Fertility Blog

Fertility treatment can make every health decision feel high-stakes, especially when new research raises questions about weight and pregnancy outcomes. Here, we explain what the latest findings show and how to plan your next steps without shame or pressure. AT A GLANCE → This large retrospective study examined 14,990 patients undergoing their first single euploid frozen embryo transfer (FET). → Early pregnancy loss occurred in 19.5% of patients with obesity and 15.9% of patients without obesity—a difference of 3.6 percentage points. Approximately 4 out of 5 patients in both groups did not experience early pregnancy loss. → The study found an association between BMI and miscarriage but does not prove that higher BMI caused the losses or that losing weight before IVF would prevent them. → BMI does not capture metabolic health, nutrition, body composition, sleep, stress, or individual medical circumstances, so treatment decisions should be personalized. + Table of Contents The Impact of Weight on IVF Success 2026 Embryo Transfer Study Findings Does a higher BMI increase your chance of miscarriage? What This Research Means for Fertility Patients What This Study Can’t Tell Us Beyond the Scale How Illume Supports Your Health Do I have to lose weight before IVF? Frequently Asked Questions

At a glance → 61% of patients surveyed told someone at work about fertility treatment right away, while 30% never disclosed at all → Exhaustion from early morning monitoring was one of the most common work impacts, often more disruptive than patients expected → More paid time off, better insurance coverage for fertility treatment, and dedicated mental health days topped the list of changes patients want from employers

Medically reviewed by Dr. Spencer Richlin AI and robotics are changing what's possible in IVF — making treatment safer, more precise, and more personalized. But these tools are only as good as the experts behind them. Read on to discover what they can (and can't) do, and the questions every patient should be asking.

At a glance → Two patients can have the same procedure at the same clinic and still receive bills that differ by tens of thousands of dollars, often for reasons unrelated to the medical care itself → One of the biggest drivers is whether your plan is fully insured or self-funded, which determines whether state fertility mandates apply → Medication response, treatment protocol, add-on services, deductible status, and separate employer fertility benefits can all change your final cost → Comparing your bill to a friend’s rarely gives you the full picture; the better comparison is your estimate versus your final bill One of the most frustrating things about IVF is often trying to understand how much you'll pay for treatment (and why). You may have landed here after comparing numbers with a friend or seeing cycle costs in an online forum that don't match the bill you're holding. And the reason those numbers rarely line up has almost nothing to do with the care you receive.

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 → Research links higher stress to lower IVF success rates. Reducing psychological burden, through acupuncture, therapy, or both, may positively influence outcomes → Acupuncture has strong evidence for reducing anxiety and stress during IVF, with measurable improvements in physiological markers like cortisol → Newer 2024–2025 meta-analyses show that acupuncture may improve pregnancy and live birth rates, particularly when timing and treatment frequency are considered → Research suggests acupuncture may be more beneficial when performed as a series of treatments rather than as a single session Millions of people going through IVF turn to acupuncture, but the question of whether it works is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. In this article, we'll break down what we know, what is still being investigated, and how acupuncture can support your fertility care plan.

At a glance → Fertility nurses coordinate every phase of an IVF cycle, from setting up treatment protocols and ordering medications to relaying test results and answering patient questions throughout the day → At Illume Fertility, nurses collaborate with doctors during daily review sessions to evaluate each patient's progress and adjust care plans in real time → IVF nurses typically complete 3 to 4 months of one-on-one mentorship with an experienced nurse on top of their registered nursing credentials before managing patients independently → Beyond their clinical responsibilities, fertility nurses serve as emotional anchors for patients, celebrating milestones and providing steady support through setbacks Behind every IVF cycle is a team working diligently to keep treatment moving forward. For many patients, their fertility nurse becomes one of the most familiar voices in the process: the person who helps translate next steps, ease uncertainty, and make an intensely personal experience feel a little more manageable.

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.