that may prevent successful implantation and implementing treatment protocols designed to address these factors. This approach is relevant to patients with a history of multiple failed IVF transfers, unexplained recurrent miscarriage, or other presentations where standard treatment has been unsuccessful.
How far is the Bethlehem SIRM location from the greater Lehigh Valley? The Baglyos Circle address in south Bethlehem is accessible from US-22, Route 378, and Route 412. Patients from Allentown (15 miles), Easton (20 miles), Stroudsburg (35 miles), and Quakertown (25 miles) can reach this location without traveling to Philadelphia or New Jersey.
What fertility testing should I expect at my first appointment at SIRM? First-appointment testing typically includes ovarian reserve assessment (AMH, antral follicle count on ultrasound, FSH/E2 on cycle day 2-3), a review of prior cycle history, uterine cavity evaluation, and for couples, semen analysis. SIRM may also recommend additional immunologic or endometrial assessments at the initial evaluation, particularly for patients with a history of recurrent implantation failure.
Does Pennsylvania insurance cover any fertility services even without an IVF mandate? Diagnostic infertility evaluation (bloodwork, imaging, semen analysis) is often covered under general medical benefits. Some plans cover IUI or ovulation induction medications. Full IVF is not mandated in Pennsylvania but may be included as a voluntary benefit under some employer plans. Review your plan documents and contact your insurer for a benefit breakdown.