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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.

Mark P. Leondires, M.D.

Dr. Mark P. Leondires is the Founder and Medical Director of Illume Fertility and Gay Parents To Be. Board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, he serves on RESOLVE’s Physician Council, ASRM’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, and the board of The Nest Egg Foundation. Co-author of Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception, Dr. Leondires is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and a parent through IVF with egg donation and surrogacy.

Surrogacy | IVF

How to Find the Best Surrogacy Agency | A Guide for Intended Parents

By: Mark P. Leondires, M.D.
October 21st, 2024

Last updated August 8, 2025 Selecting a surrogacy agency is one of the most important steps on your family-building journey, but it can also be one of the most overwhelming parts of the process. In this guide, a surrogacy expert (and father through surrogacy himself) shares how to compare surrogacy agencies and find the best one for you.

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LGBTQ+ Family Building | Surrogacy | Donor Conception | Egg Donor

How to Find An Egg Donor: A Guide for Gay Men Pursuing Surrogacy

By: Mark P. Leondires, M.D.
April 24th, 2024

Last updated August 15, 2025 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.

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IVF | Advocacy | Affording Care

IVF Military Discount | Fertility Financing for Veterans

By: Mark P. Leondires, M.D.
November 11th, 2022

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.

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