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.

Fertility Treatment | TTC | Mental Health

10 Ways to Manage Stress During Fertility Treatment

By: Melissa Kelleher, LCSW
May 7th, 2026

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.

Fertility Treatment | 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?