For hopeful parents-to-be in same-sex relationships, finding the right path to parenthood and ways to afford fertility treatment can create an added layer of difficulty. In this story, Stef and Denise share their four-year long journey to success, and what they've learned along the way.

While the physical burden of fertility treatment typically rests on the female partner in a relationship, men are primarily expected to provide support to them throughout the process. But fertility struggles affect men in different ways - and their experience matters too.

When you discover you may need a little help to have a baby, you place all of your trust and hope in your fertility clinic team. But when that practice isn't offering the support and care you expected, it can be difficult to know where to turn. One IVF mom shares her experience switching clinics, and how she knew she'd finally found the right provider.

Last updated June 11, 2026 Starting a family isn’t always simple, especially when you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re going through this journey solo or planning to have a child with your partner, knowing what to expect is key to achieving your family-building goals.

No matter where you are on your family-building journey, holidays like Mother's Day can sting. If you're still in the trenches of trying to conceive, navigating fertility treatment or coping with losses, this day is even harder. Here are some words of comfort from a veteran fertility nurse.

Last updated June 16, 2026 At a Glance → Gay Parents To Be is an educational and community resource hub for LGBTQ+ family building, not a separate clinic or treatment service. → Connecticut-based Illume Fertility is the clinical practice behind Gay Parents To Be, delivering every aspect of fertility and family-building care for LGBTQ+ patients across the Northeast and beyond → Gay Parents To Be was launched in 2012 by Dr. Mark Leondires, Illume's Founder and Medical Director, after he navigated his own personal family-building journey as a gay dad. → The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has named Illume a Healthcare Equality Leader for eight consecutive years, making us the only freestanding fertility center in the Northeast to hold the designation. If you've landed here, you're probably wondering about the connection between Illume Fertility and Gay Parents To Be. You may have noticed that the two share a lot of overlap, from team members to patient stories. Learn why Gay Parents To Be was created, and how both can support and empower your LGBTQ+ family-building journey.

As a fertility practice dedicated to providing inclusive fertility and family-building care for all, we are honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for our seventh year.

Despite the prevalence of infertility (now impacting 1 in 6 people globally), many still feel they have to hide their struggles. In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, former fertility patients choose to tell their stories - in the hopes of helping others feel less alone.