For those who struggle to grow their families, it's hard to imagine ever being able to conceive without the help of fertility treatment. But for some, a spontaneous, surprise pregnancy comes after infertility. Mayra shares her journey through infertility and what happened next.

While fertility treatments like IVF are an amazing pathway to parenthood for many people, it’s no secret that they are also expensive - and many insurance plans won't cover all the costs. Many hopeful parents are left wondering how to pay for IVF without insurance coverage.

Infertility affects 1 in 8 people in the United States, and among them are those whose service in the U.S. military has cost them their chance to have a biological child without medical intervention. Unfortunately, military insurance coverage does not fully cover the treatment of infertility connected to service-related injuries. Learn about the military discounts that Illume Fertility offers and how they can help defray the cost of treatment.

Building a successful doctor-patient relationship starts with connection, interaction and, of course, conversation. After exploring how patients can advocate for themselves and become more empowered, we turned to the experts (our doctors, nurses, and other team members) to get their perspective. Keep reading to discover their tips for cultivating the best experience possible throughout your fertility journey!

No one wants to be seen as the "problem patient." We fear that if we ask too many questions, need too much help, have a complaint, or need reassurance on our fertility journey, that we will be seen as needy or annoying. We may even worry that we'll get lower quality care instead of the professional and humane treatment we deserve. So how can we advocate for ourselves to ensure we're getting the best care possible? Keep reading for 20 actionable tips straight from experienced fertility advocates - and don't miss Part 1 and Part 3 of this series about being an effective and empowered patient, which includes perspectives from health care providers on what they want and need from us as patients!

When faced with fertility struggles, people rarely feel empowered or effective. Infertility challenges everyone. Regardless of who you are and how you are trying to build your family, if it’s not happening easily, it’s frustrating and difficult! So how can you communicate your preferences, concerns and questions more effectively to your Care Team and feel like you're being heard and understood? Let's explore some ideas together. Note: In any conversation, communication needs to go both ways! In the third part in this series, our fertility care team (including doctors) reveal their thoughts about fertility patient do's and don't and ways to be an effective patient. You may be surprised by their responses!

Mother’s Day can be an extremely difficult day for the one in eight people who want so badly to be a mother but haven't become one yet. It can also be exceptionally challenging for those who identify as women but often get excluded from the conversation and those who have tenuous relationships with their own mothers (or none at all). Learning to advocate for myself and others who struggle with this holiday has changed me and shown just how important it is to be inclusive and aware of what others may be going through.

As awareness around infertility and fertility treatment grows, many people are becoming more familiar with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). But what about all the other ways to make a family? While IVF is a great pathway to parenthood for many parents, it's not the only one!