Fertility Blog

A year and a half. One failed cycle. And a care team that refused to let them feel alone through any of it. This is how Azavier and Lauren navigated IVF to become a family of three.

After years of failed IVF cycles and heartbreaking miscarriages, Lisa and her husband made the difficult decision to pursue donor egg IVF. In this story, she shares what the process was really like, from finding a donor to navigating the emotional complexity of donor conception.

The financial aspect of LGBTQ+ family building is often the most overwhelming part of the entire process. In this guide, you'll learn how much it really costs for same-sex female couples to have a baby, how to navigate insurance coverage (if you have it), and ways to afford care.

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 → Egg donors at Illume must be 21–32, have a BMI between 19–29, and live within 90 minutes of Norwalk, CT → From matching to egg retrieval, the full egg donation process usually takes about 6–11 weeks → Screening takes about 4–8 weeks and includes medical exams, genetic testing, infectious disease testing, and a psychological evaluation → The donation cycle itself takes about 2–3 weeks and includes 5–8 monitoring appointments at our Connecticut clinic → Donors receive $15,000 per completed donation cycle, with compensation provided after egg retrieval Becoming an egg donor is a meaningful decision that can help another person or couple build the family they’ve been hoping for. This guide from Illume's donor team explains what to know before you apply, including details about eligibility, screening, and the donation process.

Last updated April 22, 2026 Using an egg donor to grow your family is a deeply personal decision—and a significant financial investment. The total amount you pay can vary widely, depending on whether you opt for a fresh or frozen egg donor cycle, work with an agency, and other factors.

As Jess and Beth began their fertility journey, they knew it might take time, but they never expected just how long and winding their road to parenthood would be. What follows is a powerful story of resilience, love, and the unlikely path that led them to their baby boy.

After years of false starts and soul-searching, Elizabeth decided she wasn’t going to wait any longer for motherhood to find her—she was going to go after it herself. What followed was a courageous, winding journey that led to the greatest love of her life: her son, Luca.