Fertility Blog

At a Glance → Illume Fertility has been named a 2026 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the eighth consecutive year earning the designation. → Only 255 of 741 participating healthcare facilities are publicly listed as Leaders in this year's directory, a notable drop from prior years given current legal and political pressures. → The recognition arrives during a year of significant pressure on LGBTQ+ healthcare access, making publicly identifiable inclusive providers harder to find and more important to patients. → For LGBTQ+ intended parents, inclusive care goes beyond welcoming language: it means a clinical team that understands donor conception, reciprocal IVF, gestational surrogacy, and the legal and financial landscape that comes with each path. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) released its 2026 Healthcare Equality Index on June 5, 2026, and Illume Fertility has been named a Leader for the eighth year in a row. This year's report arrives in a healthcare landscape where LGBTQ+ care access is being actively debated and, in many states, restricted, which shaped both how facilities participated and how their results are being shared publicly.

Infertility affects millions of people every year, with about 1 in 5 couples in the United States experiencing difficulties getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. Unfortunately, military insurance coverage still does not fully cover the treatment of infertility connected to service-related injuries. Keep reading to learn about the military discounts we offer here at Illume Fertility and how they can help defray the cost of fertility treatment.

At a glance → A coalition of 56 patient and professional organizations announced on May 12, 2026 that polycystic ovary syndrome will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, abbreviated PMOS → The decision followed a 14-year consensus process led by researchers at Monash University, with input from more than 22,000 patients and health professionals across six continents → Adoption will be gradual, with both names appearing in medical records, lab reports, and patient materials until PMOS becomes the standard term → Diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols are not affected by the renaming; fertility care for PMOS uses the same clinical approach as PCOS care In this article, you will find a plain-language breakdown of the PCOS name change, why your diagnosis and care will stay the same, and what the shift could mean for fertility treatment and research, from a reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in the condition.

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.

At a glance → More than 100,000 babies were born through IVF in the U.S. in 2024, a new national record → IVF now accounts for nearly 3% of all U.S. births, or about 1 in 36 babies → Single embryo transfer is now standard for most patients, helping make IVF safer than in the past → National averages are helpful, but your age, diagnosis, ovarian reserve, clinic, lab, and treatment plan matter more As the founder of Illume Fertility, I’ve followed national IVF outcome data closely for decades. SART’s newest report matters not only because it set a record, but because it shows how fertility treatment is evolving and what that means for patients considering care today.

All too often, Black women experiencing infertility who need the help of an egg or sperm donor soon face another barrier to building their family - a lack of diversity in available donors. A three-time egg donor shares her experience in the hopes that it encourages other women of color to consider donating too.

At a glance → Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can cause pain, scarring, adhesions, and fertility challenges → Symptoms are often dismissed as “normal” period pain, which can delay diagnosis and treatment for years → Endometriosis does not mean pregnancy is impossible, but early fertility evaluation can help protect your options → The best care often involves a specialist who can address pain, fertility goals, surgical options, and whole-person support Endometriosis is a chronic condition that is both common and frequently misdiagnosed. It can affect fertility but doesn't mean pregnancy is impossible. Early specialist care, surgical interventions, and multidisciplinary support often make the biggest difference.

Last updated May 7, 2026 Even with 1 in 6 couples facing infertility globally, many insurance providers still exclude or limit coverage for this treatable condition - meaning many people don't even get the chance to start their family. Organizations like the Nest Egg Foundation are stepping up to help.