Fertility Clinics in Central Pennsylvania: For Moms Seeking Hope and Support
Real Stories, Read Strength
At the heart of every fertility journey is the power of shared experience. Here, we’re honored to have several amazing women share their personal stories. Each journey is unique, full of challenges and triumphs, and these stories are meant to inspire, offer hope, and show you that you are not alone. Whether you’re just starting out or well into your path, these women’s experiences reflect the resilience and strength that defines the fertility journey.
“I had an incredible experience with Shady Grove Fertility in York. From my first consultation with Dr. Ochalski, I felt truly heard and supported, especially after my ectopic pregnancy. The entire staff was welcoming, comforting, and made me feel like part of their family. My treatment plan was personalized, and I always felt like they had my best interests at heart. I was assigned a dedicated nurse who was always there to answer questions and provide updates after each appointment. After just 5 months of treatment, I was thrilled to find out I was pregnant! Even after transitioning to my OB, I was sad to leave such a caring team. They keep your portal open indefinitely, so I know I can reach out if I ever have any questions in the future. Highly recommend!”
~ Anonymous
Our infertility journey began with Wellspan Fertility, where we spent three months attempting treatments without success. Feeling unsure and rushed, we were referred to Johns Hopkins but decided to leave after we felt pressured into paying without having all our questions answered.
Next, we went to The Fertility Center at Leaders Heights, where we completed several IUIs. However, this clinic merged with Penn State Hershey Medical Center midway through our cycle, and we were given very little notice. After a frustrating first appointment with Hershey, where we were treated poorly by both the doctor and staff, we decided to continue our treatment elsewhere.
After sharing our concerns with The Fertility Center, the office manager made a call, and Dr. Ochalski from Shady Grove Fertility’s Lancaster office agreed to take over our care mid-cycle. She was able to complete our IUI the very next day, something we’ll never forget.
I will always remember the moment when Dr. Ochalski personally called me on a Friday evening to let me know that our IUI had failed, but that IVF was our next option, due to being on medication for so long. Her personal touch made all the difference and showed us how much she truly cared.
We proceeded with an IVF cycle in January 2022, which resulted in 10 frozen embryos. In March 2022, we transferred our first embryo. We didn’t know if it would work, if it was a girl or boy, or if it was a healthy embryo, but we were filled with hope and trust in the process.
Throughout this journey, Dr. Ochalski and the team at Shady Grove Fertility were our guides. Their expertise and compassion led us to our miracle, and we truly believe that Dr. Ochalski had our best interests in mind from the very beginning. We’ve even had the chance to see her at Shady Grove family events, which always reminds us how grateful we are for her support.
After nearly three years of countless doctor visits, blood draws, ultrasounds, tests, acupuncture treatments, medications, IUIs, hundreds of needle pricks, and many failed treatments, one round of IVF led us to our baby. If you’re on this journey, don’t lose hope!
~ Abbey & Bryan
I went to Shady Grove, and I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Ochalski—she is THE BEST! From the very first appointment, she was caring, straightforward, and truly invested in my journey. She didn’t sugarcoat things, but she always made sure I felt supported and understood every step of the way. Thanks to her expertise and guidance, I was able to reach my ultimate goal—my beautiful baby girl!
The staff at Shady Grove was also wonderful. They were kind, patient, and always willing to take the time to educate me on every part of the process. Whether it was going over test results, explaining procedures, or just offering reassurance, they made me feel like I was in good hands.
The only downside? The finance department. Unfortunately, their communication was terrible, and it was often frustrating trying to get clear answers. If you go, I’d recommend staying on top of the financial side of things and asking lots of questions to avoid confusion.
Overall, my experience at Shady Grove was overwhelmingly positive, and I’m so grateful for Dr. Ochalski and her team. They helped make my dream of becoming a mom a reality, and I will always be thankful for that!
~ Kim
I had a great experience at Penn State! We had one unsuccessful IVF transfer, but the second gave us our son, Levi. About 16 months after his birth, we did a third transfer—and now I’m pregnant again! They gave us good odds from the start, and I feel lucky to have had success with two pregnancies from three transfers.
I have PCOS, so we started with IUI before moving to IVF. Since my issue was ovulation, they tried medication first, and our first IUI ended in a chemical pregnancy. After two more failed IUIs, we switched to IVF. I appreciated that they didn’t waste time and adapted treatment to my specific needs, getting the process started quickly.
Unlike my OB, who dismissed my concerns after I stopped birth control and wasn’t getting pregnant, the fertility doctors actually listened, ran tests, and took action. That made all the difference. You see these doctors a lot during treatment, and the consistency of care was amazing. The same two nurses handled my monitoring appointments, and even though different doctors did my transfers, they all knew my story and were incredibly kind and supportive.
The Penn State staff was wonderful. My egg retrieval was done while I was awake, which is their standard practice, and my nurse was beyond comforting—she rubbed my shoulder and calmly walked me through everything, making an intimidating experience so much easier.
I’d absolutely recommend Penn State to anyone. The process is long, emotional, and financially draining, but they truly care and do their best to help. If all goes well with baby #2, we might even go back for a third!
~ Morgan
I personally went through Penn Fertility in Lancaster, and my experience was incredibly positive. They were always understanding and treated us with kindness, making a stressful process feel a little easier. The doctors and staff took the time to explain everything in detail and truly listened to our concerns, which made me feel like I was in good hands.
One thing I really appreciated was how personalized my treatment plan was. After my first retrieval cycle failed, they adjusted the approach, and during my second cycle, I ended up with a lot of embryos. They also made further alterations after my first failed transfer to give me the best possible chance at success. Their willingness to adapt and tailor my care made all the difference.
After experiencing recurrent miscarriages, we were finally blessed with our daughter in December 2023. The journey was long and difficult, but I felt supported every step of the way. I would personally give Penn Fertility 5 stars and highly recommend them to anyone going through infertility. When the time is right, we’ll be going back for another round of IVF in hopes of growing our family even more!
~ Amber
UPMC Divine Mercy in Camp Hill and Carlisle has providers who were previously with Holy Spirit. The nursing staff was my main point of contact, and they were always responsive and supportive. I sent in my cycle reviews, and they relayed the information to my doctor, who adjusted my medications as needed. Anytime I left a message, they got back to me the same day, which made me feel truly cared for.
Beyond medical care, they were emotionally supportive as well. They genuinely wanted me to have a baby just as much as I did and always took time to answer my questions. When I finally got pregnant, a nurse told me my doctor even wrote on a post-it, “Julia is pregnant!!” That level of care meant so much to me.
Unlike my previous clinic, which pushed IUI and IVF without much investigation, Holy Spirit (now UPMC Divine Mercy) took the time to dig deeper. The nurse practitioner ran thorough labs and found I had insulin resistance due to PCOS. During surgery, my doctor also discovered endometriosis and a blocked fallopian tube, both of which were treated. After that, we conceived naturally within six cycles.
I would rate my experience a 10/10. Even now, they continue to prioritize my care, helping me regulate my hormones holistically. I truly can’t say enough great things about them!
~Julia
Finding the right fertility clinic is such a personal decision, and every journey is different. Whether you’re just starting out, in the middle of treatments, or looking for a second opinion, I hope these shared experiences help you feel a little more informed—and a lot less alone.
Fertility treatments can be a rollercoaster, both emotionally and physically, but having a compassionate and knowledgeable care team makes all the difference. No matter where you are in the process, know that there are people rooting for you, and support is always out there.
February 1, 2025
Be the first to comment