Choosing an egg donor is one of the first big decisions you'll need to make as a dad-to-be pursuing surrogacy. In this guide, we provide a comprehensive overview of the emotional, medical, and legal aspects to help you navigate the process of finding an ideal egg donor. In this article: The Basics of Egg Donation Does the "perfect" egg donor exist? 3 Questions to Ask Before Your Search Begins Where to Find An Egg Donor How to Choose Your Ideal Egg Donor Who can help me/us make this decision? The Why of Choosing Your Egg Donor Ready to find your egg donor? The Basics of Egg Donation  Eg ..read more

Every couple dreaming of parenthood imagines the moment they'll finally hold their baby in their arms. But what happens when that dream is deferred by unexpected challenges and heartbreak? A mother through IVF shares how a shocking diagnosis led to her rainbow baby. In this article: Meet Brittany Uncovering Major Fertility Roadblocks The Fertility Treatment Roller Coaster Embryo Transfer #2 Persevering Through Loss & Disappointment What happens when you run out of insurance coverage? A Long-Awaited Miracle Brittany's Advice for Fertility Patients A Long Road With a Happy Ending Editor's ..read more

When Alicia decided to pursue IVF with her partner Mary, she ended up carrying more than just a baby—she also carried the memory of her own mother. This two-mom family's story of loss, love, and late-in-life pregnancy redefines the fabric of hope and resilience. In this article: Meet Alicia A Dream Deferred Finding a New Fertility Practice A Fresh Start Preparing for An IVF Cycle Selecting Donors When One Life Ends, Another Begins A Bittersweet Embryo Transfer A New Baby & A New Beginning Advice for Other Moms-to-Be Holding Grief & Gratitude Together Editor's Note: We are so gr ..read more

Choosing to become a parent is a big decision. Choosing to pursue single parenthood adds even more responsibility and complexity - but can also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. In this article: Meet Kaitlyn January 2019: Researching Her Options Taking the First Steps with Illume Fertility May 2019: Starting with IUI Treatment January 2020: First IVF Cycle March 2020: Pandemic Setbacks September 2020: Risk & Reward On Becoming a Single Mom by Choice Will people support your choices? Meet Kaitlyn While many people wait to find 'the one' before deciding to become pa ..read more

There are many important decisions to make on your journey to parenthood. But for gay dads-to-be embarking on the surrogacy process, one of the first big questions to answer is "Whose sperm are we going to use?"  In this article: Beginning Your Surrogacy Journey How to Choose Whose Sperm to Use Selecting Your Egg Donor IVF for Surrogacy FAQs: Surrogacy for Dads-to-Be What if we want to have twins? Can two dads be related to the same child? Can you mix sperm from both partners for surrogacy? Looking Towards Your Family's Future Beginning Your Surrogacy Journey Here at Illume Fertil ..read more

Making the decision to find a fertility clinic and schedule your first appointment is a big step. But when you finally get to meet with your new doctor, it's easy to forget that long list of questions you wanted to ask. Here's what you may want to discuss at your initial IVF consult. In this article: Step 1: Find the Right Fertility Clinic Questions to Ask Your IVF Doctor Understanding In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Preparing for IVF Treatment Is there anything I can do to increase egg quality or quantity? Is there a specific diet you recommend for fertility? The IVF Treatment Plan If I want tw ..read more

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby...or so the story goes. For many couples who struggle with infertility, the road to parenthood isn't quite that simple. Katie, a mom through IVF, shares her difficult journey and how she and her husband navigated it all. In this article: Meet Katie Ready for Parenthood Pregnancy After Loss Trying for Baby #2 Taking the Next Step Fertility Testing & Preparing for IVF The Roller Coaster of Infertility Searching for Answers Surprise, Followed by Heartbreak A Bittersweet Graduation The Long, Winding Road to Success Meet Katie Original ..read more

After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be considered "children" under state law, family-building experts and advocates take action, outlining the importance of access to fertility care nationwide.  In this article: The Alabama Supreme Court Ruling The Fertility Community Responds Update: Protections for IVF in Alabama Standing Up for Reproductive Rights Expanding Access to Family Building Insurance Coverage for LGBTQ+ & Single Individuals The State of IVF in America Do Americans support access to IVF? Get the Facts A ..read more

Keto, Whole 30, paleo, cleanses, the Mediterranean diet...we are bombarded by a constant flow of new food fads each year. For fertility patients in particular, this can be stressful. If you're wondering how to find that one "perfect" diet for fertility, this guide is for you. Skip to a section: How a Nutritionist Can Help You Optimize Your Fertility Your Fertility-Friendly Nutrition Plan Complex Carbohydrates: Benefits & Examples Healthy Fats: Benefits & Examples Protein: Benefits & Examples Best Fertility Nutrition Tips Nutrition + Physical Activity = A Winning Combo The Benefits ..read more

We are happy to share that Illume Fertility's physicians have been honored as 2024 Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors, continuing a long history of the annual recognition. In this article: Honoring Our Physician Team A Note From Our Founder What is Castle Connolly? Which physicians received 2024 Top Doc awards? How are physicians selected for Top Doc awards? What Their Patients Say The Right Doctor Can Make All the Difference Honoring Our Physician Team At Illume Fertility, our physicians set the tone for our entire practice, encouraging a high standard of care and pride in everything we ..read more