Shady Grove Fertility's Rockville location at 9601 Blackwell Road is the flagship campus of one of the largest and most recognized fertility networks in the United States. Founded in the mid-1990s and headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Shady Grove Fertility has grown to more than 40 locations across the mid-Atlantic and southeast, with the Rockville site housing its central laboratory and many of the network's senior physicians. The clinic holds a 4.0-star rating across more than 520 reviews and is widely known for LGBTQ+-affirming care, robust donor programs, and a high volume of IVF cycles that supports strong laboratory quality standards. Patients exploring all their options in the region can consult our guide to fertility clinics in Maryland.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Shady Grove Fertility's physician roster at Rockville includes some of the most published reproductive endocrinologists in the mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Michael Levy, a co-founder and partner at SGF, has been recognized nationally for his contributions to IVF laboratory quality and embryo cryopreservation. Dr. Sasha Saran and other Rockville-based REIs bring fellowship training from leading academic programs and maintain active involvement in clinical research. The network's medical staff collectively holds board certification through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the REI subspecialty. The Rockville campus also employs dedicated andrology specialists, genetic counselors, and reproductive nurses who coordinate patient care from first consultation through delivery.
Services and Treatments
- IVF with fresh and frozen embryo transfer
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- Egg freezing (elective and medical)
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR)
- Donor egg IVF and embryo donation
- Donor sperm services
- Gestational surrogacy coordination
- Reciprocal IVF for same-sex female couples
- LGBTQ+ family building (all pathways)
- Male factor evaluation and treatment, including surgical sperm retrieval
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation
- Endometriosis surgery referral and co-management
Laboratory and Success Rates
The Rockville campus houses Shady Grove's central embryology laboratory, which processes a high volume of IVF cycles annually and operates under rigorous quality management standards. The laboratory holds COLA accreditation and uses vitrification exclusively for all cryopreservation. High cycle volume is associated with strong embryologist skill development and consistent outcomes. SGF publishes patient-friendly outcome data on its website and participates in full SART and CDC reporting. Rates vary by age, diagnosis, embryo status (fresh vs. frozen), and use of PGT, so like-for-like comparisons with other programs require careful attention to case mix. 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
The Rockville office is a large, purpose-built fertility center with multiple procedure rooms, a fully equipped andrology suite, and dedicated spaces for counseling and patient education. The campus is accessible from I-270 and MD-355, and is served by several Ride On bus routes, making it reachable for patients without a car. Early morning monitoring appointments are available to accommodate patients with work schedules, and phlebotomy can sometimes be coordinated with local Quest or LabCorp facilities for patients traveling from farther afield.
As the flagship location, Rockville has the most complete breadth of services within the SGF network, including surgical procedures, complex donor cycles, and gestational surrogacy case management. The patient portal and telehealth options allow patients to communicate with their care team, review results, and conduct non-procedural appointments remotely. A dedicated financial counseling team assists with insurance verification, prior authorization, and financing.
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
Maryland has a strong fertility insurance mandate. State law requires insurers to cover IVF for individuals with a medical diagnosis of infertility, including up to three IVF cycles for plans that cover more than 50 employees. The mandate includes coverage for egg freezing when medically indicated and does not exclude same-sex couples. Patients should verify whether their plan is a state-regulated insured plan or a self-funded ERISA plan, as ERISA plans are not subject to state mandates. Shady Grove's financial team is experienced in navigating Maryland mandate claims and can assist with the pre-authorization process. For patients without coverage, SGF offers multi-cycle shared-risk programs, financing through CapexMD and other partners, and a donor egg pricing model that can reduce costs for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SGF's shared-risk (refund) program work? SGF's shared-risk program allows qualifying patients to pay a bundled fee upfront that covers multiple IVF cycles. If the program does not result in a live birth after the agreed number of cycles, a significant portion of the fee is refunded. Eligibility is based on age and ovarian reserve parameters; a physician consultation is required to determine qualification.
Can same-sex couples access all services at the Rockville location? Yes. Shady Grove Fertility has an explicit LGBTQ+ inclusion policy and offers all family-building pathways — including reciprocal IVF, donor sperm IVF, and gestational surrogacy coordination — regardless of patient relationship structure or sexual orientation. The Rockville team is experienced working with two-mom, two-dad, and single-parent families.
Does Shady Grove offer egg donation matching services? Yes. SGF operates a large in-house egg donor program with a diverse donor database. Patients using donor eggs can choose from donors available through SGF's database or work with an independent egg donation agency. A dedicated donor team assists with the matching and legal coordination process.
What is the typical timeline from first consultation to embryo transfer? For a standard IVF cycle using fresh eggs, the process typically takes two to four months from initial consultation — accounting for baseline testing, protocol planning, a full stimulation cycle, and preparation for a frozen embryo transfer. Timelines vary based on individual findings and the need for any additional testing.