Fertility Blog

At a glance → Research links higher stress to lower IVF success rates. Reducing psychological burden, through acupuncture, therapy, or both, may positively influence outcomes → Acupuncture has strong evidence for reducing anxiety and stress during IVF, with measurable improvements in physiological markers like cortisol → Newer 2024–2025 meta-analyses show that acupuncture may improve pregnancy and live birth rates, particularly when timing and treatment frequency are considered → Research suggests acupuncture may be more beneficial when performed as a series of treatments rather than as a single session Millions of people going through IVF turn to acupuncture, but the question of whether it works is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. In this article, we'll break down what we know, what is still being investigated, and how acupuncture can support your fertility care plan.

At a glance → Stress is a normal part of fertility treatment, but chronic stress can affect your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing → Stress may not directly determine fertility treatment success, but it can impact your mental health and ability to keep going → Breath work, support groups, therapy, movement, acupuncture, journaling, and boundaries can all help activate the relaxation response → You do not need to manage infertility stress alone; your care team, therapist, and trusted support network can all be part of your toolbox Infertility can make everyday stress feel heavier, especially when treatment adds appointments, decisions, uncertainty, and emotional highs and lows. In this guide, a fertility counselor shares practical ways to care for your mental health throughout the process.

At a glance → Fertility nurses coordinate every phase of an IVF cycle, from setting up treatment protocols and ordering medications to relaying test results and answering patient questions throughout the day → At Illume Fertility, nurses collaborate with doctors during daily review sessions to evaluate each patient's progress and adjust care plans in real time → IVF nurses typically complete 3 to 4 months of one-on-one mentorship with an experienced nurse on top of their registered nursing credentials before managing patients independently → Beyond their clinical responsibilities, fertility nurses serve as emotional anchors for patients, celebrating milestones and providing steady support through setbacks Behind every IVF cycle is a team working diligently to keep treatment moving forward. For many patients, their fertility nurse becomes one of the most familiar voices in the process: the person who helps translate next steps, ease uncertainty, and make an intensely personal experience feel a little more manageable.

Behind every positive pregnancy test are months (sometimes years) of hard decisions and small acts of courage that rarely get talked about. For National Infertility Awareness Week, eight Illume Fertility couples opened up about what their road to parenthood actually looked like, detours included.

A year and a half. One failed cycle. And a care team that refused to let them feel alone through any of it. This is how Azavier and Lauren navigated IVF to become a family of three.

When Challie and Lina were ready to grow their family again, they already knew how fertility treatment worked. What they were searching for this time was a clinic that felt different. Hear why they chose Illume Fertility and what LGBTQ+ family building can look like when you find the right fit.

Maya froze her eggs during a major life transition, knowing she wanted children but not yet knowing when. When she eventually met her partner and decided to start a family, they returned to Illume Fertility and used those frozen eggs. This is her story, from the initial decision to pursue egg freezing all the way to that longed-for positive pregnancy test.

When Darren and Marty set out to become dads, they were hoping for a miracle. What they got was a surrogacy journey full of generosity and love: a sister who offered to donate her eggs, a friend who stepped up to be their surrogate, and an ending no one expected.