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.

Melissa Kelleher, LCSW

Melissa Kelleher is a licensed clinical social worker and fertility counselor who has worked with Illume Fertility patients for many years, in addition to her work in private practice. She facilitates sessions with individuals and couples during their fertility journey, helping them navigate loss and disappointments, as well as giving them the tools to make decisions related to their specific challenges. She currently provides an extra layer of one-on-one support for Illume patients who have recently experienced a loss.

LGBTQ+ Family Building | Fertility Treatment | Advocacy | Mental Health

How to Navigate Gender Disappointment After Fertility Treatment

By: Melissa Kelleher, LCSW
May 21st, 2025

You’ve endured so many appointments, injections, side effects, bills, and the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment — all for the chance to have a baby. So why, when you learn the sex of your future child, are you sometimes left with a sense of...disappointment?

Fertility Treatment | TTC | Mental Health

10 Ways to Manage Stress During Fertility Treatment

By: Melissa Kelleher, LCSW
February 26th, 2025

We all experience stress. But when you're dealing with the emotional roller coaster of infertility on top of normal life stressors, it can often feel downright overwhelming. In this guide, a fertility counselor offers ten helpful ways to manage it all.