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Fertility Blog

Fertility Blog by Illume Fertility

Everything you need to know about reproductive health, fertility testing, fertility treatment (like IUI and IVF) and how to navigate fertility challenges.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | IUI | Sperm Donor | Pregnancy & Infant Loss

By: Sierra Dehmler
October 31st, 2024

When you're told that the baby you've been dreaming of has genetic abnormalities incompatible with life, what are your options? In this story, Maureen and Melissa open up about their experience terminating a much-wanted pregnancy for medical reasons, the ways they healed together, and how they moved forward.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Surrogacy | IVF | Choosing a Clinic

By: Sierra Dehmler
October 22nd, 2024

The process of expanding your family through surrogacy can be complex and overwhelming, with many layers of medical, legal, financial, and logistical challenges to navigate. Learn why it's so helpful to work with both a fertility clinic and a surrogacy agency, how they differ, and ways to find the perfect match of professionals for your personal journey.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Advocacy | Affording Treatment

By: Sierra Dehmler
August 29th, 2024

The list of companies offering LGBTQ+ inclusive fertility benefits continues to grow, with employers like Starbucks, Amazon, and Microsoft leading the way. But even if you're lucky enough to have coverage, it can still be hard to determine what your insurance policy will (or won't) cover. In this guide, you'll learn the right questions to ask and where to turn for support.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Donor Conception | IVF | Reciprocal IVF

By: Dr. Laura Meyer
August 15th, 2024

For LGBTQ+ couples who both wish to play a biological role in the conception and carrying of their future child, reciprocal IVF can be the perfect family-building pathway. Here's what to know about the entire process, straight from a fertility specialist.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Surrogacy | Egg Donor | Patient Stories

By: Sierra Dehmler
July 24th, 2024

One of the most beautiful parts about family building is that no two stories are exactly alike. There are so many different paths to parenthood: in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, adoption, donor conception, and others. In this story, two dads share the surrogacy experience from start to finish - in their own words.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Surrogacy | Egg Donor | Affording Treatment

By: Sierra Dehmler
July 23rd, 2024

Looking for help navigating your surrogacy journey? Our detailed guide offers a comprehensive collection of financial support resources, LGBTQ-friendly organizations and charities, peer networks, personal stories, and much more.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Surrogacy | Donor Conception | Patient Stories

By: Sierra Dehmler
July 19th, 2024

After two Episcopal priests begin their journey to parenthood, they encounter unexpected roadblocks, including big financial hurdles and a global pandemic. This is the story of how they navigated surrogacy and what they learned along the way - in their own words.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Donor Conception | Affording Treatment | Reciprocal IVF

By: Tnori Shelton
June 27th, 2024

The financial aspect of LGBTQ+ family building is often the most overwhelming part of the entire process. In this guide, you'll learn how much it really costs for same-sex female couples to have a baby, how to navigate insurance coverage (if you have it), and ways to afford care.