May 1st, 2026 | 5 min. read
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.
In this article:
- What is National Infertility Awareness Week?
- The Whole Story: NIAW 2026
- Trisha & James: Secondary Infertility
- Samantha & Anthony: PCOS & Recurrent Loss
- Kaitlyn & Travis: Diminished Ovarian Reserve
- Lisa & Frankie: Donor Egg IVF
- Darren & Marty: Egg Donation & Surrogacy
- Challie & Lina: Switching Clinics
- Maya: Egg Freezing to IVF Pregnancy
- Azavier & Lauren: LGBTQ+ IVF
What is National Infertility Awareness Week?
Created by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association in 1989, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is held each April to raise awareness about infertility, support those in the thick of it, and push for better access to fertility care for everyone.
It's also an opportunity to turn awareness into action through efforts like RESOLVE's Month of Action, where patients and advocates from across the country speak up on behalf of the family-building community.
This year, RESOLVE's theme was #MoreThan, a reminder that the people behind fertility diagnoses are more than their test results, their treatment plans, or any single outcome. At Illume Fertility, we built our campaign around that idea with #TheWholeStory, because we believe every fertility journey deserves to be seen in full. Not just the highlight reel.
Throughout the week of April 19 to 25, we shared a wide range of patient stories from Illume families who navigated PCOS, diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, egg freezing, donor conception, surrogacy, and LGBTQ+ family building.
Here are some quick snapshots of each story we shared, with links to read more.
Trisha & James: Secondary Infertility
Their first child was conceived on the first try. So when months of trying for a second baby turned into years, Trisha and James were caught completely off guard. Secondary infertility is one of the most common fertility challenges, but rarely talked about, leading many couples to feel isolated and confused.
Meet Trisha & James
It took two IVF cycles, one heartbreaking setback, and a decision to try again before Trisha and James got the news they had been waiting for.
Samantha & Anthony: PCOS & Recurrent Loss
Samantha and Anthony had already been through years of negative pregnancy tests, multiple heartbreaking miscarriages, a PCOS diagnosis, and failed IUI cycles at another clinic before they found Illume Fertility. Starting over with a new care team felt daunting, but it turned out to be the decision that changed everything for their family.
Meet Samantha & Anthony
Three and a half years of setbacks and longing came down to one frozen embryo transfer. What happened next made it all worth it.
Kaitlyn & Travis: Diminished Ovarian Reserve
By the time they started IVF, Kaitlyn and Travis had already weathered a miscarriage and an unexpected diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve. When Kaitlyn's egg retrieval produced just one egg, they knew their chances of success were slim, but tried to remain hopeful.
Meet Kaitlyn & Travis
One egg. One embryo. One transfer. But what showed up on their first ultrasound caught everyone off guard and changed their lives forever.
Lisa & Frankie: Donor Egg IVF
Lisa and Frankie spent years trying to make IVF work with Lisa's own eggs. Multiple cycles, hundreds of injections, and several different medication protocols later, her body still wasn't responding the way they hoped. Choosing a new path forward meant grieving one version of their family to make room for another.
Meet Lisa & Frankie
Almost exactly four years after first contacting Illume Fertility, Lisa and Frankie's journey finally reached the ending they had been fighting for.
Darren & Marty: Egg Donation & Surrogacy
Darren and Marty dreamt of having both of their family trees woven into their future child's story. What started as a wild hope became a beautiful reality when two special people in their lives stepped forward to help them become parents.
Meet Darren & Marty
As hopeful dads, Darren and Marty knew they'd need both a donor and a surrogate. What they didn't know was just how integral their village would become.
Challie & Lina: Switching Clinics
When Challie and Lina were ready to grow their family again, they already knew how what to expect from the fertility treatment process. They also knew they wanted a better experience the second time around, which led them to Illume Fertility. Hear how finding the right Care Team helped them navigate the uncertainty of only having one embryo left to transfer.
Meet Challie & Lina
One embryo. No backup plan. Hear how moms Challie and Lina navigated the road to Baby #2 with self-advocacy and the support of a new team.
Maya: Egg Freezing to IVF Pregnancy
At age 38, Maya was ending a long-term relationship, feeling uncertain about the future but clear about one thing: she wanted kids someday, even if the timing wasn't right yet. She decided to freeze her eggs at Illume and opened her heart to new possibilities.
Meet Maya
Most stories about egg freezing end after retrieval. Maya's is one of the rare ones that tells what really happens when you're ready to take the next step.
Azavier & Lauren: LGBTQ+ IVF
As a same-sex couple, Azavier and Lauren knew fertility treatment was their only path to biological parenthood. Finding a clinic that genuinely supported their family structure mattered just as much as the medical care itself. When their first IVF cycle failed, it was the way Illume's team responded that convinced them to try again.
Meet Azavier & Lauren
For LGBTQ+ couples, the clinic you choose shapes the entire experience. Azavier and Lauren's story shows what that looks like when it's done right.
Why Sharing Your Story Matters
When we asked each couple why they chose to go public with something so personal, the answer was almost always the same: they remember what it felt like to be in the middle of it all, scrolling through stories late at night, looking for someone who got it. Now, they want to be that person for someone else.
That kind of honesty has a ripple effect. Every time a patient shares what they went through, it chips away at the silence and stigma that still surround infertility. It gives someone else permission to talk about their own experience, ask for help, or simply feel less alone in the waiting room.
Your story doesn't have to be polished or wrapped up neatly. It just has to be real. And if you're willing to share it, there is almost certainly someone out there who needs to hear it.
Ready to share? Submit your story or connect with others through our support groups.
Want to stay involved beyond NIAW?
Join RESOLVE's Month of Action to advocate for better access to fertility care, attend an upcoming event, or follow @illumefertility for stories, resources, and community all year long.
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